- High Production – Get more eggs and faster meat growth with the right care.
- Save on Feed – Reduce feed costs by improving how birds use food.
- Easy Setup Guide – Step-by-step help from choosing hens to selling products.
- Real Profit Example – See how a 100-hen farm earns and spends money.
- Smart Tips – Simple tricks to keep hens healthy and farm profits high.
Starting a hen farm is one of the fastest ways to produce a steady income from eggs and chicken meat. With the right housing, brooding temperature, feed, vaccination schedule, and biosecurity, even a small backyard poultry unit can achieve high hen-day egg production (HDEP) and efficient growth for broilers. This step-by-step guide simplifies everything—from breed selection and deep litter housing to FCR (feed conversion ratio), marketing, and ROI—so a 15-year-old can follow and build a safe, profitable poultry farming business.
Choose Your Hen Farm Model (Layers, Broilers, Dual-Purpose)
- Layers = eggs first (HDEP target: 80–95%).
- Broilers = meat in 6–8 weeks; focus on FCR (1.6–1.8 is common).
- Dual-purpose = eggs + meat (e.g., Vanaraja, Giriraja)—great for backyard poultry.
Quick table – Model at a glance
| Model | Revenue focus | Typical cycle | Key KPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layers | Eggs | 18–80 weeks | HDEP, shell quality |
| Broilers | Meat | 6–8 weeks | FCR, live weight |
| Dual-purpose | Eggs + Meat | 16–24+ weeks | Mixed (HDEP + growth) |
Pro tip: If you’re new, start with 100 layers or 300 broilers—small enough to learn, big enough to profit.
Farm Setup & Permissions
- Pick a well-drained, ventilated site away from neighbours; plan water, power backup, and predator control.
- Keep the house east–west oriented to reduce heat.
- Register your business (local municipality), and learn basic egg hygiene & storage (<5 °C for perishable foods).
Quick table – Setup checklist
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Water | Backup for brooding, lights, and fans |
| Power | Backup for brooding, lights, fans |
| Waste | Manure composting area |
| Compliance | Local registration, hygiene norms |
Pro tip: A simple SOP folder (cleaning, feeding, vaccination) prevents 90% of mistakes.
Housing: Deep Litter vs. Cage vs. Free-Range
- Deep litter system (most popular for small farms): low cost, good comfort; litter: rice husk/wood shavings.
- Cage/aviary: higher eggs per hen and easier egg collection; higher capex.
- Stocking density guidelines (deep litter):
- Layers: ~0.14–0.18 m² per bird (≈1.5–2 sq ft).
- Broilers: ~0.09–0.11 m² per bird (≈1–1.2 sq ft).
Quick table – Space & fittings
| Item | Layers | Broilers |
|---|---|---|
| Floor space/bird | 1.5–2 sq ft | 1–1.2 sq ft |
| Feeder space/bird | 4–5 cm | 3–4 cm |
| Drinker space/bird | 1 nipple: 8–10 birds | 1 nipple: 10–12 birds |
Pro tip: Keep inlets high, outlets low—fresh air in, ammonia out (better ventilation = better growth).
Brooding & Chick Care (Weeks 1–6)
- Target temperature: 32–35 °C in week 1; reduce ≈2–3 °C weekly until ~23–24 °C by week 6.
- Use at least two thermometers at chick height; watch chick behaviour (huddling = cold; panting = hot).
- Litter must be dry and friable; start with paper on litter for 2–3 days to find feed.
See the “Brooding Temperature Schedule” chart above.
Quick table – Brooding targets
| Week | °C | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32–35 | Huddling, pasting |
| 2–3 | 29–31 | Even spread under brooder |
| 4–6 | 23–27 | Dry litter, steady growth |
Pro tip: Pre-heat house 24 hrs before chick arrival; warm floor prevents chilling.
Feeding & Nutrition (Simple, Science-Backed)
- Layers: daily feed intake ~110 g/hen, with calcium 3.5–4.5% for strong shells; supply oyster shell grit (coarse) in the evening.
- Broilers: Starter → Grower → Finisher; aim for FCR 1.6–1.8 with good pellet quality and clean water.
- Water: birds drink 1.6–2× feed intake; keep drinkers clean and cool.
Quick table – Typical feed specs (guide only)
| Bird | Energy (kcal/kg) | CP % | Ca % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Layer (peak) | 2700–2800 | 16–18 | 3.5–4.5 | Shell needs coarse Ca |
| Broiler starter | 2950–3050 | 21–23 | 0.9–1.0 | Uniform crumbles |
| Broiler finisher | 3100–3200 | 18–20 | 0.8–0.9 | Pellets → better FCR |
Pro tip: In heat, slightly higher energy diets help; in cold, birds eat more—adjust accordingly.
Breed & Strain Selection (Eggs, Meat, or Both)
- Commercial layers: Hy-Line Brown, Lohmann, H&N (high HDEP, 300+ eggs/yr in good systems).
- Broilers: Cobb, Ross (fast growth, low FCR).
- Dual-purpose/backyard: Vanaraja, Giriraja, Gramapriya—hardy, colourful birds suited for free-range.
Quick table – India-friendly choices
| Purpose | Strain/Variety | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | Hy-Line/Lohmann | High HDEP, shell strength |
| Broilers | Cobb/Ross | Fast growth, efficient FCR |
| Dual-purpose | Vanaraja/Giriraja | Hardy, good meat + eggs |
Pro tip: For backyard poultry, dual-purpose birds + scavenging = lower feed cost per kg meat/egg.
Biosecurity & Health (No Shortcuts)
- All-in/all-out, controlled entry, footbaths, rodent & fly control.
- Vaccination schedule (example): Marek’s (hatchery), NDV (Lasota) 7–10 d, IBD 14–16 d, NDV booster 5–6 wk, IB as needed; layers receive inactivated NDV/IB before lay.
