My 4x6 Pallet Coop Build (Completed, PIC HEAVY)

[auto5man]

Wow. That is a fantastic coop!!!!!! We built ours out of pallets as well but used the "frame" method. Great Job!!

THANKS!

 

[auto5man]

This is a fantastic coop.

I didn't see if you said how many chickens you house in it, but it looks like maybe 8-ish? Also, how easy is it to clean at that size and height? I am on a strict budget and want to house about 6-8 chickens. The pallet method seems to be my best bet, and I really like your design. (Thanks for posting so many pics.) Because of the predators in my area I have to use a run, and the space under your coop would add a lot of square footage.

Thanks Buggs Beaks! I have 13 chickens using this coop. It is a cinch to clean, standing next to the coop when I open the access door its about waist height. Pallet construction are great for tight budgets because the wood is free, just takes the sweat equity. six chickens is the ideal number for my size coop, but I have more because they have the run of the yard to free range and only roost in the coop.

 

[auto5man]

Hi,
What a beautiful coop! You did a great job! I hope my coop looks half as good as yours. I am really impressed.
I am a newbee and just looking trying to decide which style coop is fairly easy to build and large enough for 6 -8 hens.

My city rules are 4 sq ft per bird. What is so confusing for me, is the coops online and even those plans you used, states 6-8 chickens coop and is approximately 4' square - so if I am understanding it correctly built exact to plans would only house 4 chickens???.... I am I missing something?

Hi SF411 thanks for the compliments. I used the plans more as a construction guide than as an exact plan. I can't remember now, but I think the original plans specified 4ft x4 ft, and you math would be correct that's 16 sq feet good for 4 birds. However, I built mine 6 feet by 4 feet (24sq feet) and by your city's requirements would be perfect for 6 birds.

As far as ease of building, I'm not going to say pallet coops are the easiest using my construction method. Its a whole lot easier to nail or screw up one sheet of plywood for a wall, than to attach 10-12 individual boards. A plywood structure is going to go together the quickest and easiest. But my goal was to have a siding style look for beauty, and also to make an attractive structure as cheaply as possible. I also changed the design a bit in other ways. The walls are constructed so if I ever move I can take the coop apart for moving. It separates into 4 walls, the base, and the roof.

 

[auto5man]

He said that he didn't use the dimensions listed in the plans, but used the plans more for instructions. The coop looks at least 6' long, maybe 7', to me-- look at the side with the windows, there's no way it's only 4'. The picture with the kids inside looking out the windows gives an idea of the scale.

Weaslyemum, you are correct I used the plans as an instruction/construction method. The coop is very close to 6x4 feet, probably within an inch or so of those dimensions. The side with the windows/shutters is 6 feet. The pitch of the roof is fairly steep too, mostly because I just like that look.... we certainly don't get much snow here in Memphis, lol. Anyway the tall roof and generous overhang makes the coop look bigger than it is.

 

[Weasleymum]

Weaslyemum, you are correct I used the plans as an instruction/construction method. The coop is very close to 6x4 feet, probably within an inch or so of those dimensions. The side with the windows/shutters is 6 feet. The pitch of the roof is fairly steep too, mostly because I just like that look.... we certainly don't get much snow here in Memphis, lol. Anyway the tall roof and generous overhang makes the coop look bigger than it is.

I like that look, too, and on people-houses, not just chicken coops. To me, a well-proportioned overhang is one of the differences between a shoddy-looking build and a good one, even when everything else compares.

 

[SF411chicks]

Thanks for the info Auto5man.
It seems most of the coops for sale and plans are way too small for as many birds as they advertise. I wasn't sure if my math was wrong.

I was thinking of using fence pickets or maybe composite siding, but not sure if that composite is safe for the hens. May I ask how tall your walls are?

Thanks!

 

[auto5man]

Thanks for the info Auto5man.
It seems most of the coops for sale and plans are way too small for as many birds as they advertise. I wasn't sure if my math was wrong.

I was thinking of using fence pickets or maybe composite siding, but not sure if that composite is safe for the hens. May I ask how tall your walls are?

Thanks!

My walls are 42inches (12 boards x 3.5inches) in height. Fence pickets would be perfect, because you would be saved the work of breaking down pallets. if you used fence boards, you would let the width of the boards determine your wall height. For example, you wouldn't want to to rip a board in half just to keep your wall height an EXACT number. Let the width of your boards decide....if your boards are say 8 inches wide either go with 5 boards at 40 inches or add another board for a 48inch height. That is one of the handy things about this construction method, adjust your final dimensions to the material you are using. The door and windows were sized based based on the pallet board's 3.5inch width too. You could also apply the boards clapboard siding style (overlapping on one edge) to allow for any sloppiness in the board's width (we are dealing with rough cut lumber after all)....I used bar clamps to even out and bend my boards into place in some spots. Had to work at it a bit to keep the seams the same from one wall to the next. Pallet boards are anything BUT true, lol.

 

[nayeli]

I know I'm late to the thread, I just wanted to say that your coop looks great! I hope we can do as good of a job!

 

[auto5man]

Nayeli, its NEVER too late for compliments on my coop, thank you!

And welcome to BYC, you've come to the right place for How To info.

 

[nayeli]

Haha, your welcome! I love this site, I skulked around a couple days before joining... cause I really won't be contributing anything for at least another month (when we close on our house), probably two to give me time to get animals and build coops, cages, etc! For now I'm gathering information and asking questions =)