Realistic ideas

[WindingRoad]

I’m in Rhode Island, so up north on the east coast.

You really should put your location in as aart says because every time you ask a question someone will want to know where you are. Just saves time. RI is enough.

 

[TwistedSteel]

The cost of lumber varies quite a bit depending on location and competition. Hardware cost just keep going up every time I look. I think a coop and run that size built down here would cost at least $1500 more likely $2000.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Always be on the lookout on Craigslist for people giving away free lumber..... I managed to get a small truckload of usable 2x4 for free, but they are still sitting around because I'm not much of a handyman and need to do my research first on how to build a coop.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I built a basic 6x8 coop which would be more then enough for 8 hens. Just the lumber for the coop was $300.00 even at Lowes. That is treated wood for the floor joist and floors, 2x4's for walls, and smart side for the siding, plus lumber for rafters. A friend of mine gave me 4 windows and scrap metal for the roof. I lucked out on the run as I had a local hardware store that was going out of business. I can't remember what I paid but the hardware cloth for the run was like 70% off. Ill find the thread showing my build. If you know basic carpentry skills they are not that expensive to build on your own.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Here is a link to the thread when I build mine. The first couple of pics show the bare walls and floor. As you can see there is not a ton of lumber in these. Same way with the run I built, just some posts, and treated 2x4's for supports.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-got-started-on-my-coop-today-90-finished.1082634/page-2

 

[jvls1942]

the building permit is almost a given.

here is how I built my coop. I have never had a pred of any kind get in and kill anything..

concrete slab.. 12 x 16.
at least one course of concrete block around the whole perimeter except where the door is. in the gap where the door is I raised the threshold up 6 inches.. the door swings in because of deep snow.. raising the threshold 6" allows the door to swing over the straw bedding ..
regular 2 by four stud walls 16" OC
windows to the south.
make your door wide enough to push a full sized wheel barrow through..
(standard 36" will do)
locate a used steel door from salvage if you can.. also salvage windows..
pitch the roof at least 5/12 .. use ribbed steel roofing.. it will last a lifetime and snow slides off very well..
If you can, insulate the walls and roof and sheathe off the whole inside with plywood or OSB or plain boards. (there is where your pallets can come in handy) same with the outside walls and roof.. pallets will save you hundreds of dollars..
if you can, instead of pulling nails out of the pallet boards, get a heavy drift punch and drive the nails through the board.. put the kids to work..
.....jiminwisc.....

ETA: if I had to do it all over again, I would put an overhead door in so I could get the front end loader inside the coop for cleaning it out..

 

[Mimi13]

You don't want to know what I spent protecting my chickens lol...

JT

Yeah, I hear ya on that one. Me neither!