- Strong biosecurity reduces antibiotic use and improves outcomes.
Quick table – Sample vaccines (consult local vet)
| Age | Vaccine | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Day-old | Marek’s | Hatchery |
| 7–10 d | NDV (Lasota) | Eye/nasal |
| 14–16 d | IBD | Drinking water |
| 5–6 wk | NDV booster | Drinking water |
| 16–18 wk | NDV/IB inactivated | Injection |
Pro tip: Keep a logbook of batch, date, route, and who administered each vaccine.
Lighting & Production Management (Layers)
- Photoperiod: Build to 16 hours light/day from 18 weeks for stable lay.
- Uniformity: same light intensity across the house; use timers; avoid sudden changes.
- Shell quality: evening coarse calcium boosts shells overnight.
Quick table – Simple lighting plan
| Age (weeks) | Hours of light/day |
|---|---|
| 16–18 | 12–14 |
| 18–20 | 15 |
| 20+ | 16 (steady) |
Pro tip: A 10–15-minute ramp-up/ramp-down avoids stress at lights on/off.
Litter & Waste Management
- Keep litter dry (40–60% RH); stir caked areas; add fresh shavings.
- Compost manure to cut odour and create saleable fertiliser; keep rain off the pile.
- Fix leaks and manage ventilation to control ammonia.
Quick table – Litter materials
| Material | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Rice husk | Available, absorbent | Dusty |
| Wood shavings | Comfortable | Cost varies |
| Chopped straw | Cheap | Cakes if wet |
Pro tip: If you smell ammonia, birds felt it hours ago—act fast (stir litter + add dry material).
Water & Equipment
- Cleaners/sanitisers weekly; flush lines.
- Nipples reduce contamination; set height so birds stretch slightly.
- Birds drink 1.6–2× feed intake—ensure constant flow.
Quick table – Minimums per 100 birds
| Item | Layers | Broilers |
|---|---|---|
| Feeders | 2 long troughs (~2 m) | 2 long troughs |
| Nipple drinkers | 10–12 nipples | 8–10 nipples |
| Backup water | 200–300 L tank | 200–300 L tank |
Pro tip: Record daily water use—drops flag illness; spikes flag heat stress.
Economics: Costs, FCR & Example ROI
- Feed cost is 40–70% of total; better FCR and low mortality drive profit.
- Example (100 layers, HDEP 85%, egg price ₹6): ~2,550 eggs/month, revenue ≈ ₹15,300; typical costs shown below → modest profit; scale improves margins.
See the 100-Layer Monthly Economics bar chart above.
Quick table – Sample 100-Layer month (illustrative)
| Line item | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|
| Egg revenue | 15,300 |
| Feed (≈330 kg @ ₹35) | 11,550 |
| Vaccines/supplements | 600 |
| Litter & electricity | 700 |
| Labour | 1,000 |
| Estimated profit | 1,450 |
Pro tip: Improving FCR from 1.8 → 1.6 can cut feed costs by ~12% for broilers—optimise pellets, genetics, and environment.
Marketing, Grading & Compliance
- Sell via nearby shops, housing societies, schools, online, and weekend markets.
- Basic egg handling: collect → grade → cool → deliver; store eggs cool and clean.
- Simple branding (stamp date, farm name) boosts trust.
Quick table – Channels & margins
| Channel | Speed | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesaler | Fast | Low |
| Retail (own) | Medium | High |
| Subscription | Steady | High |
Pro tip: Offer “antibiotic-free”, “free-range chicken” or “farm-fresh eggs” only if you truly meet the standard—honesty builds repeat buyers.
Records, KPIs & Continuous Improvement
Track daily: feed intake (g/bird), water (L), HDEP, mortality rate, FCR (broilers), average body weight, egg weight, and shell cracks.
Quick table – KPI targets
| KPI | Layers | Broilers |
|---|---|---|
| HDEP | 85–95% | — |
| Feed intake | ~110 g/hen/day | Varies by phase |
| FCR | ~2.0 per 360-egg box eq. | 1.6–1.8 |
| Mortality | <1%/month | <4–5%/cycle |
Pro tip: Review KPIs weekly; act early on trends (feed, light, disease).
Conclusion
A profitable hen farm is built on simple, repeatable systems: correct housing and stocking density, right brooding temperatures, balanced feed (with enough calcium for layers), a clear vaccination schedule, and strong biosecurity. Measure daily feed intake, water, HDEP, FCR, and mortality; then adjust lighting, ventilation, and nutrition. Start small, standardise your SOPs, and scale once the numbers (and litter) stay consistently healthy.
Explore more blogs to boost your farming knowledge and make smarter agri-business moves.
FAQs
Commercial layers can exceed 300 eggs/year in optimised systems; backyard dual-purpose birds 2 usually lay less. (Breed/strain dependent.)
Start at 32–35 °C in week 1 and reduce ~2–3 °C per week to ~23–24 °C by week 6.
Aim for 1.6–1.8 with good feed, pellets, and environment.
About 110 g/hen/day on average.
Generally, 3.5–4.5% Ca in the diet; provide coarse calcium (e.g., oyster shell) for strong shells.
Typical programs include Marek’s, NDV (Ranikhet), IBD, and inactivated NDV/IB pre-lay for layers; confirm with a local vet.
Ensure calcium levels and particle size, avoid heat stress, and give coarse calcium in the evening.
Keep eggs cool and clean; perishable foods are best below 5 °C to maintain quality.
Deep litter is cheaper and comfortable; cages can lift egg output and reduce dirt, but need higher investment. Follow space norms.
Vanaraja, Giriraja and similar ICAR-supported varieties offer hardy meat + egg performance for backyard poultry.
