Here is my plan

[minniefarm]

I am a first timer so please feel free to peck at my ideas!

I am planning on 4 chicks (TSC will have them in next week!). Hoping for a couple ISA Browns and a couple Austerlopes (sp).

Starting them in my basement in a dog crate. Have a heat lamp, thermometer, feeder and waterer. Lining the cage with paper towel and pine shavings.

Once they get outside I will have a 8x12 dog kennel with 1" chickenwire to keep the critters out of the run. I am making a 4x4 coop that will be raised 4 foot high. This will sit inside the kennel run.

Coop- 4x4 out of pallets. I will take apart the pallets and use the wood to make the walls and floor solid (no open slats). Linolium on the floor for easy clean out. 1 window (hardware wire) and pull up door on the front. the sides will have vents up high and will be hinged so that I can open the whole side up to clean or get eggs. I am using a milk crate filled with straw for a nesting box. Pine shavings for the floor. Add a couple roosting bars, a feeder and water and that is all set.

Did I miss anything? It's basic, but I think I can keep it safe and comfortable for them. I ahve next week off work, so I am planning my building days then!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

1- Have some vitamin mix ready to add to the chick water, it helps stabilize their insides and reduce/stop pasty butt.

2- you may need netting on top of the run to keep them in if there isn't a top on the run.

 

[hopefulpeeps]

You sound like me! I also want to build a coop out of pallets, but I don't want the gaps either....

 

[1muttsfan]

I would recommend hardware cloth around at least the bottom 2-3' of your run, as chicken wire will not protect them from grabby racoon paws or smaller predators such as weasels.

 

[minniefarm]

I will definately stretch chickenwire across the top of the kennel.

As for using the pallets, you can either take them apart and use the wood (you will need extra pallets to cover the framing) or put siding up on the pallets. I thought the siding would just add weight and cost. Eventually I will put wheels on the legs so I can move it around until I find an eggstra nice spot for my ladies!

 

[Going Quackers]

Another option for across the top of the dog run, wooden privacy lattice, that is what we did with ours then i put wire over it, strong enough to hold a cat lol but keeps out predators.

 

[Tamena]

glad I found this thread!
We're plotting and planning our foray in to chickens this year finally (FINALLY convinced the hubby it would be fun!!)
Originally I was looking at buying a coop till the guys at work yelled at me...
so now they're building me one!
And we're planning on putting it inside a 10x10x6 dog run - inside a fenced yard with a large doberman on patrol =)
I was thinking about a topper for it and was looking at this:

Kennel Topper

for the top of it for shade and to keep them in and other stuff out. (I work at TSC which helps a LOT!)
would something like this work ya think???

I'm so excited! *grin*

 

[aart]

Would work to keep them in, for shade and probably hawks, but maybe not other predators.
Probably wouldn't be good for a snow load if you have that (put your location in your profile)

 

[Tamena]

Central NJ...I put it in there
not so worried about predators - the yard is pretty secure. Hawks and owls I would worry about!
snow isn't frequent and we know it's coming...
gotta keep thinking on this and figure out a way to make it work I think

 

[minniefarm]

On my search for pallets, I came across some 8x4 pallets and 3 4x4 posts...all for free! So now I am going with a larger coop. LOL is this how chicken math starts? I aam waiting for my husband to come home so we can load it into his truck. I am sure he will be thrilled

,

Now I wonder, if I stick with only 4 hens (which is truely all I want), will my coop be too large to keep themselves warm in a Michigan Winter? There will be no lights in the coop.