better to buy or build?

[Kilsharion]

Building, by far, is the most economical. We built our first stationary coop for under $150 by using CL to find our lumber (free - reclaimed deck and fence wood) and tin ($5 for five pieces). All we had to buy was the wire for the openings, plywood for the skinning/floor and the paint....and nails.

 

[Ga Boy]

Depends on you? If you have the tools building is best you get what you want. And most prebuilt coops will not last unless you buy from someone who would build it the way you would.

 

[Hormesishealer]

I agree building is the way. The thing to remember about prefab coops is that they are marked up with retail costs. A coop that you pay 700 bucks for may only have 100 bucks worth of wood in the whole kit. I hate getting screwed like that. There are so many great ideas on this site and I have been tweaking mine since my girls came home. It's a good idea to think about automating your food and water and there are several low cost ways to build those as well. You guys are going to love these birds and would hate to be stuck with some stock coop that may not really work for you. Best of luck!

 

[Madamegato]

Would totally say build. Ours is a 15sf coop, 3 nest boxes and we were able to make it for just over 150 bucks. There are tons of people on here that have coops made out of sheds and the like as well with a run built on. But - yeah - for the price, you can't beat doing it yourself. Not to mention you can make it whatever size/shape you need for your yard.

Good luck!

 

[dawj]

You will prob. modify any pre fab coop you buy. As you read on here you will learn things you need and things you don't. If you are good with tools or know someone that is it will cost way less to build than buy. here is a pic of my coop and run https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/530224/15-hours-to-build-coop-and-6-hour-to-build-run . I changed the water fountain for winter raised about 4 inches to prevent bedding from filling it up. I also built a shelf in run with 2 35gal barrels for grain and scratch to be stored. I also used recycled countertops under roost to catch droppings to preserve wood shavings from being soiled.
The rain barrel is worth its weight in gold Happy Building

 

[milola]

We are in the process of building our own. It is 6X8 and has so far cost about 500.00. It is way overbuilt but thats my husband for ya. From what I have seen, the prebuilt ones are a joke. Lowes has a really cute one, fair size but it is 1400.00. Mine will be almost as cute and much bigger.

 

[roughneckturtle]

Its always better to build than buy, you can make it fit your needs. And the ones they sell at the chain stores and most local feed stores are not very sturdy. For insulation, I would either use spray foam or styrofoam boar covered by plywood, chickens seem to think the foam and styrofoam are food, so they may try to eat it. If you use the styrofoam board with the foil, be sure to face the silver/foil side to the outside (from the inside, the foil should face toward the wall) or you will turn your shed into an oven.