How much did you spend on your coop? **Update with pics on pg. 12**

[ducks4you]

Don't know yet--not done the BIG coop. With the 1st group (6 chicks, 2007) I only bought food, used recycled wood for "lean-to's", sold the Roos ($4/each), but lost it in feed, so $24.00 loss.)

THIS time, I spent $20.00 on an additional new dog crate for fuzzybutt divison (4 in one, 3 in two). Then, I spent $80.00 on materials for the temporary coop and (almost identical) chicken tractor, not yet built. $30.00 so far on feed...

About to deconstruct the old rabbit/playhouse. I understand that the roof is about 300 pounds, so the shingles will have to go. That means almost $100 in new roofing materials--I'm agoin' recycled plastic!

Saved a lot of used wood, BUT, I'm sure that I need to replace a lot of old rotten wood because water has done it's dirty deed on this building for over a decade. I'm guessing, with the leftovers and the unexpected deconstruction of a horse manger (they built it to be indestructible with 2 x 10's, no less!!!......
$400 or more before I'm done on wood and insulation---SAY, isn't that about what we're all spending on our coops?!?!?!?!?!?

Wow! I really fit in.

(Don't let anyone make you feel bad about what you've spent---you need time to accumulate materials that you compulsively DON'T throw away, while you clutter previously clean outbuildings and your garage, in order to do things cheap.)

 

[1lpoock]

It cost me a bit over $1000 dollars,but I built an 8' x 16' coop...its huge!

 

[alycoop]

A woodworker friend of ours built us a small starter coop (4x4') out of recycled wood and materials. He also made a frame for a run.
He would only accept $80 for his time.

In addition we purchased large roll of hardware cloth, heavy duty staples.

We can see now that eventually we'll want to build a second larger structure but this is a good start. We can use this smaller one for a chicken 'hospital" or for housing a group of new chicks later on.

 

[GardeNerd]

$186.54 for a 4 x 4 coop.

I am one of those folks that keep track of how much I spend. I got a lot of stuff at Habitat for Humanity's REstore and I used a lot of free and recycled things. The rest came from Lowes or Home Depot. If I didn't have the recycled materials, I would guess it would have cost $500 to $600 to build with all new supplies.

 

[LuckyFarrell]

Still in the process of building mine now, up to about $70. Got a huge doghouse on craigslist for 40 bucks and was able to gather a lot of recycled materials, don't think I'll end up spending more than $100.

 

[Hypnotist_Collectr]

We figured we'd spend about $300, but have spent about $469, so far. I thought we'd be able to recycle a lot of things, since I found a huge load of wood from the previous owners... but, it wasn't nearly enough... (we did recycle some 2x4's and used some plywood for the nesting box.) But, everything else was new.
I still need to build the run, but have some hardware cloth set aside. I just need the treated wood for the run. I will be recycling some tin roof for the run, and part of the sides. We have some leftover roofing tiles from the previous owner, too... so, that helps.
I am figuring, when it gets colder, we are going to have to buy some plywood to insulate it... (We used cedar fence planks for the siding for an Old West type look coop that we loved... saw it on BYC.) I wrote to the owner, and she said she didn't account for the wood shrinkage, and neither did we. Ooops.
I am figuring we'll spend another $150-ish for the plywood & run...

Glad to see I am not the only one who will be spending double what I thought I would.

 

[nwmud]

If i ever finish this project - I can then determine what I have spent. To create a safe place for the girls... I started by rebuilding a 6 foot fence along that side of the yard. The fence is 120 feet long and the girls get about 45 feet. But I needed to do the entire fence or make it look funny..... about $1500 for that.

the 4 x 6 coop is still under construction. The roof and hardware cloth was a little over $300. I remember that day well. the t1-11 siding was about $130. I think I started with something like 24 8 foot 2x4's and 6 12 foot 2x4's - most of those are now gone.
Hardware is expensive too. Probably got another $100 into hardware and i know I still need a few more pieces. I just keep adding things that open.

Currently making the windows for the coop. I an using 2x2's i purchased for another project. so the cost is really just the hardware and the glass.

All I know - my house is 99 years old. I expect it to stand for a while still - they built them pretty good back then. This coop will be standing long after the house is gone.

More later as i finish it up. Btw - I still need to make the run.

 

[melissastraka]

I have 1 large coop that cost around $1000 to do and then i have 4 more breeding coops that were about $30 each (I'll post pics, they are so cute and inexpensive) with 4-5 more planned. I still need to expand the large coop so when i am done i will be looking at $1500-$2000 but so worth it to me!

 

[Echos_dad]

I started with a Chick-N-Barn that was $300. A dog got into it and killed five of the six chicks I had. So I've built a chicken Fort Knox that cost about $600 and lots of time. It's 4'x8' with a 25'x10' run made of no-climb horse fence and electric rope. I still need to cover the run for shade and hawks, so probably another $100.
Look on my page to see it.

 

[will hunt for food]

I would have to kill you if I told you because I am too embarrassed to have my friends find out.