I definitely spent more on my coop than I intended. I thought I had most of what I needed but found myself filling in with more of whatever I had started the job with. If you have insulation, you need vapor barrier. To finish with the same hardware cloth throughout, there's another four foot roll, and its darn expensive! The metal roofing was the biggest item. $230 and I simply didn't have any free roofing lying around or being offered. Anyway, I wanted it to match my other buildings. I hesitate to admit how much I spent.
I really did have a huge amount of lumber, stain and insulation but things are very expensive now. It didn't take much and now I'm into the coop for around $1200. Cringe. I do have some nice new tools, thought!
The frugal streak in me really admires the thrifty and clever solutions posted on this forum. I've commented on it elsewhere. RoosterJerry, if you have some of those ideas you should definitely share them! I want (and need) to learn them, too!
The only way I can feel good about that price of my coop is to look at similar coops for sale, like those built by the Amish. They cost two and three times as much. But I'm acutely aware of how expensive this venture has been. Many times my family teased me about the cost of my eggs compared to the price of store bought. And I always said, "Clearly its not about the chickens. Its about enjoying building something, too."
So now that I'm rambling, here's a story: My grandfather was an architech who had a very successful construction company before the depression. He built hospitals and churches, etc. But he lost it all when the depression hit. At fifty years of age and with a wife and five small children, he moved back to New England, designed and built chicken barns on a rented property and sold eggs for ten years to get through the depression. Those big airy buildings were lovely. He loved colonial lines. (I sure wish I had asked more questions.) Now I get a big kick out of building a coop, too. One that my persnickity grandfather might have thought attractive. It works for me.
There's more than one way to skin a cat. (I'm sure the chickens will enjoy that saying.) And, as long as the design keeps the needs of the chickens in mind, they will be fine in a too expensive coop, just as they would be in one that is not as store pretty.
By the way, maybe I shouldn't admit this.
But, I've paid a lot more for other pretty things to have around my property, such as the many, many trees and flowers I plant. I don't have kids. That's what I spend my money on. Don't mind me, its just my way.
So there you have it...different strokes.
Debby
