Stardew Valley Coop

Acquiring a Coop

To start raising chickens in Stardew Valley, you must first build a Stardew Valley Coop from Robin’s Carpenter’s Shop, located north of Pelican Town. The shop is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily, except on Tuesdays, when Robin attends her aerobics class. Constructing a basic Stardew Valley Coop costs 4,000 gold, along with 300 wood and 100 stone. Wood can be gathered by chopping trees or breaking fallen branches with an axe, while stone is collected by breaking rocks with a pickaxe.

These materials can be found around the farm or in the Mines for a faster gathering process. Once the materials are provided, Robin will begin construction, which takes three in-game days to complete. During this time, she will be unavailable for dialogue or gifting, as she is focused on building the Stardew Valley Coop.

Once the Stardew Valley Coop is finished, it can house up to four chickens. Chickens can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch for 800 gold each, provided you have an empty space in the coop. To keep chickens happy and producing eggs daily, they must be fed either by placing hay in the feeding trough or letting them graze outside on grassy areas. Hay can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch or harvested from grass using a scythe if a silo is built. Happy and well-fed chickens have a higher chance of producing large eggs, which can be used in cooking or sold for extra profit. Additionally, petting chickens daily increases their friendship level, further improving their production.

Upgrading the Stardew Valley Coop unlocks more features and additional space for animals. The Big Coop, which costs 10,000 gold, 400 wood, and 150 stone, increases capacity to eight animals and introduces an automatic feeding system, making daily upkeep easier. It also allows players to raise ducks, which produce duck eggs and duck feathers. The Deluxe Coop, the final upgrade, costs 20,000 gold, 500 wood, and 200 stone, increasing capacity to 12 animals and providing further convenience with its auto-feed system. With a fully upgraded Stardew Valley Coop, players can maximize egg production, breed chickens using an incubator, and diversify their farm with different animals.

Coop Upgrades

After the initial Stardew Valley Coop is built, it can be upgraded to a Big Coop and later to a Deluxe Coop, each expansion increasing capacity and introducing new features that improve efficiency and profitability. Upgrading to the Big Coop costs 10,000 gold, 400 wood, and 150 stone. This upgrade expands the coop’s capacity from four to eight animals and introduces an incubator, allowing players to hatch eggs into new animals.

The incubator can be used to hatch chickens from standard eggs, void chickens from void eggs, dinosaurs from dinosaur eggs, and golden chickens from golden eggs. The Big Coop also enables the housing of ducks, which produce duck eggs and duck feathers, adding to the variety of products that can be sold or used in cooking.

The final upgrade, the Deluxe Coop, costs 20,000 gold, 500 wood, and 200 stone. This upgrade increases the coop’s capacity to 12 animals and introduces rabbits, which produce wool and rabbit’s feet. Rabbit wool can be spun into cloth using a loom, while rabbit’s feet are a valuable gift and ingredient in certain recipes. The Deluxe Coop also includes an automatic feeding system, which dispenses hay from silos directly into the feeding trough, eliminating the need for manual feeding as long as there is hay stored in the silo. This feature significantly reduces daily maintenance, making it easier to manage multiple coops or other farm tasks.

Upgrading the coop takes two days to complete, but unlike initial construction, the coop remains fully functional during this time. Animals can still be fed, produce eggs, and roam outside if the weather allows. Keeping animals happy by petting them daily and ensuring they have food increases their affection level, which improves the quality of their products. While chickens and ducks lay eggs regularly, rabbits produce wool every few days, with a chance to drop rabbit’s feet instead. The Stardew Valley Coop, especially when fully upgraded, plays a crucial role in a successful farm by providing a steady source of income and resources for crafting, gifting, and completing bundles in the Community Center.

Purchasing Chickens

Once a Stardew Valley Coop is built, players can begin raising chickens by purchasing them from Marnie’s Ranch, located south of the farm. The ranch is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, but Marnie herself is only available to sell animals from 9 AM to 4 PM, except on Mondays and Tuesdays when she is away from the shop. Each chicken costs 800 gold and must be assigned to a coop before it is placed on the farm.

After selecting a coop, players can choose a name for the new chicken before it appears inside the building. Chickens start as small chicks and require time and care to grow into productive adults. It takes approximately one week for a chick to mature into an adult capable of laying eggs.

To ensure chickens grow properly and remain happy, they must be fed daily. Feeding can be done by placing hay in the coop’s feeding trough or allowing the chickens to graze outside on grassy areas. Hay can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch or harvested from grass using a scythe, provided the farm has a silo to store it.

When chickens have access to food every day, they will steadily gain affection, indicated by hearts when interacting with them. Petting chickens daily also increases their affection, which influences their overall happiness and productivity. Happier chickens have a higher chance of laying large eggs, which can be used in cooking, gifted to villagers, or placed in a mayonnaise machine to produce artisan goods.

