My "Free" Eggs are costing me a FORTUNE! - ITS DONE!! pg 15 pics

[Hoosierchickengal]

Aww, never fear. Your egg math calculations are just off a little bit. You need to divide the cost of the coop over your life time, because it is sooo well built that is how long it will last (unlike those cheaply made pre-fab models). Then go to your nearest up-scale organic food boutique and price a dozen organic eggs. Multiply that by how many you will eat in a lifetime and subtract it from the cost of your coop.Take the cost of the flock you will not constantly be replacing because your coop will be designed like Fort Knox and subtract that from the lifetime cost.

Most important, when you get your first egg, cook it alongside your generic, factory-raised chicken egg. Taste one then taste the other. The difference? PRICELESS.

 

[Tikkijane]

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Mine too! LOLOLOLOL. Due to chicken math, I will need a larger brooder sometime soon- have more chicks coming and they just won't fit. If the won't integrate, the smaller brooder will be fine for the 4, but the bigger 9 need something bigger. He just emailed me back and said,"I am thinking of a lovely corner system with at least 3 levels and a small hot tub. Maybe import some nice marble and granite and have individual bedrooms for each chick.."

And then he's painting it red and white to match the coop/tractor- even though it's inside the house.

Love those engineers!

 

[dbounds10]

Well Peeps - After 7 weeks and I stopped keeping track at 1500.00 per your advise. Its DONE. Please see below.

I know it looks small for the money but it weighs about 800 lbs and going to double as a storm shelter

 

[Tikkijane]

 

[Echoinghills]

We have recycled crates from my husband's work in afew of our coops and made small houses for smaller flocks...but this house we were lucky to buy for $470, and a delivery fee of $100. I sold my car to buy this house, i wanted it for a year now! (grin) A guy in Lexington Ohio is building these, 4X4, 4X8, etc in sizes, and prices vary with the size. Mine is 4X8 and split through middle so i could separate 2 breeds. It is also wired for lights on each side, that i do infact use...one has a brooder lamp right now for juvenile birds, the other a regular light. I just flip a switch on my surge protector and have light, i ran an extension chord to this house. I dont think i could build this for the cost he quoted me, because i have also invested too much money into wood for our coops..and it does add up! I have always checked craigslist for freebies or cheap sheds, garden sheds, chain link fencing, etc... i either cant find it or i am always late on finding the deal and it is gone. LOL Such is my luck!!!

Hen doors in back.

 

[Echoinghills]

Love this thread... alot of neat houses, great ideas... and i can totally relate to the expense it is costing everyone to do this hobby! Not only is the cost of housing our animals a factor in this hobby... but has everyone else noticed the price hike on the feed this season? I use to pay $10 a 50lb bag of feed...now i am paying $15-$19 a bag!! With that said... things are definately going to be slow getting done and finished this season, because the feed bill is getting out of hand.

I do know i can get feed cheap if i go to a laying mash...but my birds are starved when i fed that, and i have more problems it seems. They are just not satisfied,and alot is wasted too. I most likely will have to make a big decision this season and let some breeds go. That is going to be really hard for me. I love them all. sighhhh!!!

 

[miraclz5]

@Echoinghills.....I LOVE your coop!!!! Wish I was closer so that I could get one like that!!!! Super sweet!!! Where in N. Eastern Ohio are you??? Traveled MANY times through N. Eastern OH on the way to my grandparents house in Sunbury Ohio....which is 25 miles north of Columbus! I went to grad school at OU in Athens!!!! Absolutely LOVE Ohio....would move back there in a heartbeat!!!! Enjoy your beautiful coop!

 

[ducks_rcool329]

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Do you know if they still sell these!?

 

[CO-OP_COOP]

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WOw!! I could have built the TAJ MA COOP...lol

 

[northerngirl]

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Do you know if they still sell these!?

Second that, I'd love to know this guy's info!