That sounds bad, let me explain. We built a fancy coop and yard. You don't need to spend more than $25 bucks as long as the chickens have somewhere to sleep. Evergreen trees work well for sleeping (minus predators).
10 years later... After the initial cost your only cost is food and a little labor. If you have a large enough open area go free range and they will do a good job of feeding themselves. However if you free rang, you need to feed them, this shows them where "home" is. They will sleep and live around the "feeding area" so keep that in mind.

We have had a Rooster since the beginning so the chickens keep replacing themselves. I highly recommend a rooster especially if you free range. Not only do your chickens reproduce themselves for free but roosters do a very good job of protecting the hens from predators and they make a good alarm system for your Homestead. Also a laying hen only lays regularly for the first two years and needs to be replaced.

I second the "just jump in and get your hands dirty" method. We just woke up one day and said "lets get chickens" no prep, no coop, lots of fun and "forced" education.