How do they do it?

[Cryss]

I see posts and videos of people building coops for $100. Are these just tiny coops?
I have gathered 27 free pallets to start framing a roughly 8x8x8 walk in coop. 18 of these are very strong but tops n bottoms are only held by blocks so I'll probably need to insert 2x4s in the spaces between. I was inspired to use pallets by Hidden Hill Homesteads Eggplant coop. I want to make a slant roof for snow. I will need to purchase 2x4s to fill in those gaps so pallets can be nailed together, also to frame out the roof, windows, various bits. HD won't let me take scrap wood from the dumpster. That's already $160+. I'll need plywood to cover the frame. I'll need some sort of strips to cover plywood joining gaps. Nails of course. Blackjack for the floor. Paint I figure can be off colors from HD. I'll need hardware cloth for windows and ventilation, plus once I remove one 10 ft panel of the 10x10x6 chain link dog run I'll need some to close up the 2 ft gap made between the 8 ft coop and the adjoining panel. Gonna need cement blocks to keep it off the ground and more hardware cloth for the apron.
I'll be pushing a cool grand at this point and here I thought the free pallets were such a grand idea.
Oh. And no one here is a builder. Not even handy.
I'm just feeling overwhelmed.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have no IDEA how to make $100 stretch that far. I think your $grand may be an overkill.
Many peeps use the pallets as a source of lumber boards. If used solo, it would make for a drafty enclosure. If you lived in a warm climate, that would be OK.
Try Craig's List for some used/overstocked/unneeded building materials. Check the FREE STUFF section as well. Of course the items will vary from one area to the next.
Those that build with $100 outlay most likely have much of the materials from leftover projects.
HD around my house does sell secondary wood at 85%off. Its not like they have a lot of it. Whenever I'm there I scan and see if anything there would be usable in my near future. I am able to saw the wood to my desired sizes. Some of the pieces are a lil rough, so I pass on those.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[JDN]

I see posts and videos of people building coops for $100. Are these just tiny coops?
I have gathered 27 free pallets to start framing a roughly 8x8x8 walk in coop. 18 of these are very strong but tops n bottoms are only held by blocks so I'll probably need to insert 2x4s in the spaces between. I was inspired to use pallets by Hidden Hill Homesteads Eggplant coop. I want to make a slant roof for snow. I will need to purchase 2x4s to fill in those gaps so pallets can be nailed together, also to frame out the roof, windows, various bits. HD won't let me take scrap wood from the dumpster. That's already $160+. I'll need plywood to cover the frame. I'll need some sort of strips to cover plywood joining gaps. Nails of course. Blackjack for the floor. Paint I figure can be off colors from HD. I'll need hardware cloth for windows and ventilation, plus once I remove one 10 ft panel of the 10x10x6 chain link dog run I'll need some to close up the 2 ft gap made between the 8 ft coop and the adjoining panel. Gonna need cement blocks to keep it off the ground and more hardware cloth for the apron.
I'll be pushing a cool grand at this point and here I thought the free pallets were such a grand idea.
Oh. And no one here is a builder. Not even handy.
I'm just feeling overwhelmed.View attachment 1372574

The bolded aren't really needed. Nice, but not needed. the pallets on the other side of the hoop can be used for walls, as they have vertical boards, not blocks.

Take a sawzall and saw the slats off the back side of the boards. Take the slats and use them to cover the gaps.

People make functional coops for cheap. They don't, that I've seen, make functional, Pinterest-worthy coops of any size for cheap.

 

[jthornton]

Block pallets are just put together a little different and those you have look as strong or stronger than the 4 way pallets on the right. You will need to use some imagination for sure to come up with a structure that will support your snow loads in winter. With the right blade a 1" stroke reciprocating saw can dismantle pallets pretty quick. Forget trying to pull the nails out they are designed to not be easy to pull ( I know I used to make them). I could see using the block pallets as siding base by cutting off the blocks and the lower runners with some boards nailed over the openings like a board and batten type of siding. Almost like a 4'x4' piece of plywood...

JT

 

[blackdog043]

Did you do a google search? I found this on YouTube for you. You will need to add ventilation, but that should be easy.

 

[Cryss]

Yes, that's pretty much how I'm planning this. Hmmm...wasn't thinking of the 4 ways as the main frames. Probably a better idea. Thanks everyone.

 

[User395221]

Yes, I think a lot of people overlook the real costs because they don't add up all of the "odds and sods" that you really need.

You'll get there, it'll be worth it in the long run. HD won't let you take things from the dumpster because of liability issues, but have you asked whether they could set something aside for you? You never know, you might strike somebody nice (ie chicken lover) who can help you out.

 

[JDN]

This one looked pretty straightforward...

http://thehomesteadingboards.com/pallet-chicken-coop/I would forgo insulating with straw myself...And probably strip the boards off the backside of the pallets.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

The only way we were able to build our coop for next to nothing was because we had access to stuff lying around our property and the inlaws. I splurged on an auto door ($200), but other than that, I paid less than $40 = paint, screws, latch.
However, I did not use hw cloth on the coop due to our run set up. I had to buy some for the duck coop. Oops scratch that, I put a little on the coop in the vent areas, but we had that from a previous purchase that was used on the prefab.
I also bought aviary netting for the whole run = $55.
It was also a lot of work. All of the posts that say how easy it is - well I will just say it is not. Not for us who aren't handy. There was a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and I will leave it at that.
However, what I will say is, it is a much sturdier build than the prefab.
Oh, I didn't mess with paint at HD. I went to Walmart and got a gallon of their outdoor paint. It can be tinted if you want, but I just wanted white. $23 plus tax.
Good luck. We used a pallet for the base, but the rest we used other materials.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Check to see if there are any habitat for humanity stores in your area. We have backyard scrap places around here too. They resale things from mobile home factories and such. Not sure what is in your area. Know any farm hoarders? Hehe. They have good finds.