FREE Pallets....what to use them for?!

[Cindiloohoo]

I wound up with 20 pallets, and still haven't hauled them all home!!

I have been looking at a million tractors and want to do something along the lines of this...
http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/tractor127.jpg

It will hold a trio, and have an interior nest box. I plan on adding wheels and a handle. I can rip 2x2's from the runners of the pallets for the framework. I have the wire. I will use the pallet boards for the shingles too. I think it's cute and doable almost completely if not completely out of pallets. Biggest investment would be some hardware, paint, and nails. What does everyone else think? What should I charge?

 

[OverEggstended]

Forget the wheels! Use skids. Cheeper, less likely to break anyway. It is not like that thing is gonna weigh over 75 pounds!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
Thanks for the tip

I'll try that instead.

 

[ebwy]

check ebay for what similar things are going for, and slightly under-charge for them

eliminate the competition that way

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I actually tried that and all I saw was plans for chicken tractors...not ACTUAL chicken tractors. I guess I could check CL to see if there are any on there.

 

[OverEggstended]

Forget that the pallets were free. Not everyone can get free pallets and even if they could, they may not have the time, skill, or inclination to build with them!

In any goods resale, it comes down to cost. Figure out what it would cost to build a coop from scratch with planks, nails, wire, paint, etc from loew's or home depot. Then add in at least $3 hr for time and expertise. This is a base cost. You can use this in your marketing even. Then you can offer a better price. "It would cost $200 to build these yourself. We are offering them for just $150 in order to share our love of raising backyard chickens. This is a great way to move toward self-sustanability. Great for 4-H projects. It has been proven that fresh eggs from free-range chickens are better for your health. (provide documentation)". Ect.

Get the picture?

 

[BlackBart]

compost bins
or
cut them up for firewood

 

[ebwy]

Quote:
I actually tried that and all I saw was plans for chicken tractors...not ACTUAL chicken tractors. I guess I could check CL to see if there are any on there.

haven't looked for a while but ebay.co.uk usually has some... you'd have to convert the price, I guess. I don't know if that sort of thing is more expensive here than where you are though :-s

http://home-garden.shop.ebay.co.uk/..._Poultry&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I actually tried that and all I saw was plans for chicken tractors...not ACTUAL chicken tractors. I guess I could check CL to see if there are any on there.

haven't looked for a while but ebay.co.uk usually has some... you'd have to convert the price, I guess. I don't know if that sort of thing is more expensive here than where you are though :-s

http://home-garden.shop.ebay.co.uk/..._Poultry&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

THANKS! Looks like the average is around a hundred pounds for the tractor type houses.

Overeggstended- I agree, the fact they were free is not going to be considered because there will be a lot of work involved. The extra work of breaking them down would be worth the same ammount as if I went and purchased the materials at Lowe's. I need to be getting started today to see how long it's going to take me to break them all down. Great marketting ideas too! I may include some sort of pamphlet with each sale. Shouldn't be too much to print up a few pages on care, and raising chickens, and I could promote BYC in the process as a great learning venue for new chicken keepers. THAT would be cool!! Thanks for all the tips, again!

 

[juliechick]

A treehouse? I was proud of this one my DH built. It cost us around $5.00 to build.