How hard

[Mellowmalt]

I think a prefabricated coop is no worse than a second hand coop as long as you go with halving the number of chickens it states it can hold like cluckers says.
It's just a custom made shed, I believe in insulation, others believe in ventilation, but pretty much every coop I've seen works. Some might work better than others but rarely have I seen a coop cause the chickens death unless from a fire or frostbite (lack of insulation) or a predator intrusions . I'd dread to experience chickens suffocating but I've only had coops built for 4 chickens and I think one can safely get away with less than the recommended ventilation (1 square foot per bird) for 4 as half my coop would have to be open.

Food is expensive, as has been stated $17 a bag, some feeds cheaper but less good and I think for an average chicken one bag would last 6 months so 4 chickens need about 8 bags of feed per year. The first year you will hardly get any eggs as they will need to grow first.

I think food is the biggest cost but it is suprising how little extra's can creep up, like bedding, grit, and a fenced run. You might thik you can get away with no fenced run till you realize you might need one and they are not cheap. Expect to pay as much for a run as the coop in fencing and support material.

 

[3KillerBs]

Some might work better than others but rarely have I seen a coop cause the chickens death unless from a fire or frostbite (lack of insulation) or a predator intrusions .

Frostbite is not caused by lack of insulation but by lack of ventilation to remove the moisture that freezes onto the chickens' combs.

Chickens tolerate DRY cold very well. Cold plus moisture is the problem and that moisture usually comes from the chickens themselves -- their breath and their poop -- which is why ventilation is necessary.

 

[Mellowmalt]

I understand but I have gotten away with using less that the recommended for 20 years.

My point is that a wet chicken either needs warmth or ventilation to dry. Cold winter air rarely dries my clothes on the washing line. I won't encourage anyone in a different climate to copy me but here with small coops I focus on keeping them warm and dry over cold and airy.