The post below is an Enterprise Project I created over the course of two semesters for my diploma. The completed project is a business proposal for a small-scale duck and quail operation on my farm when I was 19.

I’m using this project as an artifact that represents my research and planning skills. Completing and presenting this project was a cornerstone of my educational journey because it encapsulates the effort, researching and goal reaching skills I was taught to put into projects during my time at University of the Fraser Valley. Rereading this project, I am very proud at how far my writing skills have come in that last 6 years-I have left it untouched for that reason. I hope you enjoy!

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Market Analysis

 The goal of Lower Mainland Duck and Quail is to satisfy the needs of consumers looking for better alternatives to conventional poultry products in Canada. In addition to satisfying this market demand, my goal is to earn a net income of $2,500 annually to obtain farm status, which I rent from my father. My operation will be a sole proprietorship. I will sell “all-natural” quail eggs and Muscovy duck meat-fed non-medicated feed. These products stand apart from conventional poultry products in their nutritional value and unique flavour. Quail eggs are higher in protein and vitamins, while being lower in fat, cholesterol and calories than conventional chicken eggs (Table 1). Duck meat also varies in nutritional content and health value in comparison with chicken meat. It is lower in calories, sodium and cholesterol while being higher in Omega-3?6?9?fatty acids (Tables 2 and 3). Not only are duck and quail products popular as a healthier option, but they are also a common food in many Asian cultures. 

                            Table 1

Table 2 Table 3

  Quail eggs and duck meat are a free market, and there is no supply management system in place to regulate the production or export of these products. As a result, there is very limited data to represent the market of duck and quail in Canada. There were between 800,000 and 1,000,000 units of duck meat exports in Canada between 2015 and 2016.  Over the past year, exports in duck meat have fallen 20% (Agri-Food Canada). In comparison, Asian countries are the global leader of quail and duck products. In recent years, Asia has consumed more than four times the duck meat than the rest of the world (Table 4) similarly with quail.

Table 4

  While demand in Canada is low, demand in the Lower Mainland is higher than ever due to the rise in immigration from Asian countries. This gives my business an advantage in that my market is much larger than those who do not have access to this group of consumers. I project to see more growth in a variety of ethnic foods, such as duck meat and quail eggs due to a rise in immigration. Since my business is small, I will market locally and sell directly to the consumer. 

When my business grows, and I can provide a steady supply of larger quantities of product,I will expand to restaurants or local grocery stores. I will independently market my products using a combination of social media, local bulletins, and farmers’ markets. Often times when a consumer is seeking a non-conventional agricultural product, they do not know where to begin. Reaching out the niche market is my goal.

My customers will be people passionate about clean, local food and with an interest in non-conventional products. Due to the health properties of quail eggs and duck meat, many health-conscious consumers are attracted to the benefits. I expect many of my customers to be at least middle class, as they cost more than conventional poultry products. 

References

Brome, C. D. (n.d.). Whole duck. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from http://www.canardsdulacbrome.com/en/produits/canard-entier/

Chicken, Meat Only, Raw, Broiler/Fryer. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.quitehealthy.com/nutrition-facts/chicken/050111.html

Country, B. (n.d.). Reports. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://aimis-simia.agr.gc.ca/rp/index-eng.cfm?report_format_type_code=21

GLOBAL POULTRY TRENDS 2013: Record World Duck Meat Production in 2013. (2014, February). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/3083/global-poultry-trends-2013-record-world-duck-meat-production-in-2013/

Muscovy Ducks. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.iwba.org/apps/photos/album?albumid=11561113

To sell my product to my targeted market, I will advertise via a variety of platforms byattending farmer’s markets and fairs and posting ad’s in newspapers and on bulletin boards. I will start small-scale as I will not have a large amount of stock to sell in the beginning. As I continue to establish my farm and increase the amount of product I will be able to produce, I will branch out to local grocers and restaurants. Keeping my target market in mind, Asian restaurants and stores are likely a productive way to start.

