Good questions to start with
No rush.
Let’s clear it up.
About a small coop, your own eggs and using 4Kurki.
First hens
How much space do I need?
By default the plan assumes 1 m² of indoor space and 4 m² of run per hen, so 20 m² in total for four hens. That is a starting point for planning, not a universal legal requirement or proof of good conditions. Dry ground, shade, ventilation, equipment and protection from predators matter too. A smaller layout needs a case-by-case assessment.
Can I keep hens on an allotment or in town?
The calculator alone can’t answer that. Before buying birds, check the current allotment rules and the committee’s decisions, local regulations and veterinary requirements. The layout shows a rough area; it doesn’t replace a design or confirmation that you may keep poultry in that place.
Do I need a rooster?
Hens lay eggs without a rooster. A rooster is only needed to fertilise eggs for hatching, not for collecting eggs to eat.
What should I think about before getting my first hens?
Prepare a safe place, suitable feed and constant access to fresh water. Plan daily checks and cleaning, and someone to cover while you’re away. Your budget should include care even when the hens aren’t laying.
Eggs and costs
Do I have to eat four eggs a day?
No. The project’s name (Polish for “4 hens”) is not dietary advice. The calculator asks about your habits and your own assumptions. You can enter each household member’s portion or your weekly use. If you have particular health needs, agree the number of eggs with a doctor or dietitian.
Will four hens be enough for my family?
It depends on how many eggs you use, laying rate, the birds’ age and the season. A small flock can cover part of your needs and you keep buying the rest. The calculator shows own eggs used, purchases and surplus month by month.
Are home-grown eggs always cheaper?
No. What counts is the cost of feed, equipment, buying the hens, day-to-day upkeep and the number of eggs you actually use. We show the first-year cost separately. Surplus eggs are not automatic income. All starting amounts in the calculator are editable example assumptions.
App and data
What is 4Kurki?
A project for people planning a small coop or already keeping hens. The website helps you work out the idea, and the app is for recording your flock, eggs, feed and costs (the app is in Polish for now). Use only the parts you need.
Do I need an account or have to install the app?
There is no account and no sign-in — you open the app in your browser and it works. It is worth installing it on your phone though: it then gets its own icon and works offline, which matters in a coop with no signal. Step-by-step instructions for Android, iPhone and desktop are on a separate page, together with a reminder about backups. The calculator on the website needs no sign-up either.
Where is my data stored?
Calculator assumptions are saved separately in this browser. We don’t collect your flock records. The app diary has its own storage on your device; remember to download backups. See the data and privacy page for details.
Are there ads in 4Kurki?
No. 4Kurki has no ads and I’m not tied to any advertising deals that would shape the content. There is only a simple, cookie-free page counter — it shows me which pages get read and cannot recognise or follow an individual person. Details are in the data and privacy note. If a partnership ever comes along, it will be open, sensible and related to keeping hens — and it won’t get in the way of using 4Kurki.
Are the games part of keeping hens?
They’re an extra, just for fun. Junior is three days of looking after virtual hens; a real flock is always cared for by an adult. Retro is a short, nostalgic game. You can play them separately from the calculator and the diary. Both games are in Polish for now.