Coop Costs A Real Shocker!

[Orchid]

I don't think a coop like that would be especially comfortable for chickens here on a night that is -35 to -40 F. I can see how it would be nice where it doesn't get that cold, though.

My husband is just finishing my coop...and I am just dreading getting the statement from the lumberyard next month.

And mine is just a little guy, made for only 4-6 chickens! I know I will love it though and I bet you will love yours too.

 

[WV_Hillbilly70]

I too am wrapping up the coop construction process to the tune of about $800. The coop I built was similar to a pre-fab one I had seen online for almost $2500!!! Building it yourself and shopping for lumber sales ( I purchased materials from 4 different stores) save lots of money. One big thing I saved on was buying fasteners (nails, screws, poultry staples) by the pound (weigh them and bag them yourself) versus buying them in pre-packaged boxes. Small mom and pop hardware stores still sell them like that. I probably saved over $100 by doing that!!

I look at it as investment in sanity. I've really enjoyed building my coop, and me and my girlfriend really enjoy watching those crazy chickens (chicken TV), and the whole experience has provided my family time to spend together, not in front of the boob tube...Can't put a price on that.

 

[columbiacritter]

My latest coop, even though it's real small will run about $600 with me doing all the labor. A good chunk of the cost is the wire for the run that's about doubled in cost in the last 5 years.

My big coop 8 x 8 , insulated, sided and painted cost around $800, six + years ago.


I've elected not to do turkeys until our credit cards are paid down and the economy is a little better.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I know what you mean. We've only spend $125 or so, but then again we've only bought concrete and the lumber for the run posts/coop supports and floor (not counting plywood). Originally my husband wanted to raise about 15 chickens so that we would have some for the freezer and build them an 8x8 coop. After finalizing his coop plan and completing the materials list and pricing them using last weekend's sales fliers he suggested to me this morning that maybe we should start out smaller with about 5 or so laying hens and a 4x5 coop with a covered run. Works for me, since I'm mostly interested in the eggs, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to resist naming the chickens and becoming attached to them, and a smaller coop will take up less of our small back yard (which has to be shared with large dogs and a baby).

 

[robk0220]

We've got over $1,000 already just in the coop, and haven't even started on the run yet. I don't even wanna think what that is gonna cost. LOL

 

[chickydoodle]

Yep, haven't started our run yet either. I like to believe it won't cost nearly what the coop did but still...

I'd love an open air, totlally free range but it's just not feasible where I am. Not if I want even a few safe

. It gets -20 here steadily in the winter with winds, we are at the top of a huge hill, not quite a mountain but close, and have predators galore. The wind is steady all year and it gets d@mn frigid in the winter. My chicks free range will freerange with supervision, they are only 6 wekks yet, but love to be out cavortinge. LOL.

I'm sorry to hear others get in over their heads with cost too~ but happy to see I'm not alone

 

[gettinaclue]

Ugh!!! Coop costs! We just have to put a few finishing touches on the coop and it will be done. The chickens are in it already (ten of them). The run isn't done yet, but that's okay, they will be learning to go back to the coop by themselves.

We have 1000 wrapped up in the coop. Depressing! But I do have to say they are better than TV. I thought people werw crazy when they said they would sit out and watch them, but I just love it.

We have been lucky enough to do the labor ourselves but that is still a lot of money. We even went to the lumber yard for sales, scrap wood, signed up on freecycle etc, but we got nada. Shew!!

 

[drewva]

With costs like these we decided to go pre-fab - we found a great A-Frame design at a company called Handcrafted Coops - $499 includes shipping!
They also have a larger model for $799 including shipping.
see http:/Handcrafted Coops.com

 

[Thunderman]

I'm up to about $2000 for my 8X8 coop with some of the run materials purchased, but not all. I figure I'll be in for around $2500 when I'm done. I keep using the rationale that if I the girls can produce $250 worth of eggs a year I will break even in 10 years. That works out to roughly 85 dozen at $3 a dozen. Anymore than that is gravy. I know my logic is flawed, but please let me live in this fantasy.

 

[AVizcaya]

All I can say it wow! $200 max on my 10x18 coop, DH and I did all the labor, lumber seconds, and all hardware/paint from REStore. My own design to make best use of wood with little to no cuts and to get the most square footage. This is my second coop. First coop 8x8, all materials salvaged from my farm, old tin and framing from old buildings, only $100 on hardware (didn't know about REStore yet). I'm cheep, I admit it.

I'll also admit that there are times I sit and day dream about a $x000.00 coop and watch it get delivered, no work involved... that would be so cool.