5 ms·

I don't get it. As mentioned in the article, chickens are incredibly easy to bootstrap (ie, it's not like they require a huge capital outlay to get started, an

I don't get it. As mentioned in the article, chickens are incredibly easy to bootstrap (ie, it's not like they require a huge capital outlay to get started, and they literally pay dividends in further chickens), and have been present in the area for centuries. What has been the obstacle that has kept them from already being common enough to drive the expected benefit of further investment to ~0? And how is that obstacle going to be overcome?

bryanlarsen 10y ago
They're giving away vaccinated chicks. I suspect that the vaccines are the main problem they're addressing. It's certainly possible that it's easier and cheaper to give away vaccinated chicks than it is to give away vaccinations.
- bko 10y ago
  The author mentioned the low cost of vaccines (the one that prevents the deadly Newcastle disease costs less than 20 cents). I suspect the reason that this is not already being done by the locals is that there are some other costs or factors that are specific to the local market that outsiders have no way of assessing.
  - lukeschlather 10y ago
    It sounds like in order to get money you need to be raising and selling on the order of 100-300 chickens per year. So we're talking $20-40 year. To put that in perspective for a contract software developer making $100k+/year, that's like spending $20k/year on software licenses.
    - allannienhuis 10y ago
      $.20 cost of vaccination per $5.00 chicken is 4 percent cost. You're quoting 20 percent cost comparison. Am I missing something?
      - lukeschlather 10y ago
        I was comparing against the farmers' current income estimated at $2/day, not the income post-chickens. Though presumably their income is substantially less than $5/chicken.
      - bryanlarsen 10y ago
        $5 is for the full grown chicken. The chicks must sell for a lot less or there would be no profit in raising them...
- vit05 10y ago
  Gates is very addictive with vaccine stuff, I think you are right. This could be the trigger. But could be cultural and educational stuff too, maybe people must learn how great breed a chicken could be.
giarc 10y ago
I'm completely speculating, but based on the article it could have something to do with chickens being a "women's animal". Perhaps women aren't confident or allowed to show entrepreneurial spirit to start a flock. The men in the community are saving up for cows and goats.
- monknomo 10y ago
  Varies by culture considerably. Consider cockfighting - very male oriented, involves a lot of chicken raising, can be a side gig for your egg or meat producers

bryanlarsen 10y ago

They're giving away vaccinated chicks. I suspect that the vaccines are the main problem they're addressing. It's certainly possible that it's easier and cheaper to give away vaccinated chicks than it is to give away vaccinations.

bko 10y ago
The author mentioned the low cost of vaccines (the one that prevents the deadly Newcastle disease costs less than 20 cents). I suspect the reason that this is not already being done by the locals is that there are some other costs or factors that are specific to the local market that outsiders have no way of assessing.
- lukeschlather 10y ago
  It sounds like in order to get money you need to be raising and selling on the order of 100-300 chickens per year. So we're talking $20-40 year. To put that in perspective for a contract software developer making $100k+/year, that's like spending $20k/year on software licenses.
  - allannienhuis 10y ago
    $.20 cost of vaccination per $5.00 chicken is 4 percent cost. You're quoting 20 percent cost comparison. Am I missing something?
    - lukeschlather 10y ago
      I was comparing against the farmers' current income estimated at $2/day, not the income post-chickens. Though presumably their income is substantially less than $5/chicken.
    - bryanlarsen 10y ago
      $5 is for the full grown chicken. The chicks must sell for a lot less or there would be no profit in raising them...
vit05 10y ago
Gates is very addictive with vaccine stuff, I think you are right. This could be the trigger. But could be cultural and educational stuff too, maybe people must learn how great breed a chicken could be.

giarc 10y ago

I'm completely speculating, but based on the article it could have something to do with chickens being a "women's animal". Perhaps women aren't confident or allowed to show entrepreneurial spirit to start a flock. The men in the community are saving up for cows and goats.

monknomo 10y ago
Varies by culture considerably. Consider cockfighting - very male oriented, involves a lot of chicken raising, can be a side gig for your egg or meat producers