Are pallet coops safe?

[JaceAgain]

Typically the pallets that you have to worry about being chemically treated are ones that come in from other country's, with imported goods. Pallets that are using pine or oak that are made in the states are not usually treated chemically to kill bugs that may enter the US., since the wood originated from the US.

Ok, but how would you know the difference (outside the markings I linked above?)

 

[JaceAgain]

I'm not sure about adult chickies and chicklets, post in raising chicks maybe? I'm just getting all baby chicks, but I don't mind the wait.

 

[Mehjr10]

Ok, but how would you know the difference (outside the markings I linked above?)

If they are pallets that are used for import then they are marked, to get through customs. At least that is how they were when I was in the import game years ago.. May have changed since.

I have used and will be building more with pallets, they are a good reuse of material that just take a little sweat equity to make something functional.

I have a brooder that is also from pallets.. all with good results.

 

[FDaniels]

I am so wishy-washy. Now I'm back to considering building with pallets. But which would keep the bugs & rats to a minimum? pallets or store lumber? And what's a good cheap way to insulate the coop to avoid running the risk of it being infected with bugs or having a problem with rats?

 

[jenniemig]

I get deliveries on pallets almost daily and MOST of them are coming from Brazil. A majority of them, unless they're really old, are heat treated which turns out is cheaper for the pallet manufacturer. I would not use the blue stained pallets, but most others are fine. Here's the way that I look at it...they're not going to be eating/chewing on them, and they do not emit harmful vapors, so you could save some money and use them. I have furniture, book shelves, and many other things that I have made in my house that I use daily. The pallets that come from Brazil are made from mahogany or other hardwoods and when you apply poly and or stain the wood is beautiful.

 

[FDaniels]

We work at a hospital and we've always got pallets being delivered. I have noticed blue stains on some of them. If I cover the outside and inside of the pallet coop with something (plywood, etc) would they be ok to use even if they have blue stains? Or is store lumber the safest way to go?

 

[jenniemig]

We work at a hospital and we've always got pallets being delivered. I have noticed blue stains on some of them. If I cover the outside and inside of the pallet coop with something (plywood, etc) would they be ok to use even if they have blue stains? Or is store lumber the safest way to go?

The blue pallets that I was referring to are completely blue. They've been chemically treated for mold. I don't know what they use but I'd steer clear of those. BUT, if you cover the blue ones with plywood or siding I'd say they're ok to use.

 

[FDaniels]

Well if it can be made safe & save money I may just go that way especially considering how big we're going to be building ours. We're set on only having a handful but knowing us we'll want more later & I would love to already have a big area built to allow for that. And I've been asking everyone so maybe you won't mind but we;re going to get 5 baby sex links from tractor supply on Mar 7th and to avoid waiting 5 months to start having eggs we're thinking about going ahead and ordering a couple of red star started pullets from mcmurray. Do you think that would be smart as first time chicken owners or that we could put the babies in there with them when they're 6 wks old & ready to leave the brooder? Or how old do you suggest the babies be before going in with the layers? Is there a way to divide the pen & coop to allow them to get used to each other or should we not get the pullets and just stick with the babies?

 

[jenniemig]

This is the mark on the pallets that I get. The HT stands for heat treated. Most of them will have markings like this.

 

[FDaniels]

can you haul average sized pallets in a car? it's the only vehicle we have access to