Is it worth the cost?

[springvalley123]

I wanted chickens for 3 years before actually getting some. 2 years into the 3 years, hubby insisted on getting ducks instead of chickens. I like the idea of starting with quail, especially since you express concern about having spent $$ on something and later find that chicken keeping isn't for you. I've moved around a lot, and have built/had built various chicken setups. A decent chicken enclosure can be $800-2000 once all is said and done, including shade cloth (I live in the desert), hardware cloth, a top, roosts, etc. You could go with a pre-fab coop, maybe find one used. Also, consider how maneuverable chickens are: many can hop onto a 6 foot fence effortlessly, virtually any chicken can hop onto a 4 foot fence. Once they hop up, they invariably hop down landing on the wrong side of the fence. That'll be a consideration in case you want to free range them or have a run without a top. After start-up costs, think about the exit strategy, just in case. Others have mentioned having someone to donate the birds to, and I'd suggest asking yourself/family how you feel in case the recipient plans to "harvest" the birds. I enjoy chicken-keeping. It gives me a hobby and something I do just for me. Those are very important things. I hope all these great posts and my two cents help.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You're right, the coop would be okay for about a year, which is enough time for someone to decide if they really want to invest in the madness that is chicken keeping.
But in the long run, they arent worth a fraction of the money spent for them.
They aren't remotely predator proof. A few weeks ago, I had to deal with a clean up of a mutilated flock of banties that lived in a prefab, coon's broke through the bottom of the nesting boxes, that 1/6 inch plywood held on by staples. It was the big $400 dollar prefab, that I was constantly fixing up because people who design prefab coops have never seen a chicken except on a plate, have no idea how clever and strong predators are, and couldn't care.
By the time one spends the money to make a prefab safe and sturdy, the could have made a much better one by hand.

Sorry about your losses... I myself tried to mitigate some of the risk of using a prefab by putting my entire coop inside the run, but yes we had to make a few alterations along the way anyhow.

Yeah I agree mine was expensive for what it was (and not nearly as easy to assemble as claimed, mostly because we're not at all handy), though I'm still getting use out of it 3 years later since I recycled parts of it for use in my run. My old roost area became an outdoor brooder, the "attached run" became a covered feed station, etc. Of course an experienced builder could probably easily cobble together both of those things for a fraction of the cost.

 

[hayley3]

You're right, the coop would be okay for about a year, which is enough time for someone to decide if they really want to invest in the madness that is chicken keeping.
But in the long run, they arent worth a fraction of the money spent for them.
They aren't remotely predator proof. A few weeks ago, I had to deal with a clean up of a mutilated flock of banties that lived in a prefab, coon's broke through the bottom of the nesting boxes, that 1/6 inch plywood held on by staples. It was the big $400 dollar prefab, that I was constantly fixing up because people who design prefab coops have never seen a chicken except on a plate, have no idea how clever and strong predators are, and couldn't care.
By the time one spends the money to make a prefab safe and sturdy, the could have made a much better one by hand.

I certainly agree. I bought one for my chickens for a temporary food shelter and a place to lay their eggs while foraging in my front yard. I paid $350 for it and it's falling apart. I've patched it here and there but I can't even get the ramp to stay on it. Have nothing really to attach the ramp to after the area broke apart. And the roof buckled up, and at the moment, I have a big rock laying on it to keep the shingle from rolling up.

 

[aart]

Well might not be ONE day but I could get some of it done in one day

Do you have any building experience?
It certainly can make chickeneering 'easier'.

 

[Alex S]

Do you have any building experience?
It certainly can make chickeneering 'easier'.

Yep, I've built things before. i'm not worried about coop building

 

[nuthatched]

Sorry about your losses... I myself tried to mitigate some of the risk of using a prefab by putting my entire coop inside the run, but yes we had to make a few alterations along the way anyhow.

Yeah I agree mine was expensive for what it was (and not nearly as easy to assemble as claimed, mostly because we're not at all handy), though I'm still getting use out of it 3 years later since I recycled parts of it for use in my run. My old roost area became an outdoor brooder, the "attached run" became a covered feed station, etc. Of course an experienced builder could probably easily cobble together both of those things for a fraction of the cost.

Thanks. I didn't mean to come off so strong, I'm sorry.
They weren't my chickens but they belonged to a nice elderly lady and they were some of the few things that gave her purpose and kept her going.
That's the only way I'd use a prefab, completely screened in a predator proof run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks. I didn't mean to come off so strong, I'm sorry.
They weren't my chickens but they belonged to a nice elderly lady and they were some of the few things that gave her purpose and kept her going.
That's the only way I'd use a prefab, completely screened in a predator proof run.

Not at all, best to point out the flaws or weaknesses in whatever type of housing you get, so others can make a more informed decision. Just sorry that you had to find the weaknesses at the cost of the birds.

 

[igorsMistress]

I thought about it for several years before I decided. There are many rewards and you’ll hear all about them. There is much responsibility as well. Having animals puts major restrictions on your life...you can’t go anywhere or do anything unless they are dealt with first. You’ll need a reliable babysitter if you want to go on vacation. You’ll need an emergency caregiver if you may have to leave town for a family emergency. No late nights out unless you have an automatic door for the coop or a very secure run. Are you ready to feed and water them rain or shine, snow or blazing heat? Whether you’re sick or not? Are you prepared to take a life? If not you’ll very possibly (likely) need someone who can do that for you...a friend or a vet if you can’t do it yourself.

 

[AidanOshields]

Depend on how tall the hill is and if you start them in the coop for 1-2 weeks I found that once you let them out they usaully do stay near it. And I also have a hill on my property and the don’t ever go down it it’s about ten feet though, and they can’t fly so it hurt more than there curiosity

 

[Mellowmalt]

Hi everyone. Sorry for dragging up an old post but I'd rather do that than start a new one and I am starting to think about the costs that might still be ahead. So far I have tried to do things as cheaply as possible so I have spent £130 on the coop material, £30 for fencing, £50 for the incubator and £40 for food.

Eggs were expensive, I bought 30 for £90. Hopefully that is all I will need? I use plant troughs for feeding trays, got enough fencing for the whole run I hope, I just got the idea to keep chickens again but already I have spent £350 on a whim and if I look at some of the chicken coops on here costing thousands you really do have to wonder if keeping chickens is economically viable.

this guide from omlet made me laugh a little, £1300 initial cost for 4 chickens, then £500 food and running costs per year and they reckon that works out quite cheap.

https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/chickens/should_i_keep_chickens/how_much_do_chickens_cost/

The food cost is a bit worrysome, then they haven't factored in disease and potential predator losses.

I'm just worried I put in all this effort and something like a fox gets them as there are lots of foxes where I live. Fingers crossed.