Final Planning Stages: Housing (ChickChick Egg Farm)

It’s another week and one week (and then some) to kick off. Let’s look at what’s been happening with ChickChick.

I’ll first point out that I couldn’t meet with the woman I was supposed to yesterday and this was entirely from my end. There was a lack of foresight which resulted in a clash of schedules. So, I had to reschedule for next week.

In light of all we have to do, the first thing to sort out is the Housing. I’ve spoken with a couple of agents and I’m yet to get feedback from any but one. Here’s the thing about housing agents in Nigeria. They can be completely unreliable. Those you find who are opposite to this description are of two classifications:

1. Extremely Rare
2. Big leagues

I have one from the first classification and he was the only one to get back to me today. I have known him for about two years and he’s been of great help when I needed him. We spoke and I told him the requirements of what I need. Which are:

1. A single room (preferably a shop or stall but these can be expensive so I’m keeping my options open)
2. Market Place. I told him how I’d like it for the location to be situated in the market. I don’t plan on signifying what I do there. No banners or anything because this would only draw the wrong kind of attention since we are just beginning.
3. Burglary Proof. I highlighted this as a must. I want permission to secure the place if necessary in the instance that it carries the first two requirements but lacks in this department. I’ll need permission from the house manager to secure the ceilings and doors as the ceiling could also present an opportunity for theft. Some managers or the landlords are usually against this as it requires some work that could probably dent the walls especially if it’s an old building.

These are the basic requirements I made. Then I further went on to tell him that should he find a place that’s not in the market but maybe a living area, I need to be assured that I won’t be disturbed in regards to the chickens. Some people can’t stand their smell. If I can find somewhere close to where I stay that would be ideal.

Originally, I was supposed to rear them in my backyard but turns out the landlord doesn’t want animals anywhere near his property. This was annoying but what could I do? So, I need a safe place. A farm would have been ideal but I don’t own one yet. That’s also written on the vision board especially now that there are many undeveloped areas here with lands going for peanuts in prices.

Fast forward, the agent asked me to give him some more time this evening when he called to give me updates. I think the most important thing is the safety of these chickens. We need them safe so they can do what they have to do. With that in mind, we are focused now on the housing.

As that is in motion, we are already putting together a list of things to buy. This is a rough draft. Remember the Sheet I showed in the beginning? Yeah, we are breaking it down but, it’s more like getting that on paper for inquiry, mostly from the lady I’ll meet this week. My plan is to show her my rough work (a list of what we need to buy) and get her input.

I was told she knew a very organic way to feed chickens. Apart from their designated feed, there are substitutes which are cheaper and way more effective especially when it comes to their meat production. Well, more research tells me she may be able to help me in regards to egg production, but all in all, we need the chickens performing at their best. She happens to have some wisdom keys.

In conclusion, we want to deal with the housing aspect and then we can move to proofing and raising a cage system right in there.