Build your coop on your farm plot, stock it with chickens, and collect eggs daily

A chicken coop in Stardew Valley is a building you construct on your farm that houses chickens and produces eggs. You build it by gathering wood and stone, then paying a carpenter to construct it. Once built, you buy chickens from Marnie's ranch, place them inside, and collect their eggs every morning. A basic coop costs 4,000 gold and takes three days to build.

The coop is one of the first income sources available to new players. Chickens lay eggs daily (or every other day if unhappy), and eggs sell for 140 gold each at the shipping bin. A coop with four chickens generates roughly 560 gold per week, which adds up quickly in your first spring.

Key Takeaways

  • A basic coop costs 4,000 gold in materials and takes three in-game days to build once you hire the carpenter.
  • You need 390 wood and 190 stone to build a coop; gather these from trees and rocks on your farm or in the mines.
  • Chickens cost 800 gold each and lay eggs every morning if they are happy, or every other day if unhappy.
  • You can upgrade your coop later to add a silo for hay storage and a deluxe coop that holds eight chickens instead of four.

Gather 390 wood and 190 stone before you hire the carpenter

Wood comes from chopping trees on your farm with an axe. Each tree drops 12 to 20 wood per chop, so you need to fell roughly 20 trees to reach 390 wood. Chop trees in the morning so you have time to gather stone the same day. Hardwood (a darker wood type) does not count toward the coop cost, so ignore it for now.

Stone comes from breaking rocks with a pickaxe. Rocks on your farm drop 1 to 3 stone each, so you need to break roughly 100 rocks. The mines (accessible after you unlock the bridge in the mountains on day 5 of spring) have far more rocks per screen, so if you have cleared your farm already, head there. Bring a pickaxe upgraded to at least copper level, or breaking rocks takes forever.

Store your wood and stone in a chest on your farm so you do not lose them if you die in the mines. Once you have 390 wood and 190 stone, you are ready to hire the carpenter.

Pay the carpenter 4,000 gold to build the coop

The carpenter is Robin, who lives in a cabin in the mountains north of your farm. Walk north from your farm until you reach the mountain area, then head east to find her cabin. Enter and talk to her. She will ask if you want to construct a building. Select "Chicken Coop" from the menu.

Robin will show you a preview of where the coop will be placed on your farm. You can move the cursor to any empty spot and place it there. Choose a location close to your farm house so you do not have to walk far every morning to collect eggs. Once you confirm the location, pay 4,000 gold. The coop will be built three in-game days later.

During those three days, you cannot move or remove the coop, so choose your spot carefully. The coop needs to be on grass or dirt, not on paths or in water. If you place it badly, you can demolish it later (you lose half the materials), but it is easier to get it right the first time.

Buy chickens from Marnie and place them in the coop

Marnie runs the ranch south of your farm. She is open every day except Wednesday and winter festival days. Walk into her ranch and talk to her. Select "Purchase Animals" and then "Chicken." Each chicken costs 800 gold. Buy at least one, but four is the maximum for a basic coop.

Marnie will ask you to confirm the purchase. Once you do, the chicken appears inside your coop automatically. You do not carry it or place it yourself. If you buy multiple chickens, they all appear in the coop at once.

Your chickens will be white by default. You can paint them different colors later using a paint brush (purchased from the carpenter), but this is cosmetic and does not affect eggs or income.

Collect eggs every morning and keep chickens happy

Chickens lay eggs every morning if they are happy. Walk into your coop and press the action button (spacebar on PC, X on Switch, A on console) on each chicken to collect the egg. Eggs appear in your inventory. You can also collect eggs by opening the coop door and letting chickens roam outside during the day, then collecting them when they return at night.

Chickens become unhappy if you do not feed them or if they cannot go outside. Every morning, check that your coop has hay in the feed hopper (a wooden box inside the coop). Hay comes from cutting grass with a scythe and storing it in a silo. If you do not have a silo yet, buy hay from Marnie for 50 gold per bundle. Unhappy chickens lay eggs every other day instead of every day, cutting your income in half.

Let your chickens outside on sunny days so they can peck at grass and become happier. On rainy days, they stay inside and eat from the hopper. In winter, grass does not grow, so you must have hay stored or buy it from Marnie.

Upgrade to a deluxe coop or add a silo later

Once you have a basic coop running, you can upgrade it. A deluxe coop holds eight chickens instead of four and costs 10,000 gold plus 450 wood and 150 stone. It takes three days to build, just like the basic coop. Talk to Robin again and select "Upgrade Building" instead of "Construct Building."

A silo stores hay automatically when you cut grass. It costs 1,000 gold plus 100 wood, 10 stone, and 5 copper bars. Once built, any grass you cut with a scythe is stored inside. This saves you from buying hay from Marnie every winter. A silo is not required, but it saves money over time if you plan to keep chickens for more than one winter.

You can also build a big coop (holds 12 chickens) or a barn (holds cows and pigs) using the same process. These cost more but generate more income once you have the resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a silo before I build a coop?

No. You can buy hay from Marnie for 50 gold per bundle if you do not have a silo. A silo saves money only if you keep chickens through winter or plan to raise many animals. For your first coop in spring, skip the silo and build it later once you have more gold.

What happens if a chicken dies?

Chickens can die from starvation if you do not feed them for several days, or from a wild animal attack if they are left outside at night. If a chicken dies, it is gone forever. You must buy a new one from Marnie for 800 gold. Always bring chickens inside before dark and keep the coop stocked with hay.

Can I move my coop after it is built?

No, you cannot move a coop once it is placed. You can demolish it (talk to Robin and select "Demolish Building"), but you only get back half the materials you spent. Plan your farm layout before you build so you do not waste resources.

How much gold do chickens make per week?

A happy chicken lays one egg per day, and eggs sell for 140 gold each. Four chickens make 560 gold per week. Eight chickens in a deluxe coop make 1,120 gold per week. This assumes all chickens are happy and laying daily.

What is the difference between white and brown eggs?

Brown eggs are laid by brown chickens and sell for the same price as white eggs (140 gold). The color is cosmetic. You can paint chickens different colors with a paint brush, but this does not change egg color or value.