I will market my duck meat as free range and all natural. No growth hormones, growth enhancing drugs, or antibiotics will be used in raising my products. The quail eggs will be marketed as cage-free and all-natural. Due to the nature and size of quail, providing them with an outdoor space is both difficult, and risky. This will be beneficial in marketing my products to consumers who are passionate as to where their meat and eggs are produced and how they are produced. As my revenue and customer base grows, I would like to begin the process of organic certification if it is profitable to do so.

In niche markets such as duck and quail, marketing is a key aspect to success. Oftentimes, consumers can struggle in finding a reliable source of a quality product. I plan to provide my customers with a steady supply to fulfil their needs at any and all times. In the first years of selling my product, I will concentrate more time and money on advertising and marketing to ensure I reach as much of my target market as possible.

At this stage of my business, I will not be able to be a low-cost competitor, so I will instead be supplying customers with a higher quality specialty product. Many competitors supply Pekin ducks to their customers. While Pekins have high feed conversion rates, Muscovy duck meat is known by many consumers to be of higher quality. The meat has a pork-like taste and is considerably less greasy compared to Mallards and Pekins. I will have a competitive edge over my competitors in that the breed is unique, and in the non-conventional way the ducks will be produced. My duck meat will be sold as:

• Whole roasting duck between $18-$20 (4-6 kilograms);
• Drumsticks projected price will be in the $10-$12 range; and
• Duck breasts are estimated to sell at $10 

It is more economical for me to have whole ducks processed and packaged, which makes it the cheapest option for my customers as well.

Similarly, the quail eggs will be marketed as a high quality product and will be distinguished from competition with a distinct flavour and colour. Quail eggs, already quite rich, can take on a brighter yolk colour when the birds are fed marigold, an organic and all-natural option that consumers will be able to visually distinguish from competitors’ products. This inexpensive tactic is used by chicken farmers who produce high-quality store eggs. Quail eggs regularly sell at $3-5 per dozen and are commonly sold in a case of 24. I project that I will sell eggs at $8 per 24 pack.

Most of my competitors will all be small-scale farmers in the local area or imports from the United States. In the case of duck, Canada imported 264,487,480 duck and geese in 2015 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2016). Maple Leaf, an American company, will be my biggest competitor and is able to produce and sell duck cheaper than I will be able to, but they supply a more generic product than what I will be supplying to consumers. Quail egg production is lower in America than it is in Canada, so it is not expected to be a large competitor. In competing against American product, I will have to brand my product as local and Canadian. Another competitor is a local egg farm, Rabbit River Farms. Rabbit River Farms sells to large grocery stores such as Save-on-Foods, Nature’s Fare Markets, PriceSmart Foods, Buy-Low Foods, and more. An advantage I hold over Rabbit River Farm’s is that my quail eggs will be cage free. Rabbit River Farm’s uses colony cages. 

I will use Facebook, Instagram and a website to advertise my farm. My Facebook and Instagram pages will be kept up-to-date with the goal of reaching my customers by posting “cute” pictures of the animals and advertising the local, free-range, and all natural products being sold. Facebook and Instagram are useful in that they are free to create and easy to manage. In using a website, I will employ a web designer to create a website in which customers can read about how the stock are raised, where customers can purchase products, and my business’ contact info. The website will be brochure style in order to save money. As my farm gains popularity and demand rises, it will be more realistic to create a website in which customers can place orders. As I gain momentum in supplying products, I will personally reach out to small restaurants and grocery stores, as well as local food supplies services. Advertising in newspapers and posting on local bulletin boards (such as Otter Co-Op) will be a cost-effective way of reaching people in the community who would have otherwise not looked for such products.

My desired company image is one of a local, small-scale producer raising animals naturally. I want consumers to feel good knowing they are supporting a local farm that raises animals compassionately. This will be my competitive advantage. Maple Leaf Farms is unable to operate on that personal of a level with their consumers, and they’re an American company. Rabbit River Farms are unable to provide their birds with cage free eggs. Selling meat and eggs directly to consumers, and later to restaurant.

