Ajay Verma’s Gavran Poultry Success Story

Welcome back to Rustic Rooster Tales – where we bring you real stories of farmers who are changing their lives through free-range country chicken farming.

Free Range Chicken Farming (Gavran Bird)

Today’s story is about Ajay Verma, a determined farmer who left behind the busy city lifestyle and built a thriving free-range poultry business specialising in the Gavran breed – a native, colourful, and highly sought-after chicken of Maharashtra.

From City Rush to Country Success

Ajay once lived in the hustle and bustle of city life. But his heart longed for something more meaningful and sustainable. That’s when he moved back to his village and invested in the free-range country chicken farming, focusing on pure Gavran chicken.

He did not just start small – he built his dream with vision and persistence. On four acres of farmland, Ajay has set up:

• 3–4 poultry sheds covering 12,000 sq. ft.
• A feed processing unit
• A hatchery section
• Special brooding chambers for young chicks

And today, he manages 1700–2000 Gavran birds with just 8 labourers!

The Gavran Breed – What Makes It Special?

For those unfamiliar, Gavran chickens are a traditional Maharashtrian country chicken breed. They are small, hardy, and perfectly suited for free-range systems.

Some key insights about the Gavran breed:

• Appearance: Colourful feathers, small legs, lean bodies.
• Growth: They rarely grow beyond 1.5 kg – unlike broilers, they stay slim and active.
• Health: Extremely hardy with strong immunity, needing fewer medicines.
• Meat Quality: Their meat is considered flavourful, nutritious, and less oily, making them highly popular in Nagpur, Amravati, and across Maharashtra. (Comment below if Gavran chicken is popular in your locality?)
• Market Demand: Consumers pay ₹450–₹650 per kg, far higher than broiler rates, because they trust its authentic taste and health benefits.
• Natural Behaviour: They love scratching soil, eating grass, insects, and staying active – which makes them self-sustaining and healthier.

Ajay spent 1.5 years carefully selecting and improving his Gavran stock. From the original 1400 birds, he separated the best breeders and slowly developed a pure, uniform Gavran flock that is now in demand all over India.

A Bold Sale – 35 Lakhs in One Shot

At one point, Ajay’s farm had 9000 parent birds. Due to the personal commitments, he sold 8000 birds at once at the market rate of ₹450 per kg. The result? A whopping ₹35,00,000 in a single transaction!

And he retained 1000 birds to continue his breeding operations.

Ajay says,

“There’s no risk in raising Gavran birds if you maintain biosecurity, feed management, and proper immunity. Once you get this right, success is guaranteed.”

The Science Behind His Success

Ajay’s farm is not just about numbers – it’s about management and innovation.

• Brooding Section: He has elevated brooding chambers (safe from rats and mongoose), each handling 1000 chicks at a time. With controlled temperature (29–30°C) and care, chicks grow strong and healthy.
• Feed Processing: Ajay prepares his own feed mix using corn, soya DOC, limestone powder, and mineral premixes. His machine can mix 500 kg of feed in just 10 minutes.
• Hatchery: He runs incubators with a 10,000-egg capacity, achieving 80% hatch rates.

Though Gavran hens are naturally broody, Ajay prefers incubators since they produce healthier chicks with controlled temperature and humidity.

Steady Income & Zero Mortality

On average, Ajay sells 9,000–18,000 chicks every month at ₹60 per chick, making a profit of about ₹27 per chick. This translates to a monthly income of ₹3–3.5 lakhs.

What’s more inspiring? Ajay proudly says his farm’s mortality rate is almost zero, thanks to strict vaccination (especially R2B vaccine in the summers) and strong biosecurity.

He even delivers chicks all over India, wherever direct train routes allow, with a minimum order of 300 chicks. (See the video for contact details and other information).

Farmer’s Tip Box –Top 3 Tips for Rearing Gavran Birds 🌾

✅ 1. Biosecurity is non-negotiable

Keep outsiders away from your sheds, disinfect regularly, and always quarantine new birds before mixing them with the main flock.

✅ 2. Make your own feed

Control feed cost and quality by mixing locally available ingredients like maize, soya DOC, and mineral premixes. Fresh feed ensures healthy growth.

✅ 3. Treat chicks like your children

During the first month, temperature and nutrition are critical. Weak management here means poor growth, less immunity, and fewer eggs later.

Lessons for Aspiring Farmers

Ajay Verma’s journey proves that free-range poultry farming is not just about raising chickens – it’s about vision, discipline, and consistency.

The Gavran breed and any pure country chicken is a blessing for farmers because:

• It is low-risk and hardy.
• It fetches a high market price.
• It has steady demand due to its taste and health value.

Consumers today are shifting towards country chicken for its taste and nutritional benefits, and the market is only growing. Whether you are a small farmer with 100 birds or planning for thousands, with the right planning, feed management, and disease control, this business can be highly profitable.

✨ Ajay’s story is not just about chickens – it is about courage, persistence, and turning a simple idea into a profitable, sustainable livelihood.

If you are dreaming of scaling your own free-range poultry farm, take inspiration from Ajay Verma – and remember, the country chicken like the Gavran breed is more than just a bird; it’s a pathway to prosperity.