Talk me off the Ledge... $2000 for a chicken coop!

[calicodonna]

My 12x8 coop and run, with hardware cloth walls and a tin roof, cost just over $3000 three years ago. We didn't have any shed or materials to use, and had to hire a carpenter to build it. It was a lot, but I'm so glad to know my hens are as safe as possible. My biggest gain, compared to the small purchased coop I'd started out with, was being able to walk around in the coop and interact with my chickens. Yesterday when I sat down on the little stool I sit on in the coop, one of my girls, who was very standoffish the first year I had her, actually hopped onto my knee and sat there a while.

 

[melissadennis0]

I just received a quote for a 10x6 chicken coop... $2,023! I know lumber is sky high... no need to tell me that. But here is the crazy part... I'm thinking about paying it. But I honestly feel like a fool paying that much for a CHICKEN COOP! I was fine with $1500... and $1700. But $2k seemed a bit excessive. What do you think? Give me your story.

For my 8x10 A Frame, with feed room, I paid over $3,000.00. That was last year. Doesn’t include the automatic door opener or the two large 10x10 heavy dog panels we have as their run. Well worth every penny!!!!

 

[Maggie13]

We own a cabinet shop so building things is not an issue.

In 2016 I drew up this chicken tractor the total material cost ran $346.25 WITHOUT counting our labor.
Specs: Coop is 3 ft X 4 ft
Run is 4 ft X 9 ft
3 Hens

With limits skills and tools you could build an inexpensive coop using a cattle panel

I just searched Cattle panel coop and here is a step by step
How To Build A Chicken Coop Or Greenhouse From Cattle Panels For Under $200
In the end it is your money and only you can decide how you wish to spend it.

 

[FEATHERFIELD]

I just received a quote for a 10x6 chicken coop... $2,023! I know lumber is sky high... no need to tell me that. But here is the crazy part... I'm thinking about paying it. But I honestly feel like a fool paying that much for a CHICKEN COOP! I was fine with $1500... and $1700. But $2k seemed a bit excessive. What do you think? Give me your story.

I just received a quote for a 10x6 chicken coop... $2,023! I know lumber is sky high... no need to tell me that. But here is the crazy part... I'm thinking about paying it. But I honestly feel like a fool paying that much for a CHICKEN COOP! I was fine with $1500... and $1700. But $2k seemed a bit excessive. What do you think? Give me your story.

I paid $2000 for the coop and (ahem) $7000 for the run. he had to rent a bobcat ($$$) and build a cement pad (more $$$) as the coop was sinking. I had hardware wire and chicken wire, 2 gates and a chicken wire ceiling with cross braces.
Nothing is getting in there. I know it was super expensive but it was worth it for me.
My favorite hen was slaughtered not 10 feet away from me last summer, so I swore it would never happen again.
The chap who built it for me told me it was the nicest chicken coop in Grey County. It is called Cluckingham Palace (no, not original, but it fits and the hubs made me a lovely sign for Mothers Day.
If you can do a lot of work yourself to save the labour charges, do It. I think thats what got me lol!

 

[Just Don]

Some might say I went overboard with predator proofing but nothing has ever gotten at my flock within their pen and I sleep like a baby at night.

I do agree. I didn't build my last pen very good and lost all our chickens so if mine looks like a prison and guard towers help so be it.. lol

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I just received a quote for a 10x6 chicken coop... $2,023! I know lumber is sky high... no need to tell me that. But here is the crazy part... I'm thinking about paying it. But I honestly feel like a fool paying that much for a CHICKEN COOP! I was fine with $1500... and $1700. But $2k seemed a bit excessive. What do you think? Give me your story.

Lumber prices have turned the corner and should come down a lot. Or so my friends who work in the woods and one who works at a local mill.

Ymmv.

 

[DobieLover]

Lumber prices have turned the corner and should come down a lot. Or so my friends who work in the woods and one who works at a local mill.

Ymmv.

I hope you're right. I have a lot of construction left to do on my garage and house.

 

[3KillerBs]

Lumber prices have turned the corner and should come down a lot. Or so my friends who work in the woods and one who works at a local mill.

Ymmv.

I hope so. My new house needs a front landing and a back deck -- as well as some garden structures and modifications to a shed.

 

[Ted Brown]

Lumber prices have turned the corner and should come down a lot. Or so my friends who work in the woods and one who works at a local mill.

Ymmv.

I wish.

My reading on this topic says otherwise. Most suggest that we have another 18 months before we see any decrease in the cost of wood.

Check the futures markets: a year ago wood was $300-$400/1000 board feet, today that is around $1,500+. This is for logs that are going into the mills. Add to this: lot of mills have closed over the years and many more shut as COVID ramped up; pine beetle infestations in the western Canadian forests have reduced supply.

I very much hope I am completely wrong.

 

[saysfaa]

I wish.

My reading on this topic says otherwise. Most suggest that we have another 18 months before we see any decrease in the cost of wood.

Check the futures markets: a year ago wood was $300-$400/1000 board feet, today that is around $1,500+. This is for logs that are going into the mills. Add to this: lot of mills have closed over the years and many more shut as COVID ramped up; pine beetle infestations in the western Canadian forests have reduced supply.

I very much hope I am completely wrong.

I think it will come down some but no where near where it was a couple of years ago. Politics of both parties. Between the new (or vastly increased) import tax on Canadian lumber and not likely to ease restrictions on logging in the US. Each could be argued as good/bad but either way, effect will be higher lumber prices.