Buy premade or build??

[Sillystunt]

it will be cheaper to build yourself. trust me, we build coops

Craigslist will have someone there but make sure you get sqft cause they will say.................20sqft can hold 40 chickens. Ya dig~

We sell a triangle coop that sleeps 3 hens for $150. Anything like a house type building will run you 300 and up.............

Alot of people get out of chickens and give their coops away or sell them really cheep.

 

[crzychickenlady]

I would love to build myself, I'm just afraid that it wont be very sturdy with me building it....lol

I'll share some pics of the last thing I built and you can see.
I don't really know how to make the frame part, this "condo" I built for one roo that was disabled. It started to get weak after about a year and rot in some places.

In the process of building:

And the finished product:

Mind you, I had never built anything before like this and did the best I could. It looked very nice and seemed solid when I was done, but with weathering and such it began to become weak.

I just worry that if I do try to build on my own, that it wont last very long.

ETA: That condo was not a permanent enclosure, just a daytime place for that roo to get fresh air.

 

[Slywoody]

After a quick peruse, i'm not too impressed with this coop and would never buy it myself. I think with a little creative thinking about FREE materials and some serious research here on BYC or your library for some coop plans, you could build it yourself. Do you know anybody who is a carpenter that could put you on the right track?

 

[PhilErvin]

Go and buy a book (at Home Depot or Lowe's or simply go to the library) on building storage sheds. Study building techniques and design your own coop. It's really that simple. Look at my coop. I have never built anything like that before.

 

[CityChook]

Quote:
Actually, I'd check craigslist for a carpenter. There are plenty of folks out there who could use the work. And they could likely finish more quickly than you could working on your own. Plus, you never know when they have connections (and an account) to help you get that lumber at wholesale prices vs. retail. If you're serious about spending $550 (Isn't it $350 + shipping?) on something like this, you'd be better off building it at home for the same money with quality materials.

The last coop we built (see my page) was roughly the same size (4x8) but included hardwired electricity, 2x4 construction, green-treated lumber, upgraded hinges and latches, a large window, asphalt roofing, fiberglass insulation, plywood interior walls and paint/stain inside and out. It cost $600. We are NOT handy people with a bunch of power tools -- and purchased all the materials retail.

 

[teach1rusl]

I think the structure you built looks good. You mentioned it didn't weather well...use pressure treated lumber for parts that sit on the ground, and paint anything exposed to the weather or water, and whatever you build will last quite a long time. Like T1-11 for siding, not just plywood. And paint the t1-11 of course. But it looks like you could easily handle a small coop

Oh...and put a metal roof on it, or shingles. I couldn't tell what your other one had as a roof....

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I'm sure you can find a handyman or even build one yourself for much cheaper.

90% of my coops are recycled wood, playhouses, dog kennels, wire. Only thing I've paid for has been nails, screws and hardware. Like folks on here have said. Craigslist and Freecycle. That's where I've gotten mine.

That coop is 4ft x 27inches inside the coop part...... MO, winter,............... What do you think?

 

[chickenma]

Treated wood is more expensive . We use the same wood as you but we painted it with paint they use for decks/ outdoors that resist bad weather and it will stay good for a long time.
We got cheap paint form the return ail that people brought back to the store because of whatever reason. $5 a can. It saves us a lot of money instead of buying new paint.
I did not got any complains from the hens. They loved their new coop and we do too. We got some shingles the same way. There are alway bags that get ripped and they sell it for really cheap because no one will buy it. a couple dollars. You can build a nice coop as long as you are not looking for the perfect new material coop.
good luck