As I start my farm, marketing and advertising is going to be a vital part of making consumers aware of my product. Making it attainable to consumers in places such as farmer’s markets and making a presence on social media is how I will begin to gain a customer base. As time goes on, and as demand grows for the products, my flock sizes will expand. For the time being, I will gain experience and reputation farming small-scale and use cost effective methods to reach out to my target market. Gaining entry into local Asian food suppliers, grocers or restaurants will be the ultimate end goal of increasing my customer base and stock.

References 

Annual Reports. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://aimis-simia.agr.gc.ca/rp/index-eng.cfm?report_format_type_code=21

Duck Products. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://www.mapleleaffarms.com/

What are Quail Eggs? (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://www.rabbitriverfarms.com/products/quail-eggs/

The location of my farm is at 1287 212th St., Langley, British Columbia. It is a 5-acre parcel with a rectangular shape (See Figure 1) and is located in a very quiet area that is significantly isolated on a single lane road. The majority of the property is grass, but with a few trees. It is relatively flat, with a sight slant and some gentle hills. Significant clearing has been done to the property, as it was heavily overgrown with price bushes and cotton wood trees. No additional clearing needs to be done to the land. Since my family first acquired this property in 2012, we have seeded and kept the grass pastures in good condition, filled the lowest areas in the property, added culverts and dug ditches to aid in the drainage of the property due to the poor drainage and low elevation. 

In the area the ducks are housed, a new shed needs to be added to ensure the ducks can be kept during the winter. In this particular area, it is lower than the majority of the property, resulting in the water draining to this side (north) of the property. In order for a shed to be placed here, the area needs to be built up and filled in with gravel and screenings. This will create a warm place for the ducks to overwinter, with reduced moisture and bacteria resulting in better production over the winter. This piece of land is Agricultural Land Reserve (Provincial Agriculture Land Commission). Due to the small size of my operation, and because it is not a supply-manage commodity, there will not be a need to become licensed.

(Image 1: Aerial view of 1287 212th St)

          (Image 2: The areas the stock will be kept are encircled)

The area labelled “Duck Enclosure” is a fenced area where the ducks are kept. It is about 20ft by 15ft, with a pond in the centre, taking up roughly 10ft by 4ft. The rectangle labelled “Quail Housing” is a 12ft by 12ft horse stall that has been converted for the use of quail. To rent these spaces will cost $200 per month, including utilities (as per my father’s value of these spaces). The horse stall will be only $100 per month with utilities included. The duck pond is a significantly larger space, but due to the low value of the land is also only $100 per month. This part of the property is of low quality and does not otherwise have many purposes due to the pond and poor drainage of the surrounding soil. This property is perfect for my needs, as it is right out my front door. I already care for two horses on my here, and devote much of my time to the farm. 

The way the duck enclosure is set up, I will be able to increase my numbers from their current 10 to 25 as I have the space to do so now. In the future, it would not take much effort to expand the fences to allow for more ducks. In housing the quail in stalls, I can keep 10 per stall. Quail only need 1 square foot of room with good animal husbandry practices. As with ducks, I will be able to expand my quail operation in the future. There are 3 other unused stalls available in the barn that I can use. This will allow me to start small and gradually increase my flock sizes as demand grows. My farm is, for the most part, ready to house the flocks. In converting the horse stall(s) for quail, I would need to purchase chicken wire to enclose the stall. The amount of fencing necessary will cost roughly $50 to $80 (Dare’s Country Feed). The fence enclosing the ducks costed $120 including the gate. All the necessary water and electrical are in place surrounding both areas. I can purchase a shed from Walmart from $300-$500 so I can keep ducks all year. My father and I will be able to set up the shed and fence in the horse stall(s) ourselves.