Chickens will lay eggs every day as long as they are well cared for, with the type of egg produced depending on the chicken’s color and happiness level. White and brown chickens lay regular eggs or large eggs, while void chickens, which can be obtained later, lay void eggs. If a golden egg is acquired, hatching it in an incubator will produce a golden chicken, which lays golden eggs. Keeping chickens indoors during rainy days and throughout winter ensures they remain warm and continue laying eggs. A fully upgraded Stardew Valley Coop with an automatic feeding system simplifies chicken care, making it easier to manage multiple animals while maintaining high levels of production.

Caring for Chickens

Happy chickens in Stardew Valley consistently lay eggs, making proper care essential for maintaining a steady supply of produce. Chickens require daily feeding to stay happy and productive. One way to feed them is by placing hay on the feeding bench inside the coop. Hay can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch for 50 gold per bundle or harvested from tall grass using a scythe, provided there is a silo to store it.

Each chicken consumes one hay per day, and if food is unavailable, their happiness and affection will decrease, leading to a lower chance of producing eggs. If chickens are left unfed for multiple days, their mood will drop significantly, and they may stop laying eggs altogether until their happiness is restored.

Chickens can also be allowed to roam outside and eat fresh grass, which naturally increases their happiness and eliminates the need for hay on that day. To allow chickens outside, the coop door must be opened in the morning. They will wander around the farm, pecking at grass patches and enjoying the fresh air. Unlike hay, grass does not need to be manually provided, making it a cost-effective way to keep chickens well-fed and happy.

However, this is only possible in spring, summer, and fall, as grass does not grow in winter. If no food source is available, chickens will become unhappy, affecting their egg production. Chickens automatically return to the coop at 5 PM as long as the door remains open. While leaving the door open overnight does not result in direct harm, closing it at night helps prevent potential stress and ensures a consistent routine.

In addition to feeding, interacting with chickens daily by petting them increases their affection, which improves their overall happiness and the likelihood of producing large eggs. Chickens with high affection levels will lay large eggs more frequently, which are more valuable and useful in cooking and artisan production. If a chicken reaches maximum happiness, it will always produce eggs unless it goes unfed. During winter, since chickens cannot graze outside, ensuring they have a steady supply of hay is crucial. Placing a heater inside the coop helps maintain their happiness despite the cold weather.

The heater does not directly impact egg production, but it prevents mood drops due to low temperatures. A fully upgraded Stardew Valley Coop with an automatic feeding system simplifies daily care by distributing hay from a silo, making it easier to manage multiple animals without having to place hay manually. Proper care and attention to chickens will ensure a consistent supply of eggs, which can be sold, used in cooking, or placed in a mayonnaise machine to produce artisan goods for additional profit.

Types of Eggs and Profitability

As long as chickens in Stardew Valley are fed daily, they will lay eggs regularly, making them a reliable source of income and ingredients for artisan goods. Chickens will produce either a white or brown egg each day, depending on their color, and these eggs can be sold for 50 gold each. If a chicken is well cared for, its affection level will increase over time. Petting chickens daily and ensuring they always have food raises their friendship level, which directly affects the quality of the eggs they produce.

Higher friendship levels increase the likelihood of chickens laying large eggs, which sell for 95 gold instead of the standard 50 gold. In addition to selling eggs outright, players can process them in a Mayonnaise Machine to produce mayonnaise, which significantly increases their value. Regular eggs produce mayonnaise worth 190 gold, while large eggs create gold-quality mayonnaise that sells for 285 gold.

Different types of chickens produce unique eggs, adding variety to the farm’s production. Blue chickens, which become available after viewing Shane’s 8-heart event, behave the same as regular chickens but have a distinctive blue appearance. They lay standard white or brown eggs depending on their base color. Void Chickens, obtained by hatching a Void Egg in an incubator, lay Void Eggs instead of regular eggs. Void Eggs sell for 65 gold and can be processed into Void Mayonnaise, a dark-colored mayonnaise that sells for 275 gold. Unlike standard eggs, Void Eggs are not affected by friendship levels, meaning they will always sell for the same price regardless of how happy the chicken is.

Golden Chickens, which lay highly valuable Golden Eggs, are another special variation of chickens. Golden Chickens can be unlocked after achieving Perfection or by purchasing a Golden Egg for 100 Qi Gems or 100,000 gold. Golden Eggs are the most valuable eggs, selling for 500 gold each. However, processing them into mayonnaise does not provide a significant increase in profit, making it more beneficial to sell the eggs directly.

Other coop animals also produce eggs with different values and uses. Ducks, which become available after upgrading to a Big Coop, lay Duck Eggs instead of chicken eggs. These eggs sell for 95 gold and can be processed into Duck Mayonnaise, which is worth 375 gold. Ducks also occasionally drop Duck Feathers, which can be sold or gifted to certain villagers who appreciate them. Dinosaurs, another rare coop animal, lay Dinosaur Eggs every seven days once fully grown. Dinosaur Eggs sell for 350 gold each or can be turned into Dinosaur Mayonnaise, which is one of the most valuable types of mayonnaise at 800 gold per jar.

