I just want "vent" for a second!

[nbenevento]

I read and research about chickens every day and I enjoy my flock very much. It's is probably the best hobby / pastime I have ever gotten into. However, in my reading, I always read about how the startup costs of a coop and run should cost maybe $200 or so and many say less than that. How the heck do people build a proper coop and run for $200??? Honestly, I don't mind that it cost more for me but I feel like people who are new to chicken keeping or are looking into getting started are being duped. I built my own coop because to buy one costs a lot more but it still costs more than $200. I started with 6 chickens and have grown my flock to 30. As the flock grew, I built on to my coop and run. I swear, it cost more than $200 each time. Maybe I am just not good at building things and I am spending way too much. I don't know but to me, I just don't see how people build a quality coop for that cheap. Ok, I am done venting now. Thank you.

 

[ebenton11]

I agree, there is NO possible way to build a coop under $200! A roll of hardware cloth (wire) is $80 alone. Someone must have some really good resources if they say it can be done

This is what we've come up with so far (under construction) this is the back side. It will be enclosed using hardware cloth (wire), the outside run area will be lined with wire and covered with sand so they can get outside if its raining and cover on sunny days but nothing can dig in. This will open up to an enclosed chain link pen 10x10x8 so if we are outside they will be able to scratch around in the grass, but will not have free access unless we are able to watch them. we are covering the chain link pen with chicken wire to protect from above. We had chickens long ago and ended up losing them all to predators, hopefully this will protect them a little better.

 

[SobbaChickens]

My chicks are 4-5wks old and I still don't have a coop for them even though I spend time every single day looking online for designs and plans. It's so aggravating!


Katie

 

[Jeanna Marie]

My coop and run cost a total of 50.00. And that fifty dollars was for the 100 ft roll of wire. I am lucky enough to have a father who never throws anything away. He keeps scrap lumber... roofing shingles... corrugate tin. Just everything.

I agree with the op though. If you are buying everything you need it cannot be done for 200.00.

I would suggest that start to scavenge a little. If friends or famiky do a remodel gather ALL there scrap and stockpile it!

 

[pappy1264]

Many (myself included) check on cl and other places for free stuff that can be used (lumber, windows, etc). I am using pallets for the walls of my coop, got the windows (4) for free, had alot of misc. wood around from building other things. The 100' roll of 1/2' wire cost me 125.00 and just for 2 sheets of plywood (for floor) cost me almost 50.00, so don't think if you are buying everything you could do one for that price. Check online for stuff you can use.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Absolutely! Craigslist is awesome! Also call your local cabinet ahops and building contractors. They all theow away tons of wood. Most will let you pick it up just to save on dumping costs.

 

[bjones1128]

When we had a coop in the city, we just used chicken wire and had one whole side that was "open air." Now we are in the country where there are a lot of predators and that requires that the coop and run be locked up tight. Hardware cloth, plywood, etc. means that the "country" coop ended up costing more than the "city" coop, even though it doesn't look as good!

Also, the cost of wood and metal has risen a lot over the past few years, so people who built their coops several years ago probably did it cheaper.

 

[nbenevento]

I did use crap pieces of material but not enough to take the price down to under $200. I'm glad I am not alone in this!

 

[truckguy]

no one is alone in going over 200 bucks. I have spent more than that and my coup is no where near what I see people here build. although I have gotten some great ideas to add to my coup or redesign some of it.

 

[regcal966]

When we started I thought we would be able to build our coop pretty cheap. My husband said even if we had gotten our supplies for free you still have to buy the nails and the hardware cloth, which is NOT cheap. We were way over $200 in our build and we reused a lot from around the house.