Just found eggs???

[RUNuts]

Very much so. Search in the coop section. Hardest part is deciding which one. Then getting enough pallets hauled to the house. If Craigslist is active in your area, you may get cheap lumber (you pay with your labor to haul off someone else's trash).

If you have a truck bed liner place, you may get some free rubber or plastic bed liners that they trash. Worth calling and asking.

 

[Xlcandylx]

If you can just watch them during the day.... Once you see her go off keep a good distance and follow her... They usually lay g

 

[Xlcandylx]

If you can just watch them during the day.... Once you see her go off keep a good distance and follow her... They usually lay g

Sorry phone messed up... But they usually lay eggs during the day not when they sleep. Hope you can find them.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Forgive me for not being savvy about building a chicken coop especially using pallets...I need to get behind stores and see if I can find some pallets...could use the wood for sure. Is there anything on this site or other sites that explain chicken coops on pallet designs???? Thank you for the suggestion RUNuts.

I when I moved to this property in April I had a large dog run that I have now repurposed with pallets and pallet wood. Its nice 25-35% ventilation one wall had a 4x6 gap completely open that I just screwed in one whole pallet then covered with 1/4" Hardware cloth. If you can dream it you can build it and don't need to be too handy. I did buy two cheapy tools from Harbor Freight for the project, an Angle Grinder for cutting Hardware cloth and screw tips, and a small $19- 5'1/2" circular battery powered saw. I was lucky that the previous owner left her trash on her property and I was able to repurpose much of it. I hear of people going to the local landfill for construction waste and scoring windows, doors and whatnot. Also, Scrap metal yards probably have loads of stuff you can repurpose on the cheap too! Best of luck and can you help us zero in on your general geographic area so we can offer better ideas regarding coop design.

I live in a florida type of environment my ideal coop design is way different than what someone in Alaska or Michigan's Upper Peninsula's would be.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Mine is ugly, but hey I moved here because it is unincorporated county land without a homeowners association. Being a disabled vet I don't want to be bothered by irritating people telling me I have to do something.

Anyhow they don't use their back room as they only use the back room if it gets cold or windy or they don't agree with how I set it up with a straw floor and 2 more of the larger tree trunks I cut down before hurricane Harvey looked like it might hit us. At night they choose to roost on the top of the pallet, or directly on the hardware cloth at the highest point on the front of my coop directly over the food/watering stations. There is chicken poop all over in these images as I have yet to get todays cleaning done. That little giant waterer's anti roosting cover is priceless for keeping the roosting poop out of their water.

Luckily, we only got grazed loads of 30-40mph winds(refering to Harvey) and a trivial amount of rain-( I had hoped that would have at least broken our drought. Today I have to go out and finish my Rat proofing and cover the inside of the door with hardware cloth. Then in future cut out the back walls to install nesting boxes but I have time as I have a slow growing game breed.

edit---P.S. I like to ramble on too, so here I go, Future coop plans:
1)Paint the thing at some point to better protect the structure.
2)Paint the floor and interior walls up to 1 foot with a garage floor type of sealant.
3)Set up a deep compost style of bedding(to reduce bumblefoot potential, and make cleaning easier just rake droppings in)
4) no further plans in mind until the above are accomplished.
5) forgot going to fill in that rat gap in the front of the coop and all the way around install a concrete footer.
edit forgot one----Install the 6x12' 50% shade cloth I ordered from Amazon over the coop because it gets entirely too hot in there for my birds during the day.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Final thought's my coop is ugly=) the neighborhood's seem to be uglier and most get by using just chicken wire(I'm building "Fort Squaks" in comparison). My property backs up to a wooded drainage ditch so I have to protect my flock from Javelina, jagarundis, potentially ocelots, coyote, possums, raccoons, and hawks of about 10 different species. I swear I saw a run over badger yesterday on the road but am unaware if they actually are here. I know we have snakes of multiple varieties but since rats are around I am sure the Indigo snakes at a minimum are too. I have yet to smell a skunk here fortunately, but the above list is scary enough for me to be crazy about up-armoring the coop.

 

[Farming Feathers]

What branch of service...I'm marine Corp Camp Pendleton, not disabled and living between Whitney and Blum with closest big city Hillsboro about 12 away from Whitney. Though not buying I fully understand preferred living conditions without a housing authority involvement. Your coop construction is surprising and more roomy than I would have thought (not using my imagination enough). With all the predators in your neck of the woods surprising you have an opportunity for sleep. Glad Gators were not on your list. A badger would be a very bad problem, and hopefully no missing link Wolverines as they are worse ( smart, and vengeful). Thanks for sharing your design I find it practical and functional...something I will explore.

 

[AllenK RGV]

What branch of service...I'm marine Corp Camp Pendleton, not disabled and living between Whitney and Blum with closest big city Hillsboro about 12 away from Whitney. Though not buying I fully understand preferred living conditions without a housing authority involvement. Your coop construction is surprising and more roomy than I would have thought (not using my imagination enough). With all the predators in your neck of the woods surprising you have an opportunity for sleep. Glad Gators were not on your list. A badger would be a very bad problem, and hopefully no missing link Wolverines as they are worse ( smart, and vengeful). Thanks for sharing your design I find it practical and functional...something I will explore.

Marine, I was Army with several breaks in service, initially an Army Medic, then utilities repairman/Commo NCO, then left the line to get back to medical(wife didn't like me getting shot at one bit), spent my last 3 years at Landstuhl(where no Marine wants to land) catching everyones bad days in Afghanistan, Iraq, and AFRICOM.

Edit- Regarding Gators I used to get heart palpitations every time my dog who loves water and swimming would jump into the swamp we walked her at near FT. Gordon, Georgia. There were gators everywhere. On a lighter note the cat brought a baby one home once, we got it away from him and that same dog's curiosity got it latched onto her nose. It was way to funny to see.

 

[Farming Feathers]

You're appreciated and thanks for the service. I don't have memories I even want to reflect on...glad to be a vet and I leave it at that.

 

[AllenK RGV]

You're appreciated and thanks for the service. I don't have memories I even want to reflect on...glad to be a vet and I leave it at that.

Yeah, ditto! And right back at ya! Regardless, chicken make it better. No clue how many hours a day I spend with them. And it really cracks me up when I'm working on the coop with those "little helpers".