Chicken coop upgrades

[Alarry31]

So today I started upgrading or remodeling our pallet chicken coop. I started by removing a divider wall I had in place between the main door and the coop itself. Reason for this is we are getting more baby chicks in may and wanted to open up more space. The total dimensions of the coop was two pallets wide and three pallets in length. The walls are two pallets high. As you can see in the photo it’s built from reused material and gonna get some more attention in the spring and summer. So back to what I was talking about. My plan is to move all the feed and water into the coop to open up more space for chicken swings and roosts in the run. I built a pvc gravity feeder today and plan on building a 55 drum plastic barrel pvc water system. To run on the same side wall as the feeder I built. I also am going to redo perches for a more ladder like set up.i love to reuse materials. So if you guys have any ideas for recycled perch ideas I would love to see them. I have since then filled a lot of the gaps in the bars with spray foam and plastic to insulate the coop for the winter. Our four chickens and our RIR Roo King Henry seem to be plenty warm but I still see some gaps. I might fill I am also debating installing some more windows. The last pic was our original chicken coop from when we were renting. I still have the house and plan to place it in the hoop coop once the new chica are old enough to be outside.

 

[Folara]

I love your pallet coop and use of recycled materials! I made my coop and run out of recycled wood as well, and I just added some recycled clutter to the run. For perches I added a couple old (but sturdy) sawhorses - I attached old wood fence panels to provide wind blocks and hidey places. I also have a couple old wood ladders with thick branches between them to make a perch playground. Hurray for recycling

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

I don't see much ventilation in your coop. Is there some that isn't showing in the photos? In a humid climate like the US eastern seaboard a considerable amount of ventilation is needed in the winter as well as in the summer in order to keep the coop dry when the warm, moist air the chickens generate may condense on the ceiling, the walls, or even the chickens themselves.

The Usual Guidelines
For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

Depending on what part of Virginia you're in, you may find, as I find here in central NC, that you need to double or triple the ventilation to keep your coop cool enough in the summer.

My favorite roosts are natural "branches" -- actually the trunks of the pine and live oak saplings that we need to clear out anyway.

For short roosts I've been using some of those chunks of square wood with a groove in one side that protect pallets of building supplies from being damaged by the strapping.

 

[Alarry31]

I love your pallet coop and use of recycled materials! I made my coop and run out of recycled wood as well, and I just added some recycled clutter to the run. For perches I added a couple old (but sturdy) sawhorses - I attached old wood fence epanels to provide wind blocks and hidey places. I also have a couple old wood ladders with thick branches between them to make a perch playground. Hurray for

Welcome to BYC.

I don't see much ventilation in your coop. Is there some that isn't showing in the photos? In a humid climate like the US eastern seaboard a considerable amount of ventilation is needed in the winter as well as in the summer in order to keep the coop dry when the warm, moist air the chickens generate may condense on the ceiling, the walls, or even the chickens themselves.

The Usual Guidelines
For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

Depending on what part of Virginia you're in, you may find, as I find here in central NC, that you need to double or triple the ventilation to keep your coop cool enough in the summer.

My favorite roosts are natural "branches" -- actually the trunks of the pine and live oak saplings that we need to clear out anyway.

View attachment 2962293

For short roosts I've been using some of those chunks of square wood with a groove in one side that protect pallets of building supplies from being damaged by the strapping.

View attachment 2962285

thank you so much for the info I plan on installing more small vindows for ventilations.
recycling

That’s awesome and yes I will go to housing developments dumpster diving for scrap wood.it all works the same

Welcome to BYC.

I don't see much ventilation in your coop. Is there some that isn't showing in the photos? In a humid climate like the US eastern seaboard a considerable amount of ventilation is needed in the winter as well as in the summer in order to keep the coop dry when the warm, moist air the chickens generate may condense on the ceiling, the walls, or even the chickens themselves.

The Usual Guidelines
For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

Depending on what part of Virginia you're in, you may find, as I find here in central NC, that you need to double or triple the ventilation to keep your coop cool enough in the summer.

My favorite roosts are natural "branches" -- actually the trunks of the pine and live oak saplings that we need to clear out anyway.

View attachment 2962293

For short roosts I've been using some of those chunks of square wood with a groove in one side that protect pallets of building supplies from being damaged by the strapping.

View attachment 2962285

thank you so much for all this info. I plan on putting small additional window. The chickens made it through this summer with no problem but I do want to add more windows. And get some light in there. As well as ventilation

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Great job reusing materials! I wouldn't use spray foam unless it's covered or 100% inaccessible to the chickens because they will pick at it and probably eat it. Definitely more ventilation, the windows will help. Just my personal opinion, I wouldn't keep food or water in the coop, the water adds to the moisture and the food invites critters. Also if it's outside it makes them get out and about. Can't wait to see what you do

 

[Happy hen lover]

Love your use of recycled materials. You have gotten some great advice here. Good luck with your babies. My waterer is a trash can outside with horizontal nipples on it You would need one for chicks at a different height till they grow taller.

 

[Mamatomany123]

We also used pallets to expand our coop.