Coop Costs A Real Shocker!

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gltrap54

gltrap54

Crowing
14 Years
Mar 26, 2010
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51
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Just wrapping up my coop construction to the tune of $1,300 in material alone. Keep in mind that I've used half of an already existing 8' x 16' storage shed for the coop part. I'm disabled, so I'm paying for the labor as well. Probably $2K for the coop & a 8' x 8' run when done! Yes, I did everything by the "Backyard Chickens" handbook, but I never dreamed it would cost this much. My 6 Gold Comets will have to live to be 90 to pay for this thing!
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Wow, But a least you know it will be done right. That always cost less in the long run. Next time you need something built check out your local trade school. The teachers are always looking for projects for the students, and if you pay for your materials, they usually say yes right away.

can't wait to see pictures.
 
Oh yeah...we paid right around that amount for our set-up, although we were able to do the labor ourselves. I hate to think of what it would have cost if we'd paid someone to do it for us. Of course our cost included housing and run. And like you, mine is only for a very small flock. I look at it like this: I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent in veterinary bills (spays, neuters, stomach surgeries), dog training classes, Frontline Plus and Heartguard, and food (2 large dogs) over the past several years for my other animals, but I know it's a LOT less than what I spent on my coop. Just enjoy your chickens and think about how much money you're saving on therapy, because sitting out there with those birds is the most relaxing therapy you could have.
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If it makes you feel any better, in the last 2 wekks I've sunk at least $800 into my from-scratch 8x6 coop built with my designs and my nephew (and my) hands. I still have to pay him for his work when we're done and my husband only knows about $400 of it.
I am a dead woman when the charge rolls in with Home depot, Lowes and feed store charges on it
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Plus my other 6 chicks are coming on saturday. He's already declared me 'out OF CONTROL!'
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But we are a day or so from being done and this sucker will LAST!!! I figure do it RIGHT the first time or 2 years from now sinking another couple hundred and so on will really suck.
I agree with the pp about chicken therapy
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. Enjoy you chickens and know they've got a great home!!!!!
 
I know exactly how you feel about prices. We are currently building our 8 x 8 coop, and price is everything for us in this bad economy. I originally wanted to buy a pre-made coop, but I was truly shocked at how much they charge for them. I know people have to make a living and all, but I really think there are some seriously overpriced coops out there. The one thing I have noticed is that people don't really research as to what chickens actually need, and they go overboard building them a house suited for people, not chickens. Chickens don't need fancy windows, insulation, or a coop that resembles a human house. What they do need is plenty of light and air circulation, and that means making a coop with as many large windows as possible, otherwise known as an Fresh Air/Open Front chicken coop. Here is a picture of chickens doing just fine in an open front coop, even though there is snow outside:

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This is the way chicken coops used to be made, because the more light and fresh air the chickens have, the healthier they are and the more eggs they produce. Of course the coop in the pic above is pretty ugly..lol..but at least it gives you an idea of what I mean. Our coop is going to have huge screened windows on 3 sides to ensure the chickens are healthy and happy. If anyone would like to read up on this interesting subject, go to this article as they post a large excerpt from a book that explains the benefits of this type of fresh air coop over the current closed in coops that are so popular:

http://www.nortoncreekpress.com/fresh-air-poultry-houses2.html


The more open the coop is, the more fresh air that circulates, which means less smells and bacteria as well. Learning this has really saved us a lot of money, as we learned we didn't have to go overboard building a coop the chickens didn't need, but instead could build a simple, less expensive coop that will give the chickens everything they need to be healthy and happy.
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You'll be so happy with your new coop's performance. Using new materials really does make a difference. And it will last for the long run.

My DH says that our chickens are laying golden eggs - we just don't realize it because they are brown.
 
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Yes, please share pictures! And comfort yourself with the knowledge that your hobby of chicken-keeping will repay you with years of entertainment, contentment, and eggs worth several hundred bucks each.
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And for PNightbird, I love the concept of open-air poultry housing with the front facing south, but how in the h*** would you predator-proof such coops???

Thanks for posting that interesting link.
 

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