Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy a plan?
A PDF built for your exact configuration: a space check, a shopping list grouped by store aisle, a cut list with part labels, board-by-board cutting diagrams, 4×8 sheet layouts, drawings, a hardware cloth and apron layout, step-by-step assembly with an illustration for every step, and a predator-proofing checklist.
What is free?
Everything on the page before you pay: the overall dimensions, the space check, the 3D preview you can take apart step by step, and the estimated material cost by store aisle. The itemised shopping list, the cut list, the cutting diagrams, the wall drawings and the assembly steps are in the paid PDF. For a limited time the starter plan of each type, the one the configurator opens with (an 8-hen walk-in coop, a 4-hen run), downloads free in full, so you can see exactly what a plan is like. Change anything and the plan is a custom one at the normal price.
How do you decide how big the coop and run should be?
From the flock: 4 sq ft of coop floor per standard hen (2 for bantams, 5 for large breeds), 10 sq ft of run per standard hen (5 and 12), 10 inches of roost, one nest box per 4 hens and 1 sq ft of vent per 10 sq ft of floor. Cold climates add 25% to the coop floor. Sizes snap to a 2 ft grid and favour what wastes the least lumber.
Can I choose my own size?
Sizes follow the number of hens, so the coop and run are always the right standard size for your flock. Change the flock, breed or climate and every cut, board, sheet and screw is recalculated.
Is this an engineered drawing?
No. The plans use conservative span and spacing rules, but they are a guide. Check your site, your lumber and your local building codes before you build.
Do I need a permit?
It depends where you live. Structures over about 108 sq ft (10 m²) may need a building permit in parts of Canada, and many US areas exempt structures up to 120 sq ft. Many places also regulate keeping hens. Check your local rules.
Are the prices exact?
No. Material prices are estimates and vary by store and season. Use them to compare designs, not as a quote.
How do I get a refund?
See the refund policy. In short: plans are digital downloads, so sales are final, but we refund if the PDF will not open, you were charged twice, or the plan has an error we cannot fix quickly.
More questions? support@chickencoopplanner.com. Refund policy.