PALLET CHICKEN COOP ????

[ediiee]

So my friend just have me a bunch of pallets and I'm thinking of just taking them apart and making a nice sized coop?? Anyone build one?? Pics plz???? I need some Ideas

 

[jenniemig]

Hey Ediiee,

I build all kinds of things with pallets. BUT, you need to make sure that you are not using treated pallets. Materials for my business come on pallets made in Brazil. Most of the wood is mahogany or other hard woods. I will be using a lot of pallet wood for my hen house.

There is a trick that I have found for cutting them up. I never try and pry the boards apart, I use a sawzall and cut the flat boards from the stringers trying only to cut the nails. You'll need a heavy duty sawzall, 12 inch metal cutting blades (wood ones kick too hard) and heavy gloves. It is a lot of work, but totally worth the free wood

Check pinterest, there are many pallet projects listed there.

 

[Alex41]

I picked up a bunch of pallets with the same idea. Then I tried to tKe one apart. The wood is so hard that the nail heads break off or wreck the wood. I couldn't imagine later trying to nail into that wood.

How do you know which ones are treated? WhT are they treated with?

Thanks,
Alex

 

[ediiee]

Thanks for the idea I don't have a saws all so I guess it's doing it the old fashion way hahaha which is very time consuming!!! But will be worth it in the end

 

[jenniemig]

This link should help. http://www.1001pallets.com/pallet-safety/
There are two types of treating, heat which is safe, and chemical which is not.

The pallets are built with spiral nails which are almost impossible to remove without damaging the boards. I have tried prying them off but was left having to cut the broken ends off which didn't leave a very long board to work with. When I cut the nails to separate the boards all that is left to do it tap the nail heads out. I leave the nail holes for character;-) Then I trim them up and run them through the table saw to make every board the same width. It is a lot of work, but for me the labor is worth the savings.

 

[ediiee]

Yeah I'm trying to do the same take them apart but after reading a few post I've realized it's really hard to just pry them off they end up braking or nails ripp off maybe ill just leave them complete and make a big square like coop???!!

 

[jenniemig]

Using the whole pallets would make very sturdy framing for the coop. Then you could go over it with some other material. At least there's the savings on the framing My coop is going to have to pass as a shed so that it doesn't "look" like I have chickens;-)

 

[Terry Morache]

I was going to use pallets as a base for the floor of my coop I was planning on insulating the walls and roof but was wondering if I have to insulate the floor as well where I live it can get to 40 below and colder

 

[jenniemig]

Wow Terry, that is COLD. I'm in northern Florida where we've been complaining about our cold snap in the 30's. In my opinion I would say if the walls and roof are insulated, and as long as the chickens are off of the ground it would be ok not to insulate. But, someone with more experience from your area may say otherwise. Honestly all I am going on is what I've seen watching the Kilcher family on TV;-) The coops on there do not have insulated walls, roofs, or floors. But, they're made like log cabins, so maybe that makes a difference. Good luck with your flock

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

There are lots of pallet coops to look at on BYC...I'd do a quick search with the search bar too as part of your research before you build.

Don't forget to keep rodents out of the walls by putting down some kind of plywood foundation or some sort of thing. I hope this helps!