I'm going to take pallets apart to build my 4 x 8 coop. Is it better to run the boards horizontal or vertical for the outside walls, and what are the good and bad points about each way ? For roosts/perches what would be better ..... 2 x 4 with the narrow side facing up, 2 x 4 flat with the edges rounded off, or natural tree branches ? My neighbor has a pile of branches from trees cut last year. Should vents be at the top of the roof and what direction do they need to face ? I plan to have a south facing window that I can open and close as needed.
Vertical with battons is the cheapest way to enclose a structure (then just paint or stain the outside.
I would second all of Hokum Coco's suggestions. Place your ventilation along a wall (or walls) that do NOT face your prevailing winter winds... Your housing will have gaps if you just place the boards side by side, so battens will take care of those gaps. Another option would be to line the inside walls with scrap plywood...some have even lined the walls with feed sacks. Basically, unless you live in an area that doesn't get winters, you don't want those gaps, because cold winds will blow onto your roosting birds in the winter. If you use branches rather than 2x4s or 2x3s, make sure they are a few inches thick (if you have LF). If in a cold winter area, you want your roosting birds to be able to cover their toes with their feathers...
