How to Start an Egg Farm in Nigeria – A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Thinking of starting an egg farm in Nigeria?

Maybe you’ve seen how profitable poultry farming can be. Or you’re looking for a business that generates daily income, is relatively low-risk, and can scale over time.

Good news — you’re in the right place.

Whether you want to raise layers for commercial egg production, start small in your backyard, or build a full-scale poultry farm, this step-by-step guide will show you how to start an egg farm in Nigeria — the right way.

📍This guide is especially helpful if you’re in Lagos or urban areas, where demand is high and supply is often unstable.

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Why Egg Farming in Nigeria Makes Sense

• High Demand: Eggs are a staple food in Nigerian homes, restaurants, schools, and bakeries.
• Daily Cash Flow: Layers produce eggs daily, which you can sell every day or week.
• Fast Return on Investment: Layers start producing in 4–6 months.
• Scalable: Start with 100 birds, grow to 1,000 or more.
• Low Waste: Eggs are easy to transport and have a market across all income levels.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Egg Farm in Nigeria

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✅ Step 1: Decide on Your Scale

Ask yourself:

• Are you starting small (100–200 birds)?
• Medium-scale (500–1,000)?
• Or full commercial (5,000+)?

This will affect your:

• Budget
• Land size
• Housing
• Labour needs
• Equipment and feed costs

💡 Tip: Start small, learn the business, and scale as you build experience.

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✅ Step 2: Choose the Right Location

What to look for:

• Access to clean water
• Electricity (for lighting and equipment)
• Good road for transport
• Security
• Enough space for expansion

If you’re in Lagos, outskirts like Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, or Mowe are great for lower land costs and space.

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✅ Step 3: Build or Set Up Poultry Housing

Your birds need a clean, well-ventilated pen to stay healthy and productive.

Types of housing:

• Deep Litter System: Floor covered with wood shavings, easy for beginners.
• Battery Cage System: Birds are kept in cages – cleaner eggs, less feed waste, but more expensive.

Housing must include:

• Good ventilation
• Protection from rain and predators
• Lighting (for egg production)
• Easy access for feeding and cleaning

🔧 Don’t overcrowd – space per bird matters!

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✅ Step 4: Buy Day-Old Chicks (Layers)

Layer breeds in Nigeria include:

• ISA Brown
• Lohmann Brown
• Bovan Nera
• Hy-Line

Get your chicks from reputable hatcheries.
Each day-old chick costs between ₦450–₦650 as of 2025.

You’ll need:

• A brooder (warm area for chicks)
• Heat lamps or charcoal pots
• Feed, water, vitamins, and vaccines for the first 6 weeks

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✅ Step 5: Feeding and Nutrition

Feeding is 70% of your cost — and it’s critical.

Feed stages:

1. Starter Mash (0–6 weeks)
2. Grower Mash (7–18 weeks)
3. Layer Mash (from 19 weeks onwards)

Feed brands in Nigeria:

• Topfeed
• Vital Feeds
• Livestock Feeds
• Hybrid

You can also mix your own feed (if experienced), but be careful — poor nutrition = low egg yield.

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✅ Step 6: Health Management

Key things you need:

• A vaccination schedule
• Regular deworming
• Clean water at all times
• Disinfectants and biosecurity

Get a vet technician to check your birds monthly, and watch for signs of:

• Respiratory infections
• Coccidiosis
• Egg drop syndrome

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✅ Step 7: Egg Collection and Storage

Once your birds start laying (around 18–20 weeks), collect eggs:

• Twice a day (morning and afternoon)
• Store in a cool, dry place (not a fridge)

Sort by size (small, medium, large) and remove cracked eggs.
Use clean trays/crates to package for market.

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✅ Step 8: Sell Your Eggs

Who to sell to:

• Neighbours
• Local markets
• Schools, restaurants, and bakeries
• Supermarkets
• Egg distributors in Lagos
• Online (Instagram, WhatsApp, Jiji, your own website)

Start small, build trust, and expand through word of mouth.

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What Does It Cost to Start an Egg Farm in Nigeria?

Here’s an estimate for a small-scale farm with 500 birds:

Item	Estimated Cost (₦)
Day-old chicks	275,000 (₦550 x 500)
Housing & equipment	350,000
Feed for 6 months	1,000,000+
Vaccines & meds	100,000
Labour & utilities	150,000
Miscellaneous	125,000

Total: ~₦2,000,000 – ₦2,500,000

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How Much Can You Make from Egg Farming?

Let’s say:

• 450 birds lay 1 egg/day
• That’s 450 eggs = 15 crates/day
• At ₦3,800 per crate = ₦57,000/day
• Monthly: ~₦1.7M
• Yearly: Over ₦20M (before expenses)

Even with feed and operational costs, profit margins can be 25–35%, especially if you manage the farm well.

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Challenges to Expect (and How to Solve Them)

Challenge	Solution
High feed cost	Buy in bulk, mix your own feed if skilled
Bird diseases	Follow strict vaccination and sanitation routines
Egg spoilage	Collect and sort eggs daily, store properly
Market saturation	Build relationships with loyal customers
Theft	Secure your farm and monitor staff closely

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Final Tips for Success

• Start small but plan to grow
• Learn from experienced farmers (join WhatsApp groups, attend trainings)
• Track your expenses and income
• Focus on quality, not just quantity
• Deliver on time and be reliable — people will refer you

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Interested in Seeing a Working Egg Farm in Lagos?

Our farm in Lagos produces and supplies thousands of eggs weekly.
We also support new farmers with:

• Mentorship
• Layer chick sales
• Feed supply
• Farm setup consultancy

📞 Call or WhatsApp [insert number] to book a visit or ask questions
🌐 Visit [insert website] to learn more