The soil type found on my farm is “Si W” (Figure 3). This means that it is has excess free water. In the fall, winter and early spring my property is prone to some mild flooding. To combat this issue, we have cleared the majority of the trees that slow the drainage process, and added ditches and culverts. This will only affect my duck area and fortunately ducks like water. When I set the duck shed up, it will have to be built up to avoid flooding and damage in the wet season.

      Image 3: The soil composition of my farm is W Si.

References

Dare’s Country Feed’s, http://www.darescountryfeeds.com/gates  

Evert, K., April 1983,  Land Capability Classification for Agriculture in British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Provincial Agriculture Land Commission, http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/alc/content/alr-maps/maps-and-gis

 The Poultry Site, February 17 2008,  http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/607/raising-japanese-quail/\

http://microfarmlife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42&Itemid=45

My business is a sole proprietorship. In the production of quail and duck, each have varying cycles with different needs. The quail will have a one-year cycle once they reach sexual maturity, and ducks can have between 3-4 cycles of production per year. The following production plan describes how I will manage quail egg and duck meat production.

My production cycle will differ in the quail and ducks. Quail lay approximately an egg per day for a year.  After a year, this production decreases by nearly half. Estimating on the low side of production, with 10 quail each laying 350 eggs per year, projected production will be around 3500 eggs per year. Each production cycle will last roughly a year. For the Muscovy ducks, as I will be breeding and rearing my own stock instead of buying new flocks every year, the production cycles will be less structured than the quail flock. Production cycles will be based on how often a duck sits on a clutch of eggs. The incubation period typically lasts 35 days, and it takes roughly 10-12 weeks for a duck to reach market weight (http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/muscovy1001.htm). Based on the above estimations, each production cycle will last roughly 105-119 days or 3.5-4 months. The frequency at which these cycles occur depend on how often each female cycles. With proper nutrition and care, a female can set up to almost three times a year when she is in high production. Muscovyies typically sit on a clutch of 8-16 eggs per nest. (http://www.birdinginformation.com/birds/ducks/muskovy-duck/) As a result, in a 3.5-4 month production cycle, I am aiming to produce between 24 and 48 ducks per production cycle. Each production cycle will have 2-4 mothers brooding.

I will time certain duties to be completed at the end of every production cycle. These duties will include cleaning and disinfecting the stall and shed floors, adding new bedding, sanitizing and bedding the nest boxes, and ensuring all the fencing and enclosures are in working order for the next cycle of production. Every year, when I obtain a new quail flock, I will purchase 10 hens, prior to sexual maturity. The start of this cycle will be near April to November, as that is when the hatcher begins to send out orders. I can purchase my quail chicks from Game Bird Farm hatchery(https://gamebirdfarm.net/canada/products.php?cat=9). This hatchery is one of the only in Canada that carries quail. Game Bird is reputed to have good genetics and feeding their animals with vitamins and probiotics. Due to the hardness of this bird, vaccinations are usually not necessary.

As I have already obtained the foundation of my Muscovy flock, I waiting for the birds to reach sexual maturity. Once the males reach market weight I will cull enough so that the male to female ratio is at 5:1. Raising my own genetics is very reliable way of ensuring high quality stock, as I can add males to keep the genetic pool fresh and ensure high producing offspring. I can obtain new breeding males from local hobby farms, as hatcheries do not make sexed deliveries of just a few birds. I obtained my current 10 Muscovy ducks for $50, and to ship quail is $250 for 50 chicks, shipping included.  Asides from Game Bird hatchery, the only other main supplier I will be using is Dare’s Country Feed to purchase Duck and Goose feed. As this is a small, low input business,; there are not many services needed or frequent costs that go  into the running and management if it.

