Coop plans a little excessive?

[Dart2788]

Hi all, we're new to chickens and new to BackyardChickens.com, we're designing our coop/shed combo and plan on adding feathered occupants next spring. We're planning a shed/chicken coop combo, 16' long, 12' wide; an 8'x8' coop space, and then attaching an 8'x20' outdoor run. We were pricing out the materials for everything and we're somewhere in the $3000 range... :S yikes! We'd start with maybe 12 chicks and see what happens from there. My husband about peed his pants when we totaled everything and thinks this is all a bit excessive but I feel like if we're gonna get chickens we ought to do it right the first time! What do you all think? Is this too much space? We have a large yard so its not a space issue but it is a large building/run area. This picture is what we've based our design on with some tweaks, the door will be on the larger section of building and have an interior door into the smaller, coop area, the run will come off the smaller side of the building.
Thanks guys!

 

[RileyCalanchini]

Chicken coops don't have to be "super fancy." Or $3,000$ BIG BUCKS. But that's not my decision. In my opinion, you should try something simple. The coop can be any size that you feel comfortable with. There's really nothing I can say because its the way you want it. At least try to find a way to reduce the cost because that is a lot of money. Hope this helps.

 

[-BOGGS-]

I'd start off simple so if you change your mind about the birdies, your not out that much cash.just my opinion, then again, they'd be some seriously spoiled girls.LOL

 

[RileyCalanchini]

I'd start off simple so if you change your mind about the birdies, your not out that much cash.just my opinion, then again, they'd be some seriously spoiled girls.LOL

Agreed.

 

[sacchick]

My plan was get a cheap prefab ($300-$400) see what we like or don't like then in a year or so build a better one....researched like hell, found those coops to be crap and not weather tight. My criteria was predator proof, water tight, large enough for up to 6 birds, and not ugly to look at. Yard space was not an issue.

Had one built and delivered , added a 10X20 foot enclosed run....Coop and all the extras came to about $1,100.00, and I had all the fencing panels for the run. I love it and am already planning an add on to the run and another Coop in a couple years....Guess I like having something to look forward to but at the same time enjoying what I have. I am older now, can afford to have things done that are important to me, and my back is shot probably from all the DIY projects in my younger days

My point is that no one HAS to spend big money on this stuff but if you have it and it is what you want GO FOR IT!

 

[Dart2788]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input. The more we talked last night we feel like if we're gonna do this, we're gonna do it right! My husband builds cabinetry as a hobby and he wants his shop back so we're gonna go ahead and build this thing! The 12'x8' shed portion will help get all of my gardening stuff out of his shed so he'll be much happier. We're talking about corrugated metal roofing, its cheaper than shingles, does it get too hot in the summer? We're in the Utah desert; 90's in the summer, and -15 or -20 for a few weeks in the winter, what can we do to insure we have enough ventilation for summer, but still keep them warm in the winter?
Thanks again all!

 

[Trefoil]

It isn't the coop itself that's costing, its mostly the building, only 8 x8 of which you intend to use as a coop. You are not going to like not having a door to the outside in your coop, You lose space in the shed and It will mean that you are hauling the used bedding through the shed to get rid of it, and you will also not have the option of putting a screen in the door for extra summer ventilation. Added to that, with the coop in the shed you will have a serious dust problem in your shed. I like the option of being able to get to your coop from the shed, but I would have a solid wall and door between them. Also if you are worried about both summer heat and winter cold, raising your shed 2' off the ground and fencing it in not only adds to their run space, it gives them a cool place in the summer and a protected spot to go outside in the winter.