PALLET Coop, help!!!

[Fluffychicky]

I'm so so excited about the idea of getting my little chickens I'll be keeping 8 but I need to build a coop for them. I'm not very wealthy so I can't afford one of these 500-2000 dollar coops I keep seeing but I've heard pallet coops are affordable. I just have no idea where to begin, I know I need pallets and wire and stuff for windows but what tools, nails, bolts and screws will I need? I don't know much about building but if I could just get a supply list that would be a wonderful start. Thank you to anyone who is willing to help me!

 

[DelcoChix]

To make it easy, I would just do a search on BYC for "pallet coops." There are a lot already on here that you could easily use for your research. The chickens could not care less about whether you spend $25 or $2500 on their new home--just need it safe and weatherproof, food, fresh water and enough room for all to live happily together....
Good luck in your search!

 

[Newtopian]

My coop is built entirely out of shipping pallets. I am able to get pallets that range from standard size all the way to twelve feet long with really good oak pieces that I used. The best places to get your pallets from are places that receive large items or equipment. They'll have the larger shipping requirements and heavier duty pallets to hopefully give away.
I would also check out your local solid surface countertop shop. They get solid surface shipped in on the huge twelve footers, and there's where you'll find the best wood to use.
Borrow a sawz-all or any other reciprocating saw. It's much easier to get a bi-metal blade and cut the nails at the joints than trying to get a hammer and pry bar.
I built mine like this:
I brought home pallets of all shapes and sizes, and separated them with the recip saw and sorted out all my pieces of wood. What's good for the frame? What's good for the floor? The sides? The siding? The roof? Put them in the appropriate pile. ( anything that doesn't get used or is scrap, get tossed into the fireplace!)

I used the good sturdy wood for the frame and floor and doors, and the really brittle wood was cut into pieces for the shake siding effect. This photo was taken before the completion. I have just added the wire and door and ramp,a but you get the general idea. Just because its made from pallets, doesn't mean it has to look like it!
If you have any questions about sourcing the wood or anything, ask away.

 

[Meanstreak]

Beautiful pallet coop. I wasn't as creative. LOL I just took 4 pallets, screwed those together to make a cube, added a 2"x4" in the center vertically, and attached 2 sheets of plywood and some hinges. One side of the roof is fixed, and the other is a very big hinged lid. Screwed on the plywood to the pallets and used a circular saw to cut a square in the plywood for a door. Took the 12"x12" piece of plywood I cut for the door and reattached it with a hinge. Voila, safe, warm and dry with a hinged door and hinged roof. Easy access in and out. It doesn't have a bottom in it BUT I already had a cement foundation to sit it on top of where and old outhouse years ago stood. So I don't have to worry about digging predators getting in to the actual coop. We actually drug it with a chain to get it across the yard in my husbands truck. So it's pretty darn sturdy too. I took some extra tin we had laying around and nailed on the roof, but if you know anyone in construction, it shouldn't take a lot of shingles to cover. It's small, but it works. I'm not allowed to build anything that we can walk in to. I'm sure my landlord would kill me.

TSC right now has fence posts and chicken wire, depending on your predators, on sale. A 3' x 50' roll is $20 and 4' posts are $3. In Ohio anyways. Chicken wire isn't the best fencing, a dog will rip right through it. And so will anything else. Keep that in mind.

Watch places like craigslist for freebie construction materials too.

 

[Ga Boy]

Got some great pallets to build my mom a coop for her place. They are shingles pallets.

 

[cjmccormick]

What are some places to check to see if they will give away free pallets. I am looking to make a chicken coop, but want to do it cheap as possible. If ya could give me a list of places to check I will start from there. I already have a few posts on Craigslist and looking for materials there as well.

Thanks!

 

[Ga Boy]

Job sites, they discard their pallets. Go behind strip malls, grocery stores, etc. look for a stack of pallets get what you need, but don't take blue pallets they reuse them. Dumpster Diving. But the best place for pallets behind and around closed down warehouses. Ask if the warehouse is in use.

 

[Meanstreak]

My husband brought home our pallets. He works in heating and air. These pallets carry the furnaces/fireplaces/AC units. Maybe check those?

 

[thaiturkey]

Pallet wood can make excellent coops. Tools include a saw, nails or screws, measuring tools and some planning.

Consider also packing case panels. Some made for machinery are big enough to make walls without much carpentry. Here's one I made for turkeys from packing cases. The thatch roof is a great reflector of heat from the hot sun here but you probably need something more substantial.

 

[QuietPony]

Pallet wood can make excellent coops. Tools include a saw, nails or screws, measuring tools and some planning.

Consider also packing case panels. Some made for machinery are big enough to make walls without much carpentry. Here's one I made for turkeys from packing cases. The thatch roof is a great reflector of heat from the hot sun here but you probably need something more substantial.

This thatch roof is awesome! Oh, I do hope you light the way to the coop with tiki torches and serve them drinks made out of coconuts which necessitate little umbrellas!