Production Cycle Activities

In a typical production cycle, the following takes place:

1. Feeding and Watering:

A) Quail: Every morning, the waters will be topped off, and every few days or as needed, the waters will be freshened and cleaned out. In cleaning out the water containers, bleach and a scrub brush will be used to disinfect the tray and tank to ensure bacteria growth is kept to a minimum. The feed they will receive is a Purina Gamebird Chow, at all ages of the flock I will feed this, it contains 30% protein, which is sufficient in raising chicks to mature hens,and in supporting egg production. At 1.5% calcium, this feed is excellent for ensuring the highest egg production possible.  The flock will be given free choice feed and water. A 24 lb bag of feed costs $24.95 in feed stores that carry Purina bird feed.

B) Ducks: Every morning, the water will be checked and topped off as necessary. The water will be cleaned out and disinfected following the protocol described forthe quail water containers. The ducks will be given free choice feed and water. They will be fed ProForm Duck and Goose Crumble, which comes in a variety of different levels of protein and nutrients defending on the age group and needs of my current flock. In the first 5 weeks, the ducklings will receive 22% ProForm Starter Pellets. When the ducks begin to approach maturity, I will switch them to 17% ProForm Grower/Finisher Pellets. Each bag costs $14.95, and 10 mature ducks eat a bag per week and a half to two weeks.

2) Wing Clipping 

A) Quail: As the quail approach maturity, they develop flight feathers. Quail are excellent fliers. The ability for quail to take flight within their stall could cause injury to themselves or people handling them. When the quail begin developing these flight feathers, I will cut one wing’s feathers. Cutting one wing will ensure that they will not be able to fly. This procedure is painless, and completely humane when the birds are handled with care and experience. I will use heavy duty, clean stainless steel scissors to cut the wings, and wear gloves to protect myself from getting scratched.  The wings should be clipped just before the actual flesh of the wing itself.  Leaving the feather too long will make the procedure ineffective, and clipping too short can injure the animal. My father and I will perform this task together, most likely at dusk or in the evening. This is because birds, quail included, are much calmer in dim lighting due to their poor night vision. The darker it is, the easier it will be to catch and handle the birds quickly and painlessly. When we have processed a bird, we will put it in a cage to the side to sort out which birds have been clipped and which are awaiting clipping. This should only need to be done once per cycle (a year), but if it needs to be done more often it will be apparent as the birds begin to fly again. This procedure will not cost anything to preform.

B) Ducks: Muscovy ducks are also excellent fliers and are known to roost in trees and on rooftops. Without clipping their wings, they will definitely fly out of their enclosure, putting themselves at risk of predatation or of eating foreign objects. By clipping their wings, I will ensure the ducks stay safely in their pen. As for the quail, only one wing is clipped per duck. Clipping the wings of Muscovies is more challenging, as they are heavier birds and can be aggressive with very sharp nails. At dusk or dark, I will ensure all the ducks are in the shed and close the door. Securing the ducks in the shed with cages nearby, my father and I will wear gloves and long sleeves to clip their wings. Using clean, stainless steel scissors, cut the flight feathers a centimeter or so from the actual flesh of the wing. Cutting the wing too short can leave the birds wing sore and bruised, and cutting the wing may lead to infection.  Using the same method as for the quail, the clipped ducks will be put aside to ensure that none are missed. This is a task that will be preformed as needed. Constantly having animals of different ages will result in different levels of development and growth in the barn. 

3) Breeding, Brooding and Hatching 

A) Quail: Not applicable, as I will purchase new flocks every year.

B) Duck: The breeding program does not require much management, only supervision. As mentioned, I will begin with 3-5 breeding hens, but I plan to grow the amount of stock I produce as I grow my consumer base. I will oversee the health of the ducks and chicks, but neither the brooding nor hating process require any intervention on my part. By rearing my own stock, I save a significant amount of money in replacing cull birds. Every year/three cycles, I will have to replace the breeding males with fresh genetics to prevent bottlenecking or inbreeding.

