I bought one of those welded wire dog kennels from Tractor Supply (though, you can shop around online and probably get a better price), and fabricated a nice metal roof—before that I had a problem with coyotes, raccoons and possums getting in and doing their damage). Depending on how latge you plan to make it, it will run you less than $350., it is durable and down the road, expandable, as well.
We built our own when we got our first chickens and then I saw people buying second hand metal garden sheds and using old ladders for roosts. You will need to get something with window for light and ventilation. I don’t know if you are handy.
For about a week then they get use to it.
Please keep your new chicks inside for the first few months. They can stay in a dog kennel until they are ready for the coop. When the weather warms up you can put them in a kennel with food and water outside during the afternoon and bring them in during the evening. We have a 20 foot by 10 foot fence panel dog run with a attached shed that we insulated and used free pallets to make walls for the coop. There are 2 rafters and 3 wood brooding boxes. The chickens use ladders going up to the rafters. We also have a fenced going over the top of the run and a 2 ft fence around the outside of the run to keep predators out. Half of the top of the run has a plywood roof to keep the chickens dry. I found free bricks and we made a floor under the covered part of the run. Also I made a dirt bath (3 ft x 5 ft) of dirt, sand, peat moss and a little lime. All of this cost us about $400 as we found a used dog kennel, fencing and plywood. I hope this information helps you
Our Easter egger is 2 years old, the 2 Isa Browns are 21 months and the 4 Olive Eggers are 9 months old. Our setup has been working well and I hope it continues to do so.
These playhouses are even new, less expensive than the chicken coops. They need adjustment of course. But the prefab chicken coops need adjustments too. + playhouses often look great.
I have two of those and never use them, anymore. My goto broody coop is actually a second-hand, home-built rabbit hutch. It's larger, sturdier and other than placing a piece of vinyl flooring over the wire bottom (1/2"HW cloth, like the rest of the sides) it needed no modifications. Best of all, it was an end-of-the-day freebie! I LOVE yard sales!
Look on Craigslist or Marketplace for a used dog kennel. Put heavy duty fence wire on the ground that sticks out at least 6 inches from the perimeter of the kennel (to keep predators from digging in). Same for top of kennel. Depending on where you live tarp for shade. By winter time you have saved enough money to buy a few sheets of paneling to enclose kennel. Premade stuff is not worth the time or money. My rooster and few hens are free range but put themselves up at night and I go out and close the gate.
First off, if your goal is cheap eggs you're better off buying them from somebody else. There is no way you're ever going to have a viable backyard chicken setup and beat the economies of scale of large commercial poultry farms.
