How Big Should My Chicken Coop Be?
Calculate chicken coop and run size by flock size. Space requirements per bird.
Space
Indoor: 2 sq ft/bird। Outdoor run: 8-10 sq ft。 Nests: 1 per 3-4 hens。 Perch: 8-10 inches/bird。 6 hens: coop 12+ sq ft + run 60+ sq ft。 Backyard poultry: ₹3,000-10,000 setup. Kadaknath, Desi, Aseel: Indian breeds。
Production
Desi hen: 150-200 eggs/year। Hybrid: 250-300。 6 hens: 3-4 eggs/day — family sufficient! Backyard poultry: growing Indian rural enterprise (NABARD supports)。
Backyard chicken economics: 6 hens produce approximately 4-5 eggs per day (1,400-1,800 per year). At $5-7/dozen for free-range eggs, that is $580-1,050 worth of eggs annually. A basic coop costs $200-500 to build, feed costs $20-30/month. Most backyard flocks break even in year 1 and produce "free" eggs thereafter (plus entertainment, pest control, and garden fertilizer).