3) Cleaning and Maintenance:

A) Quail: At the end of each cycle, before a new flock comes, the bedding and nest boxes will be stripped, swept out and limed. All roosts and perches in the stall will be wiped down and limed as well. All the feeders and waterers will be scrubbed with bleach water. This limits cross-contamination between flocks and minimizes risk of disease. Additionally, every week I will add fresh litter to the nest boxes and clean them out as needed throughout the course of the cycle. The nest boxes will be bedded with hay, and the floor will have cedar shavings.

B) Duck: After every cycle (approx. 4 months), I will clean out and bed the shed as there will be fewer animals to disrupt. After each clutch of eggs has hatched, I will clean, disinfect and re-bed the nest boxes for the next clutch. As there will never be a time when I do not have ducks, I will clean and disinfect the shed and feed and water dishes as needed. The nest boxes will be bedded with hay, and the floor will be bedded with a thin layer of cedar sawdust.

4) Processing and Transportation:

A) Quail: At the start of each cycle, when the quail first arrive, we will pick them up at the post office and release them into the stall. The lights will be turned off and the barn will be kept quiet for a day while the quail chicks adjust. This will be done once a year.  Once they are spent, transporting the quail to the auction will be done in poultry cages. In the early morning, my father and I will load them into cages and transport them to the auction to be sold.  The price for the quail should outweigh the fuel in transporting them to Fraser Valley Auction. 

B) Ducks: After purchasing my foundation flock, the only time I will transport new ducks to the property is when I get new breeding males. In sending out ducks to get processed, it will also be done before dawn to ensure a calmer environment. Containing the ducks in the shed will make it easier to catch them. This will be done at the end of every cycle. Every four months, I will select all males not kept for breeding, and females that are not needed for breeding will be selected for culling based on size and health to encourage better future genetics in the flock. I will use the same cages as I used for the quail to transport the ducks to slaughter.

At the end of each production cycle, after processing, I plan to supply restaurants and/or local grocery stores with fresh eggs and meat. This will be an obtainable goal once I begin to produce a steady supply, and can keep up to a certain demand level from a business. The processing plant I will use is Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry. They are one of the only Provincially Licensed Class A plants in British Columbia that are capable of slaughtering and processing ducks (http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/food-safety/meat-inspection/bc_meat_plants_web_list_sep2015.pdf). I am still awaiting an estimation from the general manager.

Refrences

Common Muscovy Health Problems. (2011, February 24). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-muscovy-health-problems

Davis. (n.d.). Muscovy Duck Care Practices. Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/muscovy1001.htm

Duck.(n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.poultryhub.org/species/commercial-poultry/duck/

Ministry of Agriculture. (2015, September 17). Retrieved October 20, 2016, from http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/food-safety/meat-inspection/bc_meat_plants_web_list_sep2015.pdf

My business will be a sole proprietorship. This business structure suits my needs best as I will be the sole owner and operator of my business, sole proprietorships are simple to start-up, and have light regulatory terms. The taxes will be significantly lower and my farm income will fall into a lower tax bracket (Canada Business Network, n.d.). The two commodities I have chosen require little in terms of start-up costs and time required in comparison to most agribusinesses. My daily, bi-weekly, monthly and annual duties are as follows: 

Daily	Bi-Weekly	Monthly	Annually
Feeding and Watering	Purchase more feed	Clean out duck enclosure and nest boxes	Clean out quail enclosure
Collect quail eggs	Clean water and feed containers	Bed duck enclosure	Bed quail enclosure
Oversee flock health	Send out eggs	General maintenance as needed	Complete taxes and book keeping
	Process ducks and send out	Husbandry: wing clipping	Send out all quail
	Check pens for signs of wear and tear, and pests		Get new quail flock, set up stall
			Get more breeding drakes
			Send out old breeding drakes

Figure 1: Tentative List of Duties

I expect to spend approximately 2 to 3 hours daily overseeing flock health, feeding, watering, and collecting, cleaning and packaging eggs, assuming everything is running smoothly. On a bi-weekly basis, assuming transporting that feeding and processing ducks and quail eggs takes up 3 hours, I will put aside 3-4 hours for the tasks to be completed. Monthly, depending on the maintenance needed to be done to equipment, infrastructure, and fences, I will budget 1-3 hours for cleaning and bedding the duck enclosure and miscellaneous repairs. On an annual basis, I expect to spend at least 10 hours on the above list of duties, assuming I do the taxes and bookkeeping myself. By keeping my business small-scale, I can work full-time and still have enough time to dedicate to farming after work and on days off. Both quail and ducks are self-sufficient birds as long as they have enough food and water.

