Backyard poultry supplies and coop plans for South African keepers

Gotchickens is a working homestead shop and advice desk for people in Gauteng, the Free State and the Cape who keep layers, broilers and a few bantams in the yard. Feeders and drinkers, galvanised laying nests, wood shavings, poultry grit, heat lamps and 50 kg feed bins sit on the same shelf as incubators and brooder plates for the spring hatch.

Coop hardware is picked for local conditions: rust-treated hinges, predator mesh tight enough to hold off mongoose and caracal, and shade cloth for Highveld heat. Order cart items directly, or ask a flock question and get an answer from someone who mucks out coops.

Browse the shop Ask a flock question

New to hens? Start with a galvanised laying nest bank and build the rest of the yard around it.

Questions we get asked most

Straight answers from people who keep hens, not from a script. If your question is not here, the advice desk is a phone call away.

How much space do laying hens actually need?: For a smallstand flock, plan on roughly 0.3 to 0.4 square metres of coop floor per bird and at least double that in the run. Bantams manage with less, but crowding shows up fast as feather pecking and dirty eggs. Ventilation matters more than floor area in Highveld heat, so leave a high vent that stays open in summer.
What should I buy before the chicks arrive?: A feeder, a drinker, wood shavings, a brooder plate or heat lamp, and a thermometer. Add poultry grit once they start eating anything beyond starter feed. A starter kit covers most of this in one order if you are new to hens and would rather not piece it together.
How do I keep mongoose and caracal out of the coop?: Mesh gauge and how you fit it matter more than the brand. Use tight-weave galvanised predator mesh, bury a skirt of it around the base, and check that hinges and latches close flush with no gap wider than a thumb. Mongoose push and dig; caracal pull and climb. Both test the same weak corners.
Is diatomaceous earth worth using in the coop?: It helps with mites and lice when dusted into nest boxes and dust-bathing spots, and it stays useful in the shavings. It is not a cure for a heavy infestation, so treat the birds as well as the coop. Wear a mask when you apply it, because the dust is fine and unpleasant to breathe.
When is the right time to run a spring hatch?: Late winter into early spring works well in most of Gauteng, the Free State and the Cape, so chicks feather out as the nights warm up. Set the incubator about three weeks before you want them, and have the brooder plate running and stable before the first chick pips.
Can I order coop plans and supplies together?: Yes. Coop plans sit in the cart alongside feeders, drinkers, nests and hardware, so a single order can cover the build and the birds. Plans come with cutting lists in millimetres and ventilation notes for smallstand and farm werf layouts.

Still stuck on a flock problem? Read more keeper questions or ask the advice desk directly.

Start with the gear your yard actually needs

If you are setting up your first run, the cart is the quickest way in. Pick your feeders and drinkers, a bag of wood shavings, and shade cloth before the Highveld summer bites. Add a starter kit if the hens are new to you, and we will pack the basics together.

Not sure what fits a smallstand or a farm werf? Send a photo of the coop and we will tell you what to change before you order.

Next step

Build your cart, or ask us a flock question first.

Browse the shop

Ask a flock question See the laying nest bank

What the shop actually covers

Most backyard setups fail on small things: a drinker that tips, a nest that stays wet, a vent a mongoose can squeeze through. Here is what we keep on the shelf and what each part is for.

Feeders, drinkers and feed bins

Trough and tube feeders, hanging drinkers, and 50 kg bins that keep mash dry through a Highveld thunderstorm. Sized for a dozen layers up to a few hundred broilers.

Nests, bedding and grit

Galvanised laying nests, wood shavings, diatomaceous earth for mites, and poultry grit for birds on a grain-heavy ration. Clean eggs start with a dry, washable nest box.

Coop hardware for local predators

Rust-treated hinges, heavy latches, and tight-weave predator mesh for mongoose and caracal. Shade cloth and clips for run roofs when the summer sun sits hard on the yard.

Incubators and brooder plates

Small-batch incubators with clear lids for candling, plus brooder plates that run cool on top. Aimed at keepers running one spring clutch, not a hatchery floor.

Coop plans for smallstands and werfs

Drawn for real yard layouts, with cutting lists in millimetres and notes on cross-ventilation. You get a buildable frame, not a sketch on a napkin.

Flock advice from people who keep birds

Questions about moulting, soft shells, or a hen that will not leave the nest go to keepers who muck out coops themselves. No call centre script.

Browse the full range on the products page, or start with the galvanised laying nest bank if clean eggs are your first problem.