I just want "vent" for a second!

[HandsomeRyan]

We spent about $1000 on our coop/run for 11 chickens. I got some of the materials from a salvage place (window, door, some hardware) and I already owned all the tools I needed (table saw, miter saw, drill, etc.) If I had to buy or rent tools the cost could easily have been 50% higher. Admittedly my coop is a little overbuilt but I think most of us live in areas where our coop will be seen by others and it needs to look presentable. Since I live in central Maryland the prices I pay for things are likely much higher than they would be in other areas though so my $1000 coop is probably more like a $700 coop for someone who lives in a less expensive area.

 

[nab58]

You're not alone! I bought a coop on-line thinking the $230 investment would be it for start up costs. I ended up sending it back because it was so tiny and cheaply made. We then spent a good $1000 building one ourselves. It has turned out great though. the 'free range' fantasy I wished for has not worked out as of yet as my dogs want to eat my poor hens, so the added run space and security of our home made coop has really been a blessing.

 

[babsterh]

The cost to build our coop was well over $1000...at first we were going to order a coop online until we saw it in person. The online coop was over $500 but most likely wouldn't have lasted very long. My husband is a saint and is very good at making things. He drew up a design one day and started building the next day. We decided to invest more money into a coop that would last. Our coop is 8 x 10, with hardy plank siding, a people door, chick door, double vents, 2 windows, 2 transoms, an exterior access egg box and a 8 x 10 covered run. This is our first experience as chickens owners and our entrance into the wonderful world of chicks is an ongoing evolution. We have already changed the interior and have incorporated "poop boxes" thanks to BYC. So far, so good...until our little not so saintly dog Dug" got a hold of 2 chicks! Another $35 for a shock collar but problem solved! So for now we have 9 pullets....had to trade 2 "pullets" that crowed for 2 non-crowing pullets, LOL, 1 BR, 2 RIR, 1 WL, 2GC, 2BO and my favorite a NJG. Life is good.

 

[Mrwinchester]

That was the price of the bribe i had to pay my dad to keep my chickens at his house

 

[duckman14]

I built a wall to split my shed in half and found a dog kennel off Craigslist for 75 bucks. I might be a little over 200 but not much.

 

[Murphy212]

Please let me share in your venting.....I am over 60, female, no close by male relatives, no construction skills, no "leftover" building materials, a van for transport, no way to haul pallets, and based on reviews, figured the pre-fab coops were flimsy, none the less, I wanted chickens for bug and weed control with eggs as a bonus. Somehow ended up with 11 baby chick, those feed store chicks simply can not be left behind. Thought some might pass away and I would end up with the 4-5 I originally wanted. Not one has passed away, they are 5 weeks old tomorrow, and I have spent almost $1500 in getting a coop and run together. First mistake, I bought a site unseen chicken tractor from a couple on craigslist, they built it and it was not what I wanted when delivered but already had paid and they refused to give money back. So I then bought one of those plastic coops (started a thread about those earlier this year), but it is too small for 11 hens, (no matter what the ad says)(second mistake),so had to make a large run with covered area and roosting space incorporating the tractor, the plastic coop, and a large run. What with the welded wire, hardware cloth, posts, cement, 4x4's for the corners.....up to $1500 or so give or take. Of course that amount includes feed, bedding, brooder box (yet another story), feeders, waterers, they do outgrow those little chick ones and the chicks themselves. Bartered for someone to make a stand for the plastic coop and someone to help me build the main fence, rented a auger for him to dig the holes for the posts and to pound the t-posts into the ground. He also helped attach the welded wire to the posts.
I still have to re-enforce the fence, and put a cover on the run so a lot of physical work still left for me and I really don't know how much more money this adventure is going to cost. I wish when I got the notion to get chickens, I had just taken out a loan and hired a real construction company to design and build me a chicken coop, much cheaper and less headaches in the long run.
But, I have 11 beautiful chickens and I am committed to making them safe and happy while they are with me, I just say I am spending my children's inheritance and move on. Now if I can keep the predators at bay......
so sharing in your venting.....

 

[jak2002003]

I built my coop and run for almost fee.

I got a lot of old wooden pallets from a farmer for free. I took them apart and used them to make the hen house and frame for the run.

I found some old wooden planks next doors builders has thrown over into the scrub at the back of my house. I used them to make the nest boxes. I also used old plastic storage boxes I was going to throw out.

I went into the woodland and collected natural branches - which I used for the roosts FREE.

I already have nails and screws as I do quite a lot of building things - so I did not have to buy more.

The only thing that cost me any money was the wire mesh for the run. But I got it cheap from a DIY store.

A FEMALE friend and her SISTER helped me build it for FREE - we all had great fun.

So you do not have to use MEN to make a coop - WOMEN are perfectly able to make stuff lol.

I am partially blind and can't drive. I carried lots of stuff on my pushbike and my friend had a truck she drove for me to collect the wooden pallets. I got the roll of wire back on the bus, then walked home 20 minutes with it.

My finished coop does not look beautiful like the ones here - they look like min human houses!!! Mine is secure and practical and 'rustic', but my hens love it.

 

[MoonShadows]

My coop is not finished yet, but I have purchase everything except the roofing shingles and lumber to build the run, and I have spent $2237 so far. I figure the roofing shingles and additional lumber will run another $500 for a total of over $2700. That figure does not include the power tools I needed to purchase for the construction like a framing nailer and reciprocating saw for about $329 total. Of course I chose to go all new and spent extra money for locally milled rough cut lumber to give it more of an old fashioned look, but that's what I chose to do. I could have gone cheaper, but we got an excellent tax check back this year and decided to treat ourselves.

 

[Mrwinchester]

I used mostly reclaimed lumber i collected from job sites i worked on plus allot or re purposed used material. I had allot or material stored from when i owned a sign shop 15 years ago. So to date i might have probable spent around $300 in new lumber wire and screws and hardware. not including the material i had stored which probably would have cost another $200 or so, If i had to buy everything I'm sure i would have been well above $1000. To top it off my plans for a brooder did not pan out so i converted a old horse stall, i had to frame in the walls and sheet with osb and install a window and door which i had also i had to build a sub floor because of water issues in the building with the spring run off so tack another $150 or so to complete the brooder. Just when you think you have it all covered you back heading to the lumber store for more material. To help offset the costs i cleaned and removed about 2 tones of scrap steel that was laying around rusting and got paid for scrap steel. So in the end i cant tell you just how much but for me I'm quite frugal I'm probably out of pocket $100 if i really cared to figure it out. It's when we add architectural features that appeal to us the costs sore, it's pretty cheep to build a plywood box which the chicken would be more than happy with but who wants that ? Do a material list and then double it to be safe lol

 

[The Huntress]

Oh ya...I agree. We are using ALL reclaimed materials except for paint, hinges and screws and still have at this point spent $200.00!!