Did you just earn enough gold to buy a Barn or Coop in Stardew Valley? We get that picking between these two can be challenging. To help you get through it, here’s a comprehensive guide discussing the perks of both buildings!
Being a farmer in Stardew Valley is more than just planting and growing crops; you have to do more to earn more. Upon saving up, you’ll need to invest it in something. Perhaps, a Barn or a Coop could be handy. But which one should you get first?
With your limited budget, you must be meticulous in picking between these structures. Luckily, you have this guide to help you understand the pros and cons of getting either of them!
What is a Barn?
It’s a farm structure that houses livestock like cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and ostriches. You may get it from the Carpenter’s Shop.
However, similar to other buildings, it can only hold a limited population. You’ll also need to acquire its upgrades to develop certain animals. Below are the types of Barns you can get alongside their specifications in Stardew Valley:
| Building Type | Materials | Price | Animals | Capacity | Features |
| Regular | • 350 Wood • 150 Stone | 6000g | • Cow • Ostrich | 4 | • Hay Hopper • Feeding Bench |
| Big Barn | • 450 Wood • 200 Stone | 12000g | • Cow • Ostrich • Goat | 8 | Same features as Regular, but it enables pregnancy. |
| Deluxe Barn | • 550 Wood 300 Stone | 25000g | • Cow • Ostrich • Goat • Pig • Sheep | 12 | Similar features to the Big type, but it has an auto-feed system. |
After purchasing the regular building, you may now house a Cow or Ostrich. The first farm animal is easy to acquire since you’ll find it at Marnie’s Ranch. But the latter can be tricky since you need to obtain an Ostrich Egg and Incubator by completing quests in Stardew Valley.
However, there are several perks once you get your hands on them during your first year in Stardew Valley. They’re profitable for starters since you’ll get more lucrative products once you upgrade Barn. Here’s the list of products you may get alongside their base prices:
| Animals | Prices | Products | Base Price |
| Cow | 1,200g | • Milk • Large Milk | • 125g • 228g |
| Ostrich | Acquired through quests. | • Ostrich Egg | 600g |
| Goat | 4,000g | • Goat Milk• Large Goat Milk | • 270g • 414g |
| Sheep | 8,000g | • Wool | 340g |
| Pig | 16,000g | • Truffle | 625g |
What is a Coop?
It’s a farm building that shelters livestock like Chickens of any kind, Ducks, Rabbits, and Dinosaurs. Similar to a basic barn, it also has different variations. You may get them by asking and paying for Robin’s services. Here are the features and other specifications you need regarding this structure:
| Building Type | Materials | Price | Animals | Capacity | Features |
| Regular | • 300 Wood • 100 Stone | 4000g | • Chicken | 4 | • Hay Hopper • Feeding Bench |
| Big Coop | • 400 Wood • 150 Stone | 10000g | • Chicken • Duck • Void Chicken • Dinosaur • Golden Chicken | 8 | Same features as Regular, but it has an incubator |
| Deluxe Coop | • 500 Wood • 200 Stone | 20000g | • Chicken • Duck • Void Chicken • Dinosaur • Golden Chicken • Rabbit | 12 | Similar features to the Big type, but it has an autofeed system. |
Upon getting this building, you may now place certain farm animals here. They’ll be immediately available at Marnie’s Ranch once you’ve acquired the structure they belong in. Here’s the price list of each livestock and its products.
| Animal | Price | Products | Base Price |
| Chicken (Brown or White) | 800g | • Egg (White and Brown) • Large Egg | • 50g • 95g |
| Blue Chicken | Obtained in a Special Event with Shane. | Same as regular chickens. | Same with regular. |
| Duck | 1200g | • Duck Egg • Duck Feather | • 95g • 250g |
| Void Chicken | Random Event with the Witch | •Void Egg | 65g |
| Golden Chicken | Achieving Perfection. | Golden Egg | 500g |
| Dinosaur | It can’t be purchased but found by digging Artifact Spots and other methods. | Dinosaur Egg | 350g |
| Rabbit | 8000g | • Rabbit’s Foot • Wool | • 565g • 340g |
Stardew Valley Barn or Coop
Now that you’ve seen a run-through of what you’ll get from this livestock and the prices of the structures, which one do you think is better?
From a logical standpoint, you’ll save more if you purchase a Coop. The animals it holds can be cheaper, as well as the upgrades. However, a good return on investment isn’t guaranteed, as most lucrative chickens are obtained through quests and special events in Stardew Valley.
Moreover, you won’t get a good income by caring for regular chickens since their base prices are lower than Barn Animals’ produce. While you may use both to make good dishes, starting with a Barn is still preferred if you want an excellent passive income.
However, owning both buildings is also ideal if you plan to expand your business by making Artisan Goods from Animal Products. Although Artisan Products from Barn Animals are more profitable, producing items with Coop Animal’s aid is still handy since they can be used in quests. Here’s a list of products:
| Barn Animals | Price | Coop Animals | Price |
| Cheese | 230g | Duck Mayonnaise | 375g |
| Cheese from Large Milk | 345g | Void Mayonnaise | 275g |
| Mayonnaise from Ostrich Egg | 190g | Mayonnaise | 190g |
| Goat Cheese | 400g | Mayonnaise from Golden Egg | 285g |
| Goat Cheese from Large Goat Milk | 600g | Dinosaur Mayonnaise | 800g |
| Truffle Oil | 1065g |
Conclusion
Despite the usefulness of both buildings, we still recommend a Barn as your first investment. They offer better benefits that increase profits for both Artisan and Rancher Professions.
Moreover, the Artisan Products from Barn Animals play a role in completing the Artisan Bundle. This benefit makes them handier compared to your livestock from the Coop. But still, the choice is yours. If you’re saving up for something else, and just want to start with something small, getting a Coop is preferred.
