Farmer: Backyard Poultry/Small Poultry
Raises domestic birds and small animals for egg, milk and meat production, and may manage sericulture or bee colonies.
Overview
A Backyard/Small Poultry Farmer raises or cares for different types of domestic birds, as well as animals such as goats/pigs for the purpose of egg, milk and/or meat production. They could also be responsible for sericulture and managing bee colonies.
Where they work
- Poultry Farm (Backyard/Small-scale Setup)
- Feeding and Care Areas
- Storage Area
- Market/Outreach Areas
Work environment
You have to work for at least 8 to 9 hours and for 5 to 6 days a week. Shift duties may be there. Overtime is common. Entrepreneurship: you can get contracts from wholesale vendors and sell your products to them directly.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have good communication skills
- You like to assemble things
- You have good analytical skills
- You are organised in your work
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1Undergraduate: B.Sc. in Agriculture (4 years), B.Sc. in Horticulture (4 years), B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering (4 years), B.V.Sc. & A.H. (5 years), Diploma in Agricultural Science (2–3 years).
- 2Postgraduate: M.Sc. in Agriculture (2 years), MBA in Agribusiness Management (2 years).
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
Government institutes
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareli, Uttar Pradesh
- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
- College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Assam
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Punjab
- Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Central Institute of Poultry Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Farmer
- 2Farm Manager
Related careers to explore
Dairy Farmer/Entrepreneur
Manages the day-to-day care of dairy cows and the production, quality and marketing of milk.
Animal Health Worker
Provides preventive health care, disease-control support and first aid to farm animals and poultry.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Agriculture.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to working outdoors.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Yan Singh — A resident of Barmaadi village. His family was facing hardship as Yan Singh had met with a horrific accident and was completely unable to work as a daily wage labour for his livelihood. He showed a keen interest in the training scheme on agriculture and attended a 7 days training course in poultry farming at a Poultry Farm in Sundernagar (Mandi). He constructed a pukka (permanent) well ventilated shed with adequate lighting facilities with the initial financial help given by the Government. Yan then brought in chicks, birds and chicken feed, starting his own poultry farm. The income from poultry has encouraged Yan Singh to adopt poultry rearing as his profession in future.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 15 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3KBGszY
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.