Cheap vs Quality Chicken Coops: The Cost of Buying Twice
The Chicken Coop Regret Nobody Warns You About
At some point, almost every future chicken owner hits this moment:
You’re scrolling.
You see a coop for a few hundred dollars.
It says it fits six chickens.
And you think, “Why would I spend more?”
That question makes sense.
It’s also where many people end up spending more than they planned.
This guide is here to help you do it right the first time — so you’re not replacing it later.
Big-Box Coop Kits: Cheap Up Front, Costly Later
Big-box and online kit coops are popular for a reason.
They’re affordable.
They’re easy to order.
And they look cute in photos.
For some families, they do serve a purpose. If you’re unsure whether chickens will stick — maybe you’re testing routines, kids’ interest, or zoning rules — a low-cost kit can be a short-term experiment.
But here’s what most people don’t realize until later.
Most kit coops are not walk-in. Many sit low to the ground with short doors and tight spaces, which means cleaning often requires ducking under the roof, crouching or kneeling to reach inside, and scraping bedding out through small access doors.
It doesn’t feel like a big deal at first.
But when you’re cleaning in winter, in rain, or after a long day, it adds up fast.
On top of that, most kits come with unfinished wood floors. Without sealed or epoxy-coated flooring, moisture soaks into the boards, droppings stick, and smells linger. Over time, floors are harder to clean, harder to keep sanitary, and more likely to rot.
This is where the corners that were cut become obvious — and “budget-friendly” stops feeling friendly. Many kits use thin, lightweight boards that aren’t sealed or reinforced, so they absorb moisture and begin to swell, warp, or split once they’re exposed to real weather. Panels that once fit neatly start to bow. Gaps appear. Lightweight roofs flex in strong wind, loosen at the seams, or begin to leak where panels meet.
The hardware often fails even faster. Hinges sag under the weight of doors, latches stop lining up, and screws back out with daily opening and closing. Many customers tell us the same thing: “It worked… for a season.” Then repairs start. Doors stick. Floors soften. Cleaning takes longer because nothing fits quite right anymore. And once winter hits, every shortcut shows itself all at once.
DIY Coops: The Hidden Costs of Doing It Yourself
Building your own coop sounds like the best of both worlds.
Sometimes it is.
Sometimes it isn’t.
DIY works best when:
- You already own tools
- You understand ventilation and predator-proofing
- You enjoy the build process and problem-solving
For people who genuinely love building, designing a coop from scratch can be satisfying and rewarding in its own way.
What many first-time builders underestimate is time, skill, and physical effort.
Designing a coop, hauling materials, cutting lumber, lifting panels, fixing mistakes, and making changes all take real hours — often spread across multiple weekends. Then come the extra trips back to the hardware store for parts, replacements, and tools you didn’t plan on needing.
There’s also the battle with the elements. Raw wood needs to be painted or stained, which means watching the forecast, waiting for dry weather, and hoping temperatures cooperate long enough for everything to cure properly. If rain hits too soon or humidity stays high, you’re waiting again — or redoing work you already finished.
Your wallet may not pay the price — but your body may. Anyone who’s ever taken on a large home project knows that even the most prepared plans rarely go exactly as expected. Materials run short, weather delays come at the most inconvenient time, and small changes turn into bigger fixes. As weekends stack up, knees ache, backs get sore, and energy runs low. What started as a fun build begins to feel like heavy labor — and hiring someone else starts to sound like the smarter option. At some point, your time, energy, and body matter just as much as the budget.
Add in material and labor costs:
- Lumber
- Roofing materials
- Hardware and fasteners
- Extra parts from design changes
- Paint, stain, and weather delays
- Help hired to finish or fix the build
A DIY coop can be excellent when it’s done well.
But for many families, it quietly costs more than an already assembled coop placed in your yard by experts — especially if it has to be rebuilt, upgraded, or finished by someone else later.
The Honest Bottom Line
Cheap chicken coops aren’t always a mistake.
They can be a low-risk way to see if chickens fit your life.
DIY builds can also make sense — especially if you enjoy building, have the tools, and want the project itself to be part of the experience.
But once you know chickens are part of your life — not just a short experiment — structure, durability, and ease of use start to matter more than upfront savings.
Most people don’t regret spending more once.
They regret spending twice.
Thinking Ahead
If you’re already comparing prices, it usually means you’re serious.
That’s when it helps to ask a different question:
“What will still be working three years from now?”
It’s a question worth asking before you build, buy, or replace.
Need help picking the perfect coop?
Check out the Gone Broody Design Center to go over sizes and features.
Contact Us anytime at (800) 407-2478 or contact@gonebroody.com.