The cost of building coop??

[Hooligans7]

I posted an ad on craigslist in the free section, asking for old lumber. I got a bunch of old fence pickets and other lumber and built a nice coop and didn't spend a penny on wood.

Yes, and some communities also have "Freecycle" groups whose members offer, receive, and swap all kinds of things. I lined the interior of my coop with used vinyl vented trailer skirting panels. They're durable, waterproof, washable, ventilated — and free.

The overarching principle, of course, is allowing enough time to obtain free materials, and using your imagination for ways you can use them.
But if people are in a big hurry, it isn't possible and they end up spending a lot of money. That's why the "cost" of building a coop varies so widely.
And hey, frugality is fun!

 

[misbhaven]

I agree with what every one has said...another good inexpensive thing is outside dog kennels for runs deer or bird netting across the top ,and add chicken wire on the bottom 2 feet instant run..no real building required..and if keeps dogs in it will keep them out..I also love the cull pile at lowe"s..menards also sell 2nds in plywood etc they call them economy panels cost 7.50 or so no matter what it was from 1 inch ply to paneling. just have to look first then buy you add it at the lumber desk.

 

[sharondeck]

Hi there,
I feel its cheaper to get the coop made from professionals. It saves you the pain of doing it all by yourself and. I got one made from metal buildings colorado and it wasn't much expensive, around $350. Also it looks great! My chickens are happy!!

 

[candr01]

I designed and built our coop with much inspiration from seeing what others have done here on BYC. All in it cost around $400 which included extra hardware cloth to build a day tractor at a later date. I then spent an extra $200 on an automatic chicken door (which, btw, is da bomb!) so really, $600. The coop is 4'x4' with the run underneath being 4'x8'. It is designed to house no more than 4 chickens. Right now we have just two girls. We've had them for 6 months and it is working out very nicely. Very happy.

Good luck with your build!

 

[ECBW]

I have some scrap wood, nothing pressure treated or rated for outdoors though. I have the tools and skills to do it, just haven't taken on a large project before so I wasn't sure what it would cost.

So it sounds like I could build one for less than $500 then?

Well, I built 2 coops for less than $500, out of pocket that is.

Collected material (lumbers, plywood, hinges, shingles, paint, etc.) from Freecycle, construction dumpsters, Craigslist. Came across some nice old windows on curbside from a house changing out its old windows. Picked up a load of used PT lumber from someone re-doing their deck. It took time but it was fun like scavenger hunt. Once you have amass enough, design the coop based on material on hand, since beggars can’t be choosers.

I did spent about $70 per coop and run on screws, metal mesh and misc..

If time, skill, patience are issues, you might consider buying a ready-made coop and it would be money well spent.

 

[ADSCHICKENS]

My son and I built our chicken house from a plan we found on Purina's website. My son wanted their run to be an octagon shape. We bought all the wood and paint at Home Depot and the wire around the run. We have about $500.00.

 

[Hooligans7]

Well, I built 2 coops for less than $500, out of pocket that is.

Collected material (lumbers, plywood, hinges, shingles, paint, etc.) from Freecycle, construction dumpsters, Craigslist. Came across some nice old windows on curbside from a house changing out its old windows. Picked up a load of used PT lumber from someone re-doing their deck. It took time but it was fun like scavenger hunt. Once you have amass enough, design the coop based on material on hand, since beggars can’t be choosers.

I did spent about $70 per coop and run on screws, metal mesh and misc..

If time, skill, patience are issues, you might consider buying a ready-made coop and it would be money well spent.

Like you, I spent very little for our coop. I used savaged (free) PT lumber for the foundation framing, which I ripped in two and assembled like a bridge structure for strength. I bought:
A. Ten 2" X 6" X 10's and ripped them in two. I framed the upper coop section walls and roof with the 2" by 2.75" lumber, then I ripped two of those pieces and assembled the frames for the front doors. Almost no scraps.
B. One sheet of ½" OSB for the floor. I used the scrap piece for building the nesting boxes.
C. Seven smallish butt hinges, a box of 3" deck screws, box of 2" deck screws, a roll of 1" welded wire mesh fencing, a locking barrel bolt, and two padlock hasps.
D. Two high-capacity tire and wheel assemblies. I attached them to lifting arms that deployed to make the coop portable.

I had some old 1" by material I ripped to make roof purlins, then used a discarded steel swimming pool enclosure for the roof. I had just enough! I sided the coop with cedar siding that I made from a milling mistake at a local mill, which was super cheap. In all, I think I spent $245.

 

[ADSCHICKENS]

Very nice. We put pine shavings in the coop and egg boxes and we get that at Tractor Supply for $5.00 a bag. I saw somewhere about putting kitty litter in the coop and we are thinking about building a box under where they roost at night and putting kitty litter in that.