Most people arrive with a rough idea and a few photos of the space they have. Here is the order we work in, and what we need from you at each point so nothing gets ordered twice or sized wrong.
Breed, age and how many birds you keep now or plan to start with. If you are hatching, say so, because brooder and coop timelines run on different clocks.
Run length, prevailing wind direction and how much shade the spot gets in January. Highveld frost and coastal damp push the same plan in opposite directions.
We match a housing plan to your numbers, then list the feeders, drinkers, bedding and mesh that go with it. Floor space per bird is checked before anything is confirmed.
You get the plan notes, a materials list and a short settling-in guide covering ventilation, feed storage and what to watch in the first two weeks.
Not sure which plan fits your yard yet? Start with the Highveld winter coop plan or read how we handle site questions on the contact page.
Most questions land while a coop is half-framed or a brooder is already running. Tell us the bird type, life stage and what you have on site, and we can point you to the right plan section or supply note without a long back-and-forth.
Best for dimension checks, breed comparisons and stock notes. Attach a rough sketch or photo of the run if the layout is the sticking point.
Replies within one working day, Mon to Fri.
Use the phone line when chicks are failing to settle, ventilation is wrong, or a predator has already tested the mesh. Keep the call short and specific.
Same-day callbacks on weekdays before 15:00.
For returns, plan corrections or anything that needs a paper trail, post or drop off at the address below. Include your order reference.
740 du Plessis Lane
Thandiport, NW 4898
Six stages, from the first look at the breed index to the day your birds settle into a finished run. Timings below are what we see with smallholders working weekends, not a warehouse dispatch schedule.
Week 1
Start with the breed index and filter by dual-purpose or heritage stock. Read the notes on laying cycles and hardiness before anything else. A Highveld keeper with frost and a coastal keeper with salt wind end up with different shortlists, and that decision shapes every plan that follows.
Week 1 to 2
Choose the coop plan that fits your site, then measure the space you actually have. Floor space runs at roughly 0.35 square metres per bird, and the run needs its own allowance on top. If the numbers do not fit, it is cheaper to change the plan now than to rebuild a frame later.
Week 2 to 3
This is where most baskets get finalised. Add drinkers sized to your flock, a feeder that keeps feed off the floor, bedding, nest boxes and the predator mesh kit if your run sits near bush or open veld. Feed storage matters too, so plan a sealed bin before the first bag arrives.
Week 3 to 4
Have the brooder running a day ahead so the temperature is stable. If load-shedding hits your area, a hot-water bottle setup or a well-insulated box will hold heat through a two-hour outage. Check ventilation at chick height, not at your own eye level.
Month 2
Once feathering is through, shift the flock to the run and watch the first week closely. Predator pressure shows up fast, so walk the perimeter and check the buried skirt and corner overlaps. Adjust bedding depth as the season turns.
Ongoing
Footbath at the gate, separate gear for new birds, and a written record of what you bought and when. Stock notes on the catalogue pages are written for South African conditions, so check them before reordering mesh, fittings or health supplies.