Casual Labour:

Aside from myself, the main labourer, I will require the help of my father, Kevin Lane, for certain tasks. Kevin Lane will be mainly help me with maintenance, catching animals, and wing clipping. As a family member, he is not an official employee and will not be paid, but benefits by having his property qualify for farm status, for which he receives a tax cut. I foresee him working an hour or two a month for me, depending on the duties to be done. I will not need him on a daily or weekly basis, but monthly and annually for larger tasks. While he does not have any post-secondary or formal agriculture education, Kevin is very experienced in repairs, carpentry and has prior experience in handling and raising chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys on our hobby farm.

To take time off, I will leave my daily operations to Kevin. I am not likely to take many sick days, unless I am near death, as I must feed the horses regardless. Feeding and watering the ducks and quail and collecting eggs is not an overly straining task since the animals are on the property where I live. Kevin enjoys spending time with the animals and caring for them as long as I do not relying on him more often than once a month. As there are only the two of us putting time into this business, the only policy in place is that the animals are treated humanely. I expect every bird to be handled with care and experience, which I can be confident of based on my knowledge of how my father and I manage the existing hobby farm’s activities.

The vehicle used to purchase feed and transport birds is my father’s truck, I’ve agreed to rent it for the day at a flat rate of $20 per trip (transporting stock to process or picking up new stock). As it is already being insured, my business will not have to pay for additional insurance as long as Kevin is driving it. I will look into obtaining general liability insurance and/or professional liability insurance. As my business is a sole proprietorship, I am personally liable for any personal injury that comes out of consuming one of my products.

References

Canada Business Network (n.d.)., Government of Canada., Retrieved October 27,2017.  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/starting/before-starting-your-business/corporation-partnership-or-sole-proprietorship/#toc0

Strengths:

• My birds are raised without the use of any antibiotics, hormones or cages
  • Quail and ducks are an unregulated market: no standard at which they must be kept or raised.
  • Some of my competition raises their quail in cages, mine will be cage-free and advertised as such.
• There are groups of consumers that prefer buying local, natural products.
• With the ducks foraging for some of their food, my feed costs are significantly lower.

Weaknesses:

• My small size makes it harder to maximize profits
• Ducks raised outside will not have as high of average daily gains as ducks raised indoors.
• While I’m still developing my operation, it may be difficult to sell all my product, as forming a contract with a grocer or restaurant may require a greater amount of product and a more consistent supply.

Opportunity:

• Quail eggs and duck meat are popular among many Asian cultures, and the Fraser Valley has a high population of people of Asian ethnicity.
• There are very few duck meat and quail egg producers in British Columbia
• Quail egg and duck meat are a niche products, which are currently trendy in more densely populated areas.

Threats:

• It can be very difficult to connect the consumer to the product in a niche market.
• My competition may be able to sell cheaper than I can due to the small size of my business.
• As my product is a niche product, it is even more vulnerable to consumer trends in the market.

