Backyard Plans

Sized from your flock and your yard

Custom chicken coop plans made for YOUR yard

Tell us how many hens you keep and how much room you have. See two coop designs in 3D and in your own yard photo, free. Then build from a step-by-step plan with every cut and every screw.

Upload a yard photo — free previewSee the 8 coop models
  • No credit card for the preview
  • $14.99 one-time per plan
  • US sizes, real lumber
Large stilt coop, Farmhouse style in a backyard (representative image)
Representative image of the large stilt coop, farmhouse style. Your plan is sized for your flock.

Every plan follows published coop guidance: 4 sq ft per hen inside with a run, 10 sq ft per hen in the run, a nest box for every 4 hens, and 1/2 in hardware cloth on every opening. Sizes, cuts and prices come from our plan engine, never from AI.

How it works

From yard photo to build plan in three steps

  1. 1

    Tell us about your flock and yard

    How many hens, run or no run, the space you have and the ground. A yard photo is optional.

  2. 2

    Compare two concepts for free

    Two coop designs sized for your answers, in 3D and placed in your yard photo, with size and material cost ranges.

  3. 3

    Unlock the full plan and build

    Step-by-step PDF, drawings, cut list, shopping list, AR and tour video. One credit, one plan.

Start my free preview

Pick a model

8 coop designs, 4 looks

Walk-in coops, raised and stilt coops, and a movable tractor. Hen range, size and material cost are worked out by our plan engine for each model.

Pictures are representative images. Material costs are estimates from typical US home-center prices; they vary by store and region.

What you get

A complete plan, not a sketch

Every page below comes from a real plan: the gable farmhouse coop for 6 hens, 6' x 4' ft.

Shopping list with prices

Every line you take to the store, with quantity and an estimated price. Also as a CSV for your phone.

Part of the sample shopping list
ItemSizeQtyEst. total
2x4 lumber8'46$161.00–$253.00
4x4 pressure-treated lumber8'9$108.00–$180.00
1/2" OSB4' x 8' sheet7$98.00–$168.00
3/4" OSB4' x 8' sheet1$24.00–$38.00
1/2" hardware cloth36" wide x 50' roll1$60.00–$100.00
1/2" hardware cloth48" wide x 50' roll1$80.00–$130.00
3-tab asphalt shinglesbundle2$60.00–$90.00
#9 x 3" exterior screws, 5 lb box (zinc)pack2$50.00–$80.00
8" strap hinge (zinc)pack9$27.00–$63.00
Whole plan (26 lines)$968–$1,651

Walk-around tour video

A short video of your coop, made from the plan's own 3D model. Share it with a helper or your HOA.

Interactive 3D model and AR

Rotate it, cut the walls away, and step through the build. Full plans also open in AR, so you can stand the coop in your yard on your phone.

Why it is different

A typical printable plan vs. Backyard Plans

  • Made for your yard size and flock

    Typical plan: One fixed size for everyone

    Backyard Plans: Sized from your hen count and yard, with the space check shown

  • Designs to compare

    Typical plan: One design

    Backyard Plans: 2 concepts × 2 material groups (Economy and Durable)

  • Cut list + shopping list with prices

    Typical plan: Cut list often; prices rarely

    Backyard Plans: Every board and sheet, cutting layouts, and an estimated price for each line

  • 3D, AR and tour video

    Typical plan: Drawings or photos only

    Backyard Plans: Interactive 3D, AR on your phone, and a walk-around video

  • Your yard picture

    Typical plan: No

    Backyard Plans: A picture of the coop placed in your own yard photo

  • See it before you pay

    Typical plan: Usually not

    Backyard Plans: Free 3D preview of both concepts

Pricing

Pay once per plan. Preview for free.

One credit unlocks one full plan of your choice, in either material group.

  • 1 plan

    $14.99

    one full plan

  • Compare more designs

    3-Pack

    $39.99

    3 plans · $13.33 each

  • 5-Pack

    $59.99

    5 plans · $12.00 each

  • One-time payment, no subscription
  • Free preview before you pay
  • Unused credits refundable within 14 days
Start with the free preview

More projects

Chicken coops today. More backyard builds next.

Animals

Garden

  • Raised garden bedComing soon

Outdoor living

  • PergolaComing soon
  • Low deckComing soon

FAQ

Questions before you build

Do I need a permit or HOA approval for a chicken coop?

It depends on your city, county and HOA. Many places require a permit for accessory buildings over a set size (often 120 sq ft), and many limit how many hens you can keep and how far a coop must sit from property lines. Our plans stay at or under 120 sq ft by default and every PDF has a permits and local rules page, but check with your local building department and HOA before you build.

How long does it take to build?

Each plan gives its own estimate from its part count. For example, the 6-hen gable walk-in coop shown on this page is estimated at 17-27 hours (three weekends, with one helper). Small raised coops take less; large walk-in coops with a run take more.

What tools do I need?

A circular saw, a cordless drill/driver, a tape measure, a speed square, a 4 ft level, tin snips for the hardware cloth, a ladder, safety glasses and a helper. The PDF has a full tool checklist, and it marks the nice-to-have tools (clamps, jigsaw, impact driver).

What skill level do I need?

Every model is rated Easy, Medium or Advanced. If you can measure, cut a straight line with a circular saw and drive screws, you can build the easier models. The gable walk-in on this page is rated "Intermediate to advanced".

Are the plans in metric?

Plans are in US feet and inches with standard US lumber (2x4, 4x8 sheets), and every cut is given to the nearest 1/8 inch. Metric sizes are not the main units, so outside the US check that your lumber sizes match.

What is your refund policy?

You can get a refund for credits you have not used within 14 days of purchase, from your Account page. A credit that was used to unlock a plan is not refunded; if a file does not open or has a technical error, we fix it or give you a new credit.

Is the picture exactly what I'll build?

The yard pictures are representative images: an AI image model places our 3D model into a photo to show the look and scale. The 3D model, drawings, cut list and shopping list are the exact plan. Small details in a picture (shadows, trim, plants) can differ from what you build.

Are the coops safe from predators?

Every plan uses 1/2 inch hardware cloth, never chicken wire, on vents, windows and the whole run including the top, plus a 24 inch hardware cloth apron around the run. Chicken wire keeps hens in but does not keep raccoons or dogs out. Doors get two-step latches.

More answers in our building guides.

See your coop in your yard before you buy a single board

It takes a few minutes and costs nothing.

Upload a yard photo — free preview