I Don't Understand Coop Pricing, I Really Don't

[AtholCoop]

I build these (4x4) over the winter and sell them in the spring. All total with delivery not to far off my commute 500.00. Total cost of materials is in the neighborhood of 300.00 +/- a bit, so I figure I make about 200.00 for my time. I took the time to actually measure the amount of time I had in the last one and it was right at 20 hours, so it's not like I'm getting rich at 10 bucks an hour. But I'd be in the shop anyway, probably working on something that isn't going to make me any money at all so something is better than nothing.

I can't tell you how many people have contacted me and balked at the price. Or have asked me to double the size of the coop and then wonder why the price doubled. Does it take me 40 hours to build a 4x8? No but the moving it around the shop and delivery is way harder for one lone guy, so the price stays at 32.00 a square foot with all the cedar trimmings. Want it cheaper, ok but it's going to be paint grade trim, and asphalt shingles. The devil is always in the details you don't see.

All that said this cats price is insane. I'll bet money he's not selling any, or if he is he's selling very very few of them. 100+ dollars a square foot is down right ridiculous for a chicken coop.

 

[columbiacritter]

my current project a 5x4 coop is taking:
5 sheets of plywood at $18 a sheet = $90
8 2x4x8s at $2.50 each = $20
2 2x4x8 treated $9 each = $18
4 4x4 treated $20 each = $80

Assorted nails and screws estimate = $25.00
Hinges, 3 large sets and 4 small = $30
Roofing = $20

Scrap Plexi glass, free
Scrap hardware cloth free
leftover paint, free
Primer paint = $20

Coop cost roughly $313.00 Not including my labor

Run:
roll of harware cloth $45
Roll of chicken wire $40
8 cattle posts $50
2 Gates $50 if I make them myself.
Overhead netting $20

Run cost $205

Total $458

Stuff I had on hand already if I had to buy is new.
Paint: $40
Plexiglass $20
Old woooden fence posts cut down for coop stand. $20

This does NOT include the drill I had to replace for $75. The screw driver bits, $18. The 5 or 6 really nifty toys my husband found every time he hit te lumber yard for me. Or the shampoo to get the paint off the cat after he decided to roll onthe newly painted coop floor.

Oh and the chickens goign in this coop were given to us for free.

 

[70monte]

Here is the coop that I had made. A local guy off of CL custom builds coops and this is one of his designs. Its 4x8 and is setup for electricity. He normally sells this design for about $925 but I got it for less. Its very well built and done much better than I could have done it.

I did move the light from near the floor to over the top vent. It has a lot of ventilation from the two large side windows, the openings under the eaves that go the whole length of the coop, the large vent near the roof on the back wall, and the way the top cap of the roof is made, it provides some ventilation. I'm still debating on whether or not to insulate under the metal roof. So far it hasn't gotten hotter inside the coop than outside but its definately not cooler.

Wayne

 

[sharol]

Wow. Very nice. So, Wayne, where do you live?????

Quote:

 

[surfchicken72]

I'm coming in around $15-$20 PER SQAURE foot. With about 80% new materials.
If you build it yourself. (which I'm doing)
Certain items KILL you. like quality exterior plywood (I'm using 3/4") was lucky to get a few (3) free sheets from a friend in construction
Pressure treated lumber... and Hardware cloth does not come cheap, either. Still searching for the best price on the hardware cloth.

But I'm in the Northeast, where we can have very humid hot summers, and chilly snowy winters, so all that factors in as well.
It has to be able to protect them from winter storms, as well as cool them in the summer heat.
If you're in a more mellow climate you can use less intense materials I would think...

And then the run..... more lumber, more hardware cloth, more labor.....

no really, it's fun, but it can be a big job unless you have many hands on it

If you're having someone else build it, you HAVE to consider their labor. It's no joke.
And if they're quality craftsman, building a quality product they should be paid accordingly.

 

[70monte]

I live outside of Springfield MO and thanks, I really like it.

Wayne

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Me either. Sometimes you can find free or very cheap sheds that will work, too. Those are both WAY over-priced in my opinion. It was less than $3000 to build my 8 x 16', fully insulated coop with sections for 6 large breeds and 4 bantam breeds. This includes 6 runs as well.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
So what would it cost for you to be build me a few of those (just the frames?) I don't need fancy cedar or roofing, either. You can PM me. Oh and I have a truck & trailer and could pick up.

 

[fwschrom]

Here is my coop I have been working on for the last few weeks. I have under $300.00 into it so far...BUT:

1. I had a lot of material laying around
2. I had a very helpful neighbor that gave me 4x10 packing pallets made out of 4x4's
3. I scrounged all I could, and accepted labor intinsive to save money on materials
4. I had an existing roof structure ( old hay shed )

There was a lot of labor on this and I am still not done, I need to put up metal siding, finish laying boxes and doors, and build brood racks, a couple more gates, cover the top of the outdoor run with 2" wire to keep out hawks. This does have electricity lights and outlets.

I expect to spend around another $100 on wire mostly.

My biggest costs were pressure treated lumber, wire, and hardware.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Lowe's has a lot of large outdoor shed kits on sale right now for under $1,000.