Coop design question

[Justanother Brooke]

We are scratching out plans for our "pallet coop", since my husband can get unlimited free pallets from work. Our plan is to build the walls using the whole pallets, then use dismantled pallet boards to fill in the inside walls, and side the outside using 6" wide cedar planks.
It will be 8'x8', and we will be putting an 11"x14" window on all 4 sides that can be latched open or shut, depending on the weather. There will be nail width spaces between the siding boards, and obviously the inside walls won't be airtight. We are also planning on the North and South sides putting some narrow openings covered with hardware cloth, probably 6"x4' on each. Our prevailing winds around here are typically East or West, very rarely North or South.
My two questions are:
1) As long as the cedar is not being used on the inside, should that be okay?
2) Does that sound like enough ventilation?

Thanks!

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

Question number 1 answer: It should be fine, just make sure there is plenty ventilation

number 2: That should be fine.. i think?

 

[teach1rusl]

Cedar boards/planks are just fine. Maybe I'm not getting a clear picture of what you're describing...are you talking small gaps between the siding boards all the way up?? If so, I'd probably rethink that. It sounds drafty to me. You'll want your ventilation set up so that cold air/wind can't blow on your chickens when they're roosting (at least in the cold weather season). I guess I'd worry about rain getting in if there are gaps too. The wire covered ventilation sounds good, as long as wind can't blow directly on your birds when roosting. The closable windows sound great. Another option besides having "shutters" is putting plexiglass or heavy duty clear vinyl (fabric stores generally sell this) so that they can still enjoy light even in winter.

 

[elmo]

As long as there's not a strong cedar odor coming from the wood, cedar is fine to use.

You didn't mention how many chickens you're planning to put in this coop, and that affects the ventilation requirements. Aim for 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken located where it can be left open or mostly open during your winter (e.g., high at the top of one or more walls), ideally with hinged awning style flaps that you can open or close as needed. Your windows will be good for summer ventilation, but unless it doesn't get very cold where you live, you probably won't be able to count on the windows for ventilation in winter.

I would also not suggest you leave gaps between the boards in your coop. Not only will this allow drafts that you can't easily control (no flaps over the openings), but I would be concerned about critters being able to get their teeth onto the edges of the boards and gnaw openings large enough for access. You can construct the siding "board on board" to eliminate gaps, and that's what I'd do.

 

[Judy]

Ideal ventilation is at the highest point in the coop rather than via windows, because the air you want out is warmer as well as humid. I agree that leaving cracks in the walls will create a draft problem; this could be a good thing in hot weather when "draft" means "nice breeze," though.

 

[yelim]

I read somewhere to put cedar shavings in their nest box to help fight mites?
I thought cedar was bad for chickens?

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Cedar and other woods with a lot of odor are, to a point. Pine is used all the time and has some odor. Cedar that has lost its heavy fragrance is fine. People do use cedar near chickens, but usually in places like the run where there is lots of air exchange. I wouldn't put fresh cedar shavings in a nest box but I might put some in a smelly run, especially mixed with other litter. Putting cedar on the outside of a coop isn't likely to be a problem.

I have no idea whether cedar would help repel mites; never read that.

I suspect that between cedar and pine, both fresh and with lots of odor, cedar is more of a problem, but I don't even know that.

 

[Mervin]

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone ever heard of using Juniper clippings to prevent mites? I thought I saw it mentioned on BYC once, but haven't run across it again.

 

[gmendoza]

Here is our pallet chicken coop. its 12'x20'x7'high. I dare,no temp your husband to build bigger!

Made from pine pallets from a lazer business.( No my chickens dont have lasers.)

 

[kidd42]

Very nice! Love the weathered rustic look it has.