Inexpensive material for inside walls?

[basicliving]

I want to insulate our coop. We have rolls of free insulation we got off of Craigslist last year, but I'm not sure of the least expensive thing to use to close in the walls (I know I'm not saying this right - basically, in a house you'd use dry wall - but I need something chickens won't be able to peck apart and eat).

I thought of plywood and OSB, but both of those can be a little expensive. Does anyone know of a less expensive material I can use that will do the trick? My husband already says that as much money as we've spent on the coop and run those eggs costs us about $100 each, so I'm pretty sure the expense of it is going to influence his reaction when I tell him I want to insulate..... Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Penny

 

[BeardedChick]

I put drywall in mine and they have not pecked it, but I'm ready to put up scrap wood on the lower part of the walls if I need to. Will use either drywall or OSB for the next coop that needs finished up.

 

[freemotion]

I put roll vinyl flooring. Call around to flooring stores, smaller family owned ones. My parents had a store, so I felt comfortable doing this. Better yet, stop in if you can so they see what a lovely person you are!

Tell them what you are doing, and ask if they ever have leftover vinyl flooring scraps of a larger size that they are throwing away. (They do....it's just a matter of when.) Offer eggs, when and if you have them, in exchange.....they will probably just give you the scraps.

You can use a heavy duty stapler to install it in the coop. I asked for a 2' strip to line the bottom of my walls, since I was concerned that the deep litter method would compost out my walls! It works great, and I installed it myself with a stapler and a pair of kitchen scissors.

Peck-proof, too!

 

[BeardedChick]

That's a good idea. Hmmm, I have a roll of contact paper with a chicken design that would make a cute lower wall, too.

 

[LynneP]

Because of the decline in the housing market, lots of building materials are going cheaply. We paid only $6 for sheets of OSB (5/8"). We primed and painted, so it was a good saving.

Details in our home page linked below.

 

[Fudgie]

Use paneling! It is pretty inexpensive and you can get pieces that have a chip here or there from the lumber companies for next to nothing.

 

[basicliving]

Thanks for all the great ideas! My husband does get annoyed at spending more money on the coop - but he enjoys those chickens as much as I do, so I know he'll be happy to help. Especially when I pass along your suggestions for doing the walls as inexpensively as possible!

Thanks,
Penny

 

[patandchickens]

My chickens peck/eat drywall.

Cheapest thing is to find a house where they're renovating, knock on door or talk to the guys working there, and ask if they have any scrap plywood or old panelling you could use. Ugly 1970's rec room type panelling is fine

Whatever you can find.

Of course you *can* go out and buy something if you are feeling really hurried, but scrounging is cheaper

Good luck,

Pat

 

[Omran]

OSB wood sheets 4'x8' for $7.00 a sheet. Lowes homedepot have them.