Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

Retail stores often have pallets to get rid of. Check Marketplace and Craigslist for cheap or free wood.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have thought of pallets, but aren’t there some pallets that are not good to use. I know when you have crafts and they are indoor crafts, only use pallets that have been treated due to bugs.

You'll want treated pallets so they don't rot.

If your source has more than one kind get the heavier wood. Some light-duty pallets are made of thin, cheap wood.

 

[Sally PB]

On the plus side, those black and silver tarps are nice and heavy duty. I have two over the top of my run, and they have held up very well with zip ties and bungie cords holding them down. Another nice thing is the color: Black side up now that it's cold, but silver side up in the summer to reflect away some of the sun's heat.

About pallets: where I used to work, we got a lot of stuff delivered on pallets. We stacked any we didn't want to keep for shipping out by the Dumpsters. Some were made out of pine, some were white oak. Unless they were really crappy, they disappeared. Drive by some light industrial businesses. You might find stacks of pallets.

Another possibility I have seen mentioned is construction sites. They often have piles of left over scrap pieces that they need to get rid of.

 

[Molpet]

Pallets stamped HT are heat treated and the best. MT is poisonous

 

[aart]

You'll want treated pallets so they don't rot.

Not sure you can get 'treated' pallets, like treated lumber...if that's what you mean.


This is an old graphic, but might still be valid.
Googling "pallet codes" is a good idea.

 

[3KillerBs]

Not sure you can get 'treated' pallets, like treated lumber...if that's what you mean.


This is an old graphic, but might still be valid.
Googling "pallet codes" is a good idea.

View attachment 2544462

I have always been told that some pallets are made from treated wood to withstand outdoor shipping and storage conditions while others are not -- being cheaper for light-duty applications in climate-controlled conditions.

 

[jvls1942]

take a drive through the country side. sooner of later you will come across an old barn that has collapsed. just ask the owner if you can pick through the mess..
keep watching on your local craigs list.
My advice would be to build a new coop and abandon the old one. Use whatever you can from the old one for the new one.
......jiminwisc.......

 

[3KillerBs]

Quick question to help with the design of the new coop,

How far apart do you have your roost supports?

I'll be using 4-5" diameter pine/scrub oak trunks for the perches.

 

[Sally PB]

Not sure if this will help, since my coop is only 4 feet wide... so my answer is 4 feet. Roost is a 2x4 narrow side up.

 

[aart]

Quick question to help with the design of the new coop,

How far apart do you have your roost supports?

I'll be using 4-5" diameter pine/scrub oak trunks for the perches.

How long will they be?
That diameter is probably pretty stiff so can handle a pretty large span without sagging.