Building a chicken house is a great project for any homesteader, and it can be a fun way to get your kids involved in helping out. Whether you have a large family or just a few chickens, it’s important that you provide them with adequate shelter from the elements and predators.
The first step to building a chicken house is making sure that you have all of the supplies and materials on hand before starting construction. This includes everything from nails and screws down to wood shingles, which are used to line the roof of your chicken coop. You’ll also need some kind of fencing material such as chicken wire or wood slats so that your hens can’t escape once they’re let outside into their new yard space.
If you’re not very handy with tools then consider hiring someone who is experienced with building projects like this one so they can help guide you through each step along the way until completion. You’re in the market for a chicken coop. You know you want one, but do you really need one? Will it be worth the cost? Will it make your property more attractive or help you earn a living? Right now, these are all questions that you may have about building or buying a chicken coop. These questions will be answered by this guide on how to build your own chicken coop or buying one from someone else.
Chicken Coop Costs
Chicken coops are available in many different sizes, shapes, and materials. The cost of a chicken coop will depend on the size and features you choose. A standard 4-6 hen house can be built for as little as $300 and a larger 8-12 hen house can cost over $4000.
Chicken Coop Cost To Build
The cost to build a chicken coop will vary depending on a number of factors, including the materials used and the size of your coop. Additionally, if you live in an urban or suburban area, it may be necessary to factor in zoning regulations and permitting fees (most cities require that you receive permission from the local building department before you start construction).
To give yourself an idea of how much it might cost to build your own chicken coop:
- The average American family spends around $7K annually on meat products; this figure includes both raised animals as well as those purchased at supermarkets or specialty shops like Whole Foods. If you raise chickens for eggs, rather than for meat consumption or other purposes, then there’s no need for any additional expense beyond what’s outlined above.
Cost To Build A Chicken Coop Yourself
- You can build a chicken coop from scratch. The cost of building a chicken house from scratch depends on the materials used and whether you hire someone to do it for you, but it will definitely be cheaper than buying a kit or pre-fabricated unit.
- If you buy a kit for your coop, the cost will range between $1,000-$3,000 depending on how elaborate the design is and what kind of materials are included in the package. Prefabricated units can run anywhere from $500-$5,000 depending on size and material quality (as well as other factors).
Benefits Of Buying A Prefabricated Kit
Buying a prefabricated kit is an excellent way to save time, labor, and money. You’ll find that these chicken houses are available in a variety of styles and sizes to fit your needs. While this may be a more expensive option than building the house yourself, it will still cost much less than buying one already built at your local hardware store or home improvement center.
With so many different types of materials used in the construction of these kits (including metals, plastics, and composites) they can be used in almost any climate zone without fear that they will become damaged over time due to corrosion or degradation from weather elements such as rainwater runoff or extreme heat during summer months when temperatures reach 100°F or higher daily with little relief at night due primarily because there is no rain every day all year long.
How Many Chickens To Keep In The Coop?
How many chickens to keep in the coop? The answer depends on the size of the coop and how much time you can spend with them. A small coop can house 5-6 hens, a medium one 10-12 hens, and a large one 15-20.
Permits and Labor
Permits and Labor
In addition to the cost of materials and supplies, you’ll need to budget for permits and labor. In some cases, if you’re building a chicken coop on your property, you may need a permit from your local government. Depending on what type of housing setup is best for your needs (and where in the country you live), this could be an expensive process. In other areas it’s free or nominal; check with your local authorities before making any decisions about how much money to spend on permits. Only after all these expenses have been accounted for can we begin pricing out our chicken coop construction costs.
Site Preparation
The site of your chicken house should be prepared before construction begins. This preparation can take several weeks, depending on the size of your property and how much vegetation needs to be cleared.
Before you begin building anything at all, remove any existing vegetation, concrete or asphalt. Use a shovel to dig out any large rocks or roots that are present in the area where you want to build your chicken house.
Next, level the dirt with a rake in preparation for laying down foundations for walls and supports for joists that will support the structure’s weight (i.e., perches).
Excavation and Foundation
Excavation and foundation. Foundation construction is not a huge part of building your chicken house, but it’s an important start. The foundation must be solid and stable so that it can support the weight of your new home, which means you’ll need to dig into the ground enough to support all four sides of your structure.
To do this, use a shovel or pickaxe to remove earth from around the perimeter of where you want your structure built (make sure there aren’t any underground obstacles like pipes or roots). You can also use concrete blocks for added stability if needed.
Structure Steel
Steel is a great material to use in your chicken coop because it’s strong and durable, yet lightweight. It’s also easy to work with and available in many sizes and shapes. Steel is an excellent choice if you want your chickens to have easy access to the outdoors without having to worry about them chewing through wooden parts of their coop or run, since steel will not splinter into sharp pieces that could harm your birds.
Concrete
Concrete: The cheapest option for building a chicken house is concrete. It’s easy to work with, inexpensive, and can be poured in place or precast. Concrete is strong and durable and can be used for foundations, walls, floors, and more.
Electrical Work
Electrical work is a complex area of construction. Electrical work is best left to the professionals because it can be dangerous if not done properly. Permits are often required, which will add additional costs to your project.
HVAC, Humidity, and Lighting
HVAC: Having a good HVAC system is essential for the health and well-being of your chickens. It should be able to keep the temperature between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average humidity level of 40-60%. This can be hard to maintain if you live in an area prone to extreme temperatures like Florida or Texas, so it may be necessary to install additional vents that allow you to control airflow in order to keep it comfortable for your birds.
Humidity: High humidity levels can cause respiratory infections in chickens as well as mold growth on their food supply (which is bad for them). You want a humidity level between 30% – 70%, but don’t get too drastic about changing this number—small adjustments will do just fine.
Lighting: What kind of lighting do you need? There are several different types available such as fluorescent bulbs (best choice), incandescent bulbs (also good), LEDs (can be expensive)
Plumbing
In addition to providing a clean, healthy environment for your chickens, plumbing can also be a big part of the building cost. In fact, it’s often one of the first things most people think about when they decide to build a chicken house. That’s because plumbing is required to keep your birds healthy and safe from disease. If you don’t already have an idea of what kind of system you want in place before construction begins, it may be best to plan ahead with some research on how it should be done—and make sure that your plans are realistic for when construction begins.
If you want only basic amenities such as heaters and fans but no automatic watering systems or drainage lines right away (which would require more complex piping), then consider installing those parts later on once funds become available or time allows for them without disrupting other aspects of building construction itself
Conclusion
Buying a chicken coop can be expensive, but the cost of building one yourself is even higher. If you have the right tools and skills, then you may be able to save some money by building it yourself. However, if not there are many manufacturers that offer pre-assembled kits which will save time as well as dollars spent on labor costs.
