You can call me the Joanna Gaines of chicken coops because in this post I am sharing my DIY Budget Friendly Chicken Coop transformation!
When we first started our journey as chicken people last year, we kicked things off with a hand-me-down coop from my parents. It was a great temporary solution. Functional, already broken in, and free. But as time went on, it became pretty clear it wasn’t going to cut it long-term. The coop was on the smaller side and we needed something bigger for our growing flock.
Shop Our Chicken Collection Here!
Dream Coop vs. Budget Reality
In my dream world, our coop would be one of those Pinterest-worthy walk-in wooden beauties. Painted white of course. Trimmed in black, with a cute little lantern above the door. But once I added up the cost of lumber, paint, hardware, and everything else, I realized that dream was going to stay a dream for a while. So I pivoted.
The DIY Shed Chicken Coop Conversion Idea
Instead of building from scratch, I got the idea to find a shed and convert it into a chicken coop. I figured it could give us more space for less money, and maybe even save us some time. So I started scouring Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook Marketplace Fail
Spoiler alert: total flop. Everything was either way overpriced for what was basically firewood, or too massive to transport.
And then… I got scammed. Yep, classic Facebook moment. I put down a $100 deposit on a coop that looked perfect in the listing, only to never hear from the seller again. Definitely not my proudest moment, but hey, lesson learned.
Amazon to the Rescue
Eventually, I decided to see what Amazon had to offer. I honestly didn’t expect much, but to my surprise, the prices weren’t bad at all. I figured we’d probably need to reinforce whatever we bought (because let’s be real, you get what you pay for), but I took the gamble and ordered one that seemed like a decent fit.
HERE’S THE LINK TO THE SHED WE BOUGHT!
The Finished Coop
And I’m so glad I did!
The shed turned out to be surprisingly sturdy and cute. It even has a little window, which adds some charm. My husband added a few reinforcements to help it stand up to our gusty Nevada winds, cut out a chicken door in the back, installed some roosting bars, and added nesting boxes. Just like that… coop upgrade complete.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Fancy, But It’s Ours
I love how it turned out. It’s functional, roomy, and has that bit of character I was hoping for (without draining our savings). And now, I’m officially dreaming about adding more chickens to our flock.
From a hand-me-down coop to a DIY shed conversion, this has been such a rewarding project. It may not be the “dream coop” I initially imagined, but it’s ours and it’s perfect for where we’re at right now.
Shop Our Coop Must Haves
- 5 Gallon Bucket
- Feeder Attachments
- Metal Feed Containers
- Feeding Scoops
- Water Attachments
- Heated Water
- Nesting Pads
- Shavings
- Shed For Coop
- Automatic Coop Door
Pin For Later:
hey there!
I'm Sarah Elrod
I'm one half of Elrod Ranch and the person you will likely hear from the most! I am the creative marketer behind our brand. I'm a photographer, social media lover, and entrepreneurship nerd.
I'm super passionate about sharing our faily story and day to day lives which is exactly what you can expect around here!
Everything from recipes I am cooking up, to the animals we have, my best hacks for raising cow kids and more!
I'm so glad you're here!
- Top Categories -
