Premade vs. My own

[polloamante]

Ok, so when my new chicks grow up I will have thirteen chickens, they will need a bigger coop. There is no question if a new coop is coming its just what to do, I'm not sure if a pre-made coop from mypetchicken, which is beautiful and can have many add ons, is worth the roughly $1,455-1,745, or should i just make my own, now normally i would just make it because thats just in my character, so I am wondering, with all the materials, effort and time which one will serve me the best i would really like some opinions, the ones online i can have electricity and automatic coop doors. I'm just on the fence, i would like the cheapest solution but i also want what is best for my ladies and what will look, function, and last me the best.

Thank you

 

[HEChicken]

Hands down, making your own is going to be cheaper. The pre-fab coops include the cost of materials, the labor and the shipping. If you build it yourself you only have the cost of materials and your own time.

 

[Hawgon]

I agree with HEChicken, build is cheaper although you can check craigslist and/or classifieds to find used ones, which will save you alot of money. I got my coop for a $100 and it came with a feeder, waterer and a bag of bedding. I used my "saved" money and time to build add-ons and upgrades to it as well as to build the run. Just an idea.....Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[jrsckn]

We got an 8X8 shed kit from Lowes for $599, everything is precut and primed, all you need to do is assemble and customize to your liking. The only thing it doesn't come with is shingles so thats another $60. I do have to admit it was difficult cutting the holes for the vents in a brand new $600 shed though lol.

 

[HEChicken]

I've considered going the pre-cut shed route too, but generally they come with either no or only 1 window. By the time I modify it to my specs by adding windows and ventilation, and externally accessible nest boxes, the price starts to add up. I still think, if you have the building skills, doing it yourself will be cheaper. Or, as a PP said lookout for them on CL. I got my first coop for free off freecycle. I still have it and use it as my broody/hospital/chick coop & pen.

 

[ChickaChickaWow]

We have about $750 into ours and I think we may have went a little overboard (first time and got a little excited.. LOL). If I built another one, I could probably do it for $550 - $600. The biggest thing I would do different would be to make it permanent by burying 4x4 pressure treated posts with some concrete. I added a ton of cost trying to make it 'semi-moveable'. I wasnt trying to make a 'chicken tractor', just something that I could move with a real tractor if the wife changes her mind where she wants it... the only way it's going to move now is with a bulldozer... LOL

 

[jrsckn]

I agree, it does add up quickly, I think 1 window kit is $80. We were going to build our own but dh and I had our own ideas and couldn't get them to mesh to we took the easy way out which meant no fighting lol

We looked on craigs list for quite a while but with TSC's chick days it was flooded with people who got chicks and didn't think ahead and were begging for spare wood and such. I think by next year I'll build a few tractors and post them up to those poor people to buy lol

 

[polloamante]

Thank you guys i think ill build it but i just need some help thanks so much! lol