The verdict in three sentences
In poultry farming, feed accounts for 60 to 70 % of production cost: without daily tracking, you fly blind. Poultry-house software detects a laying drop or excess mortality on day one, recovering 5 to 10 % of yield on a flock. For 10,000 to 30,000 FCFA per month, the tool often pays for itself before the first cycle ends.
The numbers that make your margin
A poultry farmer wins or loses margin on four figures: laying rate (layers), mortality rate, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (kg of feed per kg of weight or per egg). Good software captures these every morning and alerts the moment a threshold slips.
| Indicator | Healthy 2026 target | Alert threshold | Cost if ignored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laying rate (layers) | 85-92 % | < 80 % | -10 % of revenue |
| Cumulative mortality (broilers) | < 5 % | > 8 % | Net loss per bird |
| Feed conversion (broilers) | 1.6-1.9 | > 2.2 | +15 % feed cost |
| Feed consumption | 110-120 g/hen/day | Gap > 15 % | Waste or underfeeding |
| Avg weight D35 (broilers) | 1.8-2.0 kg | < 1.6 kg | Unprofitable flock |
The real cost of a flock and the break-even point
Take a flock of 500 broilers over a 42-day cycle. Feed decides everything: a poor conversion ratio blows up the bill without you seeing it before slaughter.
| Item | Amount (2026 ballpark) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Chicks (500 × 500 FCFA) | 250,000 FCFA | 22 % |
| Feed (≈ 1.7 t × 400 FCFA/kg) | 680,000 FCFA | 60 % |
| Vaccines / medicine | 75,000 FCFA | 7 % |
| Litter, water, energy | 60,000 FCFA | 5 % |
| Labour | 70,000 FCFA | 6 % |
| Total flock cost | 1,135,000 FCFA | 100 % |
| Sales (480 birds × 3,000 FCFA) | 1,440,000 FCFA | — |
| Gross margin | 305,000 FCFA | 27 % |
Cut mortality from 8 % to 4 % and conversion from 2.2 to 1.8: you gain 20 sellable birds and save ~120 kg of feed, roughly 110,000 FCFA recovered on a single flock.
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Mini case study
Aïssatou raises 800 layers in Thiès. In March 2026 her laying rate falls from 88 % to 79 % over three days. Before, she'd have noticed after a week of fewer eggs sold. With her software, the alert fires on the morning of day 2: a suspect feed batch. She fixes it within 48 h. Math: 800 hens × 9 lost laying points = 72 eggs/day avoided × 100 FCFA × 5 days of reaction gained = 36,000 FCFA saved on one incident, against a 20,000 FCFA/month subscription.
FAQ
Does it work for layers AND broilers? Yes, both profiles are handled: daily egg and laying-rate tracking for layers, weight curve and conversion ratio for broilers. You pick the flock type at creation.
Do I need a permanent internet connection? No. Mobile entry works offline and syncs once the network returns, which suits rural poultry houses with patchy 3G coverage.
What does such a tool cost in Senegal in 2026? Expect 10,000 to 30,000 FCFA per month depending on flocks and users. For a 500-2,000 bird operation, it usually pays back within the first cycle.
Can I track several houses from one account? Yes, each building and flock has its own record, with a consolidated dashboard: mortality, laying and feed cost per site, comparable side by side.
What if I enter data late? The tool stays useful but loses its main value — early alerts. Golden rule: enter data in the morning, right after collecting eggs or overnight losses.
Let's talk about your project. We build your poultry-farm software fitted to your flocks and real numbers. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
