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

[Birdsonghill]

I converted a three sided pony run in shelter this spring to a coop. The shed 10 x10 ft. with a 121/2 ft. x 10 ft. x 8 ft. H. wire covered run attached. The old pole shed cost me about $500 15 years ago to build myself. The conversion this spring, with the runaway inflation we are experiencing, cost about $1,000 plus! If I had built the entire coop from scratch, it likely would have cost $2500 plus in materials, this year. Labor is expensive, fuel, insurance, taxes, License, etc. , making the estimate you received seem not too far off from reality. Good luck and happy chickens!

 

[Geckolady]

Craigslist
Facebook Marketplace
etc.

Free pallets to use for wood

That price is crazy. No wonder they say you lose money with chickens!

 

[Sally Winter-Swink]

We got our coop and run for free on a local listing and beefed it up a bit. Try searching for chicken coop or used shed on Facebook Marketplace. I've seen a few that were free if you move it. Another idea - Craigslist in your area.

 

[eas2]

Chicken coop #5 Cost $5,400 10 x16’ .However our land is not level so we had to build on stilts on one side. It is RAT, coyote, raccoon, bobcat & fox proof...which is worth everything.
The Windows in it are old house windows, floors ply, sides are panels from HD. Roofs flat with gravel roofing rolls (wanted a green roof but too shady under oaks & bays).
Its a square box, easy to clean...no crawling required.

 

[saracarver3]

I just paid $2000 for an 8x8 coop. Two small windows, French doors. Unpainted. Mildly customized.

 

[Emilou]

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.

IN CT, I just spent around $2000+ for the raw materials for a 8 x 12' walk-in coop, possibly more $. And that was with a door I scavenged and a window made from a glass slider door panel and some other minor stuff I had. That doesn't count the 1/2" hardware cloth for a run and coop security (or the drainage system that prevents the coop from having damp ground under its 16" rise for a summer cool place.)
My angel neighbor, a "retired" carpenter built it for free.
I'm retired, and decided to treat myself to chicken companions, and treat my friends and the community food bank to eggs!

 

[Craigatcsi]

For our run, we used 2 inch PVC pipe with chicken wire. I then used the smaller hardware cloth 2 feet up on the bottom of the walls. For a top, I used 10 feet long sticks of 1 inch PVC pipe and made ‘arches’ 2 feet apart, then the roof of chicken wire held them in place. Several of our hens like to hang out up top of the 4 cross perches between the walls. - Tough to describe, see my pics. - We have had a few people stop by and tell us how much they like our run.

 

[Sheila Weldon]

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.

 

[Sheila Weldon]

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.

 

[Kellow1]

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.

It all depends on what you are getting for this price. I have spent more than that amount on my chickens. Make sure you are getting real wood, that you can walk inside for easy cleaning, that it is secure from ALL predators, that the roost bars are 2X4 with the wide side up, and you can rest assured that your chickens are safe. Good luck.