Day-old chicks in Tarkwa: broilers for chop bars in the Western Region

Tarkwa: a mining town with a busy food trade

Tarkwa is a mining town in the Western Region, and its economy runs on shifts, contractors and the many small food businesses that serve them. Cooked meals, chop bars and food sellers operate through the day, and demand for affordable chicken stays steady through the week. For a farmer, that means a dependable buyer base, provided you can deliver birds of consistent quality on a regular schedule.

Many of the people who buy from these food sellers are working long hours and want a filling plate at a fair price. That gives broilers a clear role. A bird that is ready on time, weighs well and reaches the seller fresh is worth more to a chop bar than a bigger bird that arrives late.

Western Region farming: cocoa, oil palm and the poultry yard

The Western Region is known for cocoa and oil palm, and many farms are large and employ workers who need to be fed. Smaller households grow food crops between tree crops and keep chickens in the yard for eggs, meat and sale. Poultry fits neatly alongside these farms, because it turns household scraps and surplus grain into protein that can be sold quickly.

If you are planning a poultry unit beside a cocoa or palm farm, think about the walk to the feed store, the access road in the rains and how you will move birds to market. A flock on a good road with a dry site is much easier to run than one that depends on a long, muddy track.

Broilers for chop bars: what Tarkwa buyers look for

A chop bar buyer wants consistency first. The bird should weigh much the same from one batch to the next, arrive in good condition and fit the portion the cook has planned. That is why it helps to sell in regular, staggered batches rather than one large lot.

Our listed live broiler price is GH₵ 110 for a bird of about 2.5 kg, and dressed broilers are listed at GH₵ 120. If you sell direct to food sellers, agree the form they want, live or dressed, before the birds are ready, and build your feed plan around that weight. Our broiler chicks guide covers the growing programme in more detail.

The Western Region rains and your poultry house

Tarkwa receives heavy rain for much of the year, with a main rainy season in the middle of the year and a lighter spell later on. Humidity stays high between rains, and the ground can stay wet for days. Those conditions make the house the most important thing to get right. Good air movement keeps the litter dry, and dry litter is one of the strongest defences a young flock has against disease.

Build or choose a house on raised, well-drained ground. Keep drinkers off the litter, check for leaks after every rain, and turn the litter when it begins to cake. Open sides help with airflow, but add side curtains for driving rain so the birds stay dry. Ask your vet about coccidiosis prevention in the damp months.

The first week: a routine for the new flock

The first week decides how strong the flock will be. Keep the routine simple and the same each day, so the birds learn where their water and feed are and stay calm.

1. Day one. Warm the house, provide water first and offer a small amount of starter feed on a flat tray. Check the chicks at dusk and again at dawn.
2. Days two to four. Raise the feed level gradually. Watch for chicks that are not eating, and for any that stand apart from the group.
3. Days five to seven. Check the spread of the birds. An even spread around the heat means the temperature is right. Adjust the heat only in small steps.

Keep a simple daily record of feed used, water changes, deaths and anything unusual. That record is the first thing your vet will ask for if a problem appears.

Breeds and prices for Western Region buyers

Starting prices, in cedis per chick, as at 18 October 2026. We confirm them in writing at order, and quote delivery to Tarkwa separately.

For the full list of birds we supply, see our price page.

The four-hour road from Kasoa to Tarkwa

Tarkwa is about 230 km from our hatchery and usually takes around four hours by road. The usual route runs west through Cape Coast and Takoradi, then north to Tarkwa. It is one of our shorter trips for broiler orders, but traffic in the coastal towns can add time, so plan for a full morning at the station.

Because the trip is short, the main risk is a late start, not the road itself. Message us the day before the hatch so we can confirm the dispatch window, and have your station ready for the vehicle. Our Western Region guide covers the wider region we serve from here.

A worked example: 200 broilers for a food seller

Imagine a food seller in Tarkwa who wants a regular supply of broilers each month. Four boxes of Ross 308 cover 200 birds. The table shows the chick cost and the gross value of the same birds at our listed live price, with the usual costs left out.

The chick bill is GH₵ 4,000 at the from-price, and the gross value at the listed live price is GH₵ 22,000 if every bird reaches market weight. Feed, housing, losses and transport are not in that figure. Work those out from your own records before you set a selling price, and keep the batches staggered so the cash comes in steadily.

Festive dates and the Western Region calendar

Christmas, Easter and the Eid festivals all raise demand for birds in the Western Region. Families travel home for these holidays, food sellers take on extra orders, and households buy birds for gatherings. Plan backwards from the date and allow several weeks for birds to reach a saleable weight.

The safest approach is to fix your sale date first, then order a batch that will be ready a week or two before the festival, so you have a margin for slow growth or a late buyer. If you are not sure which hatch date to choose, message us with your sale date and we will work it out with you. Our Christmas broiler guide has the full timing calculation.

Feed supply and planning through the wet season

Feed is the largest running cost for most broiler and layer flocks, and the wet season can make supply harder to plan. Roads that run well in the dry months can flood or slow down in the rains, so a dealer who delivers on time in June may not deliver on time in July. Agree a delivery schedule before the chicks arrive, and keep at least one extra bag in reserve for the first weeks.

Store feed in a dry, raised place off the floor, away from the walls and out of reach of rodents. Damp feed loses quality quickly and can carry mould, which is the last thing a young flock needs. Buy in quantities you can use within a few weeks, and check each bag for lumps or a musty smell before you open it.

Plan the feed budget for the whole cycle, from the first box to the sale date. For a 200-bird broiler batch, the feed bill usually runs well past the cost of the chicks, so the chick price is only one part of the decision. Our poultry budget guide shows the wider cost picture.

How to order for Tarkwa

1. Message us. Send your breed, number of boxes and station to WhatsApp +233 24 915 1503.
2. Agree the hatch date. We confirm when your chicks come out and when the vehicle leaves.
3. Receive the price in writing. You see the chick price, the box cost and the delivery cost before any money moves.
4. Pay and collect. Pay by mobile money, bank transfer or cash, and collect at the agreed station on dispatch day.

Place your order on the order form, or check the price list first. For buyers who run several farms, our bulk page explains how we quote larger orders. If you are not sure which bird suits your menu or your customers, describe the dishes you serve and we will suggest a breed to match.

Questions farmers ask