Rising costs and supply challenges strain small-scale producers
ZIBAMBWE – Poultry farmers in Bulawayo are facing a critical shortage of day-old chicks, threatening their ability to meet demand during the festive season.
Typically, farmers begin securing chicks around six weeks before Christmas to prepare for increased holiday consumption, but this year their plans have been disrupted by limited supplies.
The scarcity has also created opportunities for unfair trade practices, with some suppliers requiring farmers to purchase feed before selling them chicks, a condition many small-scale producers consider exploitative.
Zimbabwe’s Competition and Tariffs Commission has warned that such practices are anti-competitive and could harm poultry farmers already under financial strain.
Industry analysts link the shortage to rising production expenses for breeders, who must cover costs associated with parent birds that produce eggs for day-old chicks.
The Zimbabwe Poultry Association reports that raising a single breeding bird to egg-laying maturity can cost up to US$25, factoring in purchase, feed, vaccinations, and utility expenses such as electricity.
Faced with these higher costs, breeders have become cautious about maintaining large numbers of parent stock and often plan production based on average yearly demand rather than seasonal spikes.
As a result, breeders are unable to significantly increase chick availability during the festive period, leaving farmers in Bulawayo struggling to source the birds they need.
Small-scale poultry producers, for whom holiday sales represent a substantial portion of annual income, are particularly affected, with some forced to cancel production plans and others reducing flock sizes.
The shortage is expected to impact local households and markets, where chicken remains a popular and affordable option for festive meals.
In response, supplier Hamara has offered three-week-old birds to farmers who may lack proper brooding conditions due to hot and wet weather, promising one final batch by mid-December.
While the introduction of older birds provides partial relief, they are more expensive, require advanced care, and carry higher mortality risks for farmers without adequate brooding facilities.
