Most producers raise poultry for income, although some raise birds largely for pleasure or other indirect benefits, such as improving pasture fertility, increasing farm diversity, involving youth, etc.
Feasibility and business planning are important in any enterprise, but especially in specialty poultry businesses because of the risks that producers take. Feasibility planning includes personal and family considerations, marketing, production (including technical factors as well as regulatory and liability), profitability (including expense and income budgets), and financial (including cash flow).
Specialty poultry operations may have alternative business structures instead of the integrated structure that characterizes the conventional industry. Operations are often independent; although collaborative efforts are increasingly important.
Growing Your Range Poultry Business: An Entrepreneur's Toolbox
Feasibility and business planning, includes decision tree, budgets for small flock/on-farm processing, medium flock with processing out-sourced, and establishing a mobile processing unit or a small fixed plant.
Legal Issues for Small Poultry Processor
State by state listing of laws affecting small poultry processors
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