You need 450 gold and wood to build a coop, then buy chicks from Marnie

To get a chicken coop in Stardew Valley, you build it on your farm using the carpenter's menu. Robin the carpenter, who lives in the mountains north of Pelican Town, will construct the coop for you if you bring her 450 gold and 100 wood. Once the coop is built, you walk to Marnie's ranch (the building south of town with the animals outside) and buy chicks from her for 800 gold each. The chicks grow into adult chickens over three in-game days.

The coop itself is a small building that holds up to four chickens at the start. You can expand it later to hold more animals, but you do not need to do that right away. The building includes nesting boxes where chickens lay eggs, and you collect those eggs by walking up to the box and pressing the action button.

Key Takeaways

  • Robin the carpenter builds the coop for 450 gold and 100 wood; you can find her in her workshop in the mountains during the day.
  • After the coop is built, buy chicks from Marnie at her ranch for 800 gold per chick, or buy adult chickens for 1,200 gold each.
  • Chicks take three in-game days to mature into hens that lay eggs; adult chickens lay eggs the next day.
  • You must have space on your farm and enough gold before you talk to Robin, because the transaction happens when ready.
  • Chickens need to be let outside during the day and locked back in at night, or they may be attacked by crows or other threats.

Where to find Robin and what to bring her

Robin's carpentry workshop is in the mountains, north of town. If you are standing in the town square near Pierre's shop, walk north past the library and keep going uphill. You will see a small wooden building on the left side of the path—that is Robin's workshop. She is there most days between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the game, except on Wednesdays when she stays home.

When you enter the workshop, talk to Robin and select the option to construct a building. She will show you a menu with different structures you can build. The chicken coop is listed there. Before you confirm the order, make sure you have exactly 450 gold and 100 wood in your inventory. If you do not have enough, the transaction will not go through and you will have to come back later.

The 100 wood can come from chopping trees on your farm or in the forest. You get wood by hitting trees with an axe. If you do not have an axe yet, you can buy one from Marnie's ranch or find one in the mines. Once you have the materials and the gold, Robin will begin construction the next day, and the coop will be ready to use the day after that.

Buying chicks from Marnie

Marnie runs the ranch south of Pelican Town, where she keeps cows, goats, and chickens. You can reach her ranch by walking south from the town square and continuing past the saloon. The building with animals in the yard is hers. She is usually inside the ranch building between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the ranch is closed.

Talk to Marnie and select the option to purchase animals. She will show you a list of what she has available. Chicks cost 800 gold each, and adult chickens cost 1,200 gold each. Chicks are the cheaper option, but they take three days to grow into hens that lay eggs. Adult chickens lay eggs the next day, so if you want eggs right away, buy adults instead. Either way, the chicken will be placed directly into your coop once you buy it.

You can buy as many chicks or chickens as your coop has space for. A new coop holds four animals. If you try to buy more than the coop can hold, Marnie will tell you there is no room and you will not be able to complete the purchase.

What happens after chicks arrive

Once a chick is in your coop, it stays inside the building for the first three days while it grows. You cannot collect eggs from it during this time. On the fourth day, the chick becomes an adult hen and will be ready to go outside. At this point, you need to let it out of the coop each morning so it can eat grass and move around. Hens that go outside and eat grass are happier and lay eggs more consistently.

Every morning, walk into the coop and press the action button on the door to let the chickens out. They will wander around your farm during the day. Before nightfall (around 6 p.m. in the game), go back to the coop and press the door button again to lock them in for the night. If you forget to lock them in, they may be attacked by crows or other predators and you could lose the chicken.

Adult hens lay eggs in the nesting boxes inside the coop. You collect eggs by walking up to a nesting box and pressing the action button. Eggs appear in the boxes every morning if the hen is happy and healthy. You can sell eggs at Pierre's shop or use them in cooking recipes.

Expanding your coop later

The starting coop holds four chickens, but you can expand it to hold up to twelve animals total. To expand, go back to Robin and select the option to upgrade a building. Each upgrade costs gold and wood, and adds more space and nesting boxes. The first upgrade costs 1,000 gold and 450 wood, and increases capacity to eight chickens.

You do not need to expand right away. Many players keep just two or three chickens in a small coop for their first season and expand later once they have more gold and resources. Start with what you can afford and add more chickens as your farm grows.

Keeping chickens healthy and happy

Chickens need food, water, and shelter to stay healthy. Inside the coop, place a silo or buy hay from Marnie to feed them. A silo is a separate building that stores hay automatically when you cut grass on your farm. If you do not have a silo, you can buy hay from Marnie for 50 gold per bundle and place it in the coop's hay hopper.

Chickens also need water. Place a water trough inside the coop, which you can craft or buy. Without water, chickens become unhappy and stop laying eggs. If you let them outside during the day, they can drink from outdoor water sources like ponds or sprinklers, but it is safer to have water inside the coop as well.

Pet your chickens by pressing the action button on them. Happy chickens lay eggs more often and may produce higher-quality eggs. Unhappy chickens stop laying eggs and may get sick. Keep them fed, watered, and let them outside during the day to maintain their happiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a coop before I have 450 gold?

No. You must have the full 450 gold and 100 wood in your inventory when you talk to Robin. If you do not have enough, she will not start construction. Save up the gold first, then gather wood from trees on your farm or in the forest.

What if I do not have room on my farm for a coop?

You need a clear rectangular space on your farm to place the coop. If your farm is too cluttered with other buildings or objects, clear some space first. You can move or remove items to make room, then talk to Robin again.

Do I have to let chickens outside every day?

Chickens are happier and lay eggs more consistently if you let them outside during the day, but you can keep them inside the coop full-time if you prefer. However, they will be less happy and may stop laying eggs. Letting them out takes only a few seconds each morning and night.

Can I buy chickens before I build a coop?

No. You must build the coop first. Once the coop is finished and ready to use, then you can buy chicks or adult chickens from Marnie. If you try to buy animals before the coop exists, Marnie will tell you that you have no place to put them.

What is the difference between a brown egg and a white egg?

Brown and white eggs are the same in terms of value and use. The color depends on the chicken breed. Both types sell for the same price and work the same way in recipes. Some players prefer the look of one color over the other, but there is no gameplay difference.