Getting scared of cost

[geareduplyn]

Less than $300.00, Outside dimensions 64"X96", can be used as a single unit, a double unit or, a three bay unit(shown) with the addition of dividing panels. This one is sitting on the ground but, can be floored. The only waste left after construction is sawdust

 

[SewingDiva]

Nice coop! Works only in a warm climate though.

 

[LynneP]

We modified a horse stall in our barn for our coop (details in home page below) and added a run outside one wall. We used as much recycled wood as possible. The overall cost for coop/roofed run for 12 birds was nearly $1100. For that we have a very secure and easy-to-operqate coop, and we're thrilled. Do you have a garage you can use as one wall, or could you build inside and access through the wall to make a run? If you are handy I think you can build something amazing for $1000.

 

[geareduplyn]

Can be insulated with 1 1/2" foam and sealed with almost no tweaking. Dirt floor is warmest for cold climate

 

[SewingDiva]

Quote:
Well maybe elsewhere, but not in Massachusetts, our ground is frozen solid from late November to March, and in years with heavy snow the snowmelt turns the ground to mud for several weeks. Our mud season is worse than the winter in my opinion!

~Phyllis

 

[dangerouschicken]

My coops in various forms:

Free shed with foundation from my dad (he was moving and giving it away anyhow)

It is thick plastic and very warm in winter. The windows were cut with the SawsAll and covered with standard window screens (for $6 a piece). I just cover the windows with plastic sheeting for winterization.


Duck run made with doghouse coop for $5 from Craig's List. The wire, zipties, and metal fence posts were scraps from around the farm. This set-up now houses 2 Turkens:

Our turky run was made with more metal fence posts, zipties, and chicken wire. Their house is a large plastic storage bin on its side:

Hope that gives you ideas.

 

[CodyChristine]

We had someone bid a 6x6x5 ft coop made out of green treated plywood with a door, window, and shingled roof and they came back at $950. My husband said no way so I started looking around - found a window at a garage sale for $10, found a free door on craigslist, found some free tin for the roof, and then bought the rest of the materials for $350 at Home Depot and my brother-in-laws made it. Granted we didn't have to buy fencing because we built it inside a dog kennel but finding reusable and free things helped us keep our cost down a lot! Good luck!

 

[smpezzi]

Quote:
Depending on where you are too contact local framers (for houses) and carpenters often thay have decent sized lumber left over from a job and all too often they are only too happy to get it out of their shop/ storage etc and will either give it to you or for min. price. Lumber is up right now so that is a good way to save! Just a thought that is how I have most of my coop supplies- hubby is a contractor

 

[geareduplyn]

Well maybe elsewhere, but not in Massachusetts, our ground is frozen solid from late November to March, and in years with heavy snow the snowmelt turns the ground to mud for several weeks. Our mud season is worse than the winter in my opinion!

~Phyllis

Works fine in Merrimack NH

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Here in PA, we got an 'assemble yourself' precut 10x10 shed from Home Depot for $750 (includes sales tax). We will still need foundation blocks and florring, some 2x4's. We have 6x6's for cross foundation, and left over shingling for roof. Our total cost is going to be under $1,000 for the initial building.

We are adding a lean-to to one side to store our garden supplies. We have an existing 10x10 chainlink dog kennel to use for the 'secured yard, though I've decided to add a handbuilt section and make that yard 10x20.

They will have large free ranging yards attached to that, enclosed with electrified poultry fencing to deter predators. The little buggers will have a lay quite a few eggs before they make a dent in the initial investment!