BackYard Chickens › Coop Designs › Easy Access Pallet Coop

Easy Access Pallet Coop

Helga777
By: Helga777
Posted 04/21/12 • Last updated 04/23/12 • 1967 views • 6 comments

After purchasing some chickens along with a small coop from a moving friend I began planning a coop that was somewhat small but still I could walk in for easy cleaning and managing. Having some mobility issues, I needed a coop that I did not have to bend over or reach out over a large distance very much.I think the best way to describe my coop is to compare it to the size and shape of an outhouse. Adding a large window in the door helped to set the record straight! lol!  We used an extra large pallet for the flour and halfway up two sides and smaller pallets for the upper areas along with the back end. After placing the large pallet on 4 leveled blocks we then put a sheet of plywood down screwing it on top of the floor pallet. Then, we attached the other pallets on up. We covered the outside with plywood and gave it a great look with some fence boards I had hanging around and used as siding. A old used window in the door gives the chickens great morning light. My brother was the actual builder so my pictures are really the best way for me to show it in the different stages. We were able to position the pallets in such a way that they already had great places to attach the nesting boxes and wooden perching areas.    Easy Access Pallet Coopinside coop showing the pallet walls640450Happy chickens!640We cut to fit two fiberglass sheets commonly used for bathroom walls for easy cleaning of the floor of the coop. They are not glued down and are easily removed for this purpose. I didn't want to soil the plywood floor and so far this has worked great. I just keep a thin layer of straw on the floor and remove and replace as needed regularly. What I really love about my coop is how secure it is. When both small slide door and main door are closed I know they are secured for the night. I also made screened vents in the ceiling and out both sides of the attic space for venting. And a small one as well in the main door. Before I did this I had a problem with my coop getting to humid and warm.

Comments (6)

Roxannemc 4/22/12 at 8:36am
That is very cute!!Do y9uhave inside photos?
Helga777 4/22/12 at 9:05am
Yes, I'll be putting them on later today. =)
canesisters 4/23/12 at 7:42am
Very cute! It looks similar to what I'm going to have. The shed that's on the way (from a friend's back yard) is taller than it is square so I'm hoping to put some storage up high since I'm not liking the idea of the girls roosting over my head. LOL
MollyG 4/23/12 at 5:56pm
why would you put the feed and water inside ?
Helga777 4/23/12 at 10:13pm
I recently got a new chicken feeder trough to replace the round one in the picture. It's a much better design for the kind of feed I use and it fits flat against the wall under the nesting boxes saving a lot of space. I never leave the food containers outside at night. That would most likely bring on a rodent problem. My chickens seem to like the feeder and water in there when I lock them up in the hen house at night. I'm not one to get up with the chickens lol! This way, I know they've got it until I let them out. It's so funny, my chickens sit on the top of their nesting boxes and look out the big window in the door at me as if to hurry me up.lol! Now I use the bottom of my old feeder for my treats and feed for the run just during the day. When I redo my chicken run and make it rodent proof then it won't be such an issue. NOTE: Also, I used fiberglass panels, the kind you can put up on bathroom walls, fitted to the floor size area that can be easily taken up and removed for easier occasional cleaning. I did this because I didn't want my chickens soiling the plywood floor. I just keep a thin layer of straw on top of that and replace as needed also.
Sally Sunshine 8/31/12 at 5:41pm
great use of pallets! We used them for one of our coops too! cant beat the price if your willin to work!
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