Risk Management Plan

1. Risk of wildlife preying on stock

The risk of my stock being attacked, chased or killed by wildlife is a very real threat. In the case of my ducks, keeping them outside poses a risk for their well-being. In Langley, local predators include dogs, cats, coyotes, racoons, rats, hawks, eagles and owls. These predators have the potential to affect my productivity. The presence of these animals alone would put a stress for my ducks, which may inhibit weight gain and decrease the broodiness of the females. In addition, predators catching and/or killing my birds would decrease my flock numbers and lower my productivity. To combat this issue, I have used 4.5-foot-tall page wire fencing. It is laid flat against the ground with dirt laid along the fence line to prevent pests from digging underneath. Ten centimetres off the ground, I installed a single stand of hot wire to prevent pests from climbing the fence. The ducks also have a shed that is lifted off the ground, with nest boxes and roosts off the ground to keep them safer at night from pests and to protect the ducklings from rats in particular. It is difficult to protect them from birds of prey, as it would be too impractical to cover that large of an area with net, given all the nearby trees. The trees help to protect the ducks, as the cover makes it difficult for hawks or eagles to swoop down and attack as they normally would. I have confidence that all the above steps taken will reduce the chance of my birds being put under stress or killed by wildlife. 

Due to the size and vulnerability of quail, I have opted to keep them indoors. Quail are even an easy target for rats. This means extra time and effort must be put into ensuring the stall is virtually pest-proof. My father and I are going to frame it in and put chicken wire over any areas that could be vulnerable to pests such as rats. The chances of my quail falling victim to predators is very likely as my barn already has a rat problem. We are combating this by using rat traps, poison, and a barn cat. I am confident that these methods will be effective in time if I remain consistent in my efforts to eradicate the rats.

2. The risk of an Avian Influenza outbreak

While the Avian Flu is a constant and very real risk when keeping birds, outbreaks are not common. It is more likely to affect my flock over a larger scale farm though because my ducks are kept outside and may have contact with wild birds and I will not have as strict a biosecurity program on my farm compared to large-scale farms. Factors outside of my control are wild birds landing within the duck enclosure, drawn to the pond, and infecting my ducks. If my ducks are infected, my quail will very likely become infected.  If my flock becomes infected, they must be destroyed. That is the only outcome of an Avian Influenza outbreak. The best way to combat the chance of an outbreak is to practice good biohazard security.

My financial plan outlines the annual expenses of operation, gross revenue, and start-up costs. I estimate my gross revenue to be about $5000-6000 annually andmy expenses at $2812 annually. My initial start-up costs will be roughly $2500. While my profit margin is quite small, I am not farming to make money, I do it for the lifestyle and enjoyment of handling and raising animals. I plan to begin making money within two years.

Optimistically I will be making $10,983 annually, assuming the majority or all of my stock survives and remains healthy, I receive a good price for my product, and the Muscovies reproduce well  and rear large broods. Realistically, I expect some stock to become sick or die. Assuming a low mortality rate, reasonable prices, and good prolificacy amongst the Muscovies, my realistic revenue will be approximately $5,620. If things go badly, such as a high mortality rate or illness, or poor production and reproduction then my revenue will be significantly lower. Additionally, if markets do not accept my product, I will have to sell my product at the Fraser Valley Auction for a lower price. Pessimistically, I could make as low as $2,684. This is too low to cover my expenses. The money I collect from Muscovy ducks may be sporadic, with ducks being processed every four months. I expect to collect revenue from the quail eggs monthly or bi-weekly with the sale of the eggs, depending on the market I sell to, in addition to selling the flock annually.

My start-up costs are minimal. The key purchases I will make to start farming include a shed for the ducks, fencing, and cages to transport the birds. The shed I plan to buy costs $2,190 before taxes and will not have a very high resale value. The fencing is relatively cheap at $80 and can be repurposed in the future. The cages will cost over $300 for two. Altogether, my start-up will cost just over $2500. My assets are relatively low in value.

My monthly expenses in producing quail and ducks average at about $2812. My main expenses are rent, purchasing a new quail flock annually, and feed. Rent for both the duck and quail enclosure are $50/month, totaling $600/year. Similarly, feed totals at $672 annually. At $14/bag and four bags per month, the average monthly cost of feed will come to $56. The purchase of a new flock is vital to ensuring high production of eggs. A flock of 25 quail should cost around $1,000.