To maximize egg production, it is essential to keep chickens and other coop animals well-fed and happy. Chickens must be provided with either hay or fresh grass each day. Hay can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch for 50 gold per bundle or harvested from grass using a scythe, as long as there is a silo on the farm to store it. Allowing chickens to graze outside on grass is a cost-effective way to keep them happy without using stored hay. However, this is only possible in spring, summer, and fall, as grass does not grow in winter. During winter, ensuring a steady supply of hay is necessary to keep chickens fed and productive.

Chickens also benefit from a consistent routine. Opening the coop door in the morning allows them to roam outside, and they will return to the coop automatically at 5 PM as long as the door is open. While leaving the coop door open overnight does not directly harm the chickens, closing it provides structure and prevents potential stress. Interacting with chickens daily by petting them further increases their affection, improving the chances of obtaining large eggs. In winter, placing a heater inside the coop helps maintain happiness, preventing mood drops due to cold temperatures.

A fully upgraded Stardew Valley Coop simplifies chicken care with an automatic feeding system that distributes hay from the silo each morning, eliminating the need to place hay manually. This makes it easier to manage a large number of chickens and other coop animals while maintaining high levels of production. Whether selling eggs, processing them into mayonnaise, or hatching new animals in the incubator, the coop provides a steady source of income and resources that contribute to a successful and profitable farm.

Special Coop Animals

The Big Coop upgrade in Stardew Valley expands the player’s ability to raise a variety of animals beyond standard chickens. This upgrade allows farmers to house ducks, void chickens, and dinosaurs, each providing unique resources that can be sold or processed for higher profits.

Ducks can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch for 1,200 gold each and will begin laying Duck Eggs once they reach maturity. Unlike chickens, ducks lay eggs every two days instead of daily. Duck Eggs sell for 95 gold each and can be placed in a Mayonnaise Machine to create Duck Mayonnaise, which is worth 375 gold. Ducks may also occasionally drop Duck Feathers, which have a base sell price of 250 gold and are useful as gifts or in certain bundles at the Community Center.

Void Chickens are an unusual type of poultry that hatch from Void Eggs, which have a dark appearance and unique properties. Void Eggs can be acquired in several ways, including a random nighttime event where a witch leaves a Void Egg inside the player’s coop. Alternatively, Void Eggs can be purchased from Krobus in the Sewers for 5,000 gold. Once hatched, a Void Chicken will lay a Void Egg every day, regardless of friendship level. These eggs can be sold for 65 gold each or processed in a Mayonnaise Machine to create Void Mayonnaise, which sells for 275 gold.

Dinosaurs are another rare animal that can be raised in a Big Coop. They hatch from Dinosaur Eggs, which can be found by digging up artifact spots, opening treasure chests while fishing, defeating Pepper Rex enemies, or exploring the Prehistoric Floors in Skull Cavern. Once fully grown, a dinosaur lays a Dinosaur Egg every seven days. These eggs can be sold for 350 gold each or turned into Dinosaur Mayonnaise, which is worth 800 gold. Due to their rarity, Dinosaur Eggs are also used as an artifact donation to the Museum.

Golden Chickens are a high-value type of chicken that hatch from Golden Eggs. Golden Eggs can be obtained after achieving Perfection, at which point they become available for purchase from Marnie’s Ranch for 100,000 gold. Alternatively, they can be purchased from Qi’s Walnut Room for 100 Qi Gems. Once hatched, Golden Chickens lay Golden Eggs daily, which sell for 500 gold each. Unlike other eggs, using a Golden Egg in a Mayonnaise Machine does not provide a significant increase in profit, making it more beneficial to sell the eggs directly.

Raising these different animals in a Stardew Valley Coop adds variety and profitability to the farm. Whether selling their products directly, processing them into artisan goods, or using them for special purposes like museum donations or Community Center bundles, each animal provides unique benefits. Proper care, feeding, and interaction with these animals ensure a steady supply of resources and a thriving farm.

Additional Tips

At the start of the game, focusing on raising chickens is a cost-effective way to generate a steady income before investing in ducks or rabbits. Chickens are affordable, mature quickly, and lay eggs daily, making them a reliable source of income. To maximize profits, building multiple Mayonnaise Machines allows for efficient processing of eggs into mayonnaise, which sells for a higher price than raw eggs. As the farm grows, upgrading the Stardew Valley Coop to house more animals provides opportunities to expand into ducks, void chickens, and dinosaurs, each offering unique products with varying values.

During winter, ensuring a sufficient supply of hay is crucial, as animals cannot graze on grass outside. Hay can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch or harvested from tall grass if a silo is built to store it. Keeping animals well-fed is essential for maintaining productivity and happiness. Daily interaction, including petting each animal, increases their friendship level, which in turn improves the quality of their products. Higher-quality products, such as large eggs, large milk, and high-quality wool, sell for more gold, making it worthwhile to spend time caring for the animals.

Using the incubator inside the coop allows for hatching special eggs, such as Void Eggs, Golden Eggs, and Dinosaur Eggs, expanding the variety of animals raised on the farm. Void Chickens, Golden Chickens, and Dinosaurs each provide unique resources that can be sold or used for artisan goods. Proper management of the Stardew Valley Coop ensures a profitable and efficient farming operation while maintaining high levels of animal happiness and production.