Pallet coop time!

[Wxguru]

Spent part of yesterday and today getting the floor laid out..what a PIA! Of course the coop is 51" wide, so a 4x8 sheet of OSB won't work for the entire floor. Between an end cut from the long side, and a 1x3 cut, I have a completed floor. Attaching the 2 pieces with liquid nails to main OSB sheet then screwing it in. I should have thought that out a bit better. Oh well, when your working with pallets, there are going to be some odd things happen.
Picking up Latex Paint/primer tomorrow to start painting and will get the front and back walls attached....then to add a couple of studs in....more to come

 

[SouthHouse]

I start with just 2-3 inches of pine shavings on the floor. A layer is added as it is needed. By the time it builds to about six inches deep it's time to shovel it out and clean. Poop trays would be a plus as they can be cleaned off regularly and the floor wouldn't get as nasty. It's on my to-do list. Wish I had planned for them from the beginning.
As our flock grows, so does the task of keeping a clean coop. I think poop trays that are easily removed for scraping and cleaning would have been a wise choice. The task of retro-fitting for our coop is going to involve relocating roosts and nesting boxes. So up an front plan for them would be advisable.

 

[SouthHouse]

I'm wondering if you sealed (waterproof/outdoor caulk?) the seams in the underlayment, followed with a brush on sealer would provide enough protection for the sheet linoleum. The edges could then be caulked preventing moisture from above getting underneath the linoleum.
As I mentioned before, our coop floor is concrete. I was concerned about the porosity of concrete. I feared it would retain moisture, bacteria, etc. But it doesn't seem to be a problem. When I clean and sanitize is the spring and fall I hose and scrub it then spray it down with a veterinary sanitizer and allow to dry thoroughly before laying down shavings. To speed the drying process I use a box fan to keep air moving. If the weather cooperates and I get started early enough it's usually ready for the shavings before the chickens take roost for the night. So far, this method has worked well.
We have a larger coop that was built to accommodate our growing flock. It is built on the ground with no floor. It was put into service for the first time this summer. I'm using sand on the floor in there. It's about 8 inches deep. May need to add more as it becomes compacted. To clean the sand I fashioned a sifter by attaching window screening to a leaf rake which has been effective for removing debris without taking too much sand with it. As long as the roof holds out and it doesn't get wet in there I think it should work out fine.
All that being said, all of this has been a process of development over time. Trial and error has been the rule.

 

[Wxguru]

Have abandoned the linoleum for now (extra cost).
Accomplished today:
Home Depot run for Lexan 4 8"x10" sheets. Going to combing 2 for a 16X20" window on each side of coop...only $16 total
Bought studs to finish interior studding...lol
Got a few more 1x4's, 1x3's, and 2x2's for framing of various sorts
1/4" Plywood for pop door (doubled up) as well as some interior wall finishing
Kilz2 Latex water-based primer and applied 2 coats to chicken coop floor (3/4" OSB). Will do a 3rd and final coat in A.M. then flip it over to the other side that will face the ground (not on ground, but within 4 inches of ground) and will do 3 coats on it before fastening to frame.

Tomorrow:
Finish coats on coop floor
Cut floor frame out of 2x4's and then toe in the studs to that part
Get 2 doors built for ends of coop

Wednesday:
Busy

Thursday:
Take everything outside and get walls up as well as nesting boxes completed

Friday:
Frame the roof out and get it up on coop and hopefully sheath it and put shingles on it

Might be wishful thinking but one can hope right?

 

[SouthHouse]

If you run too close with your schedule you can postpone building your nest boxes. The chicks won't need them until they are four (+/-) months old anyway.

 

[smcgill]

Looks great so far !

 

[Wxguru]

Here is just a small update....got door frames up....got front wall frame up....floor finished painting
I originally was going to use just pallets....but had to build frames for stability. Pallets will still be used...you can see in this pic of the front, pallets are used and fit perfectly between the studs even with the bottom legs still on them! Floor under OSB is 2 pallets. I will end up at about 55% pallet and 45% purchased wood.
Sorry about the pic....framing it all up in our garage before moving it out to put it together!

 

[Shana23]

Looking great!!!

 

[Wxguru]

Accomplished today:
Two window frames completed (Not 100% square....for some reason I keep angling a cut on the ends...don't have a table saw....only circular and jig)
Cut the backing for both doors
Assembled the door frames finally
Painted door backings, and painted one of front pallets
Painted outside of each stud and double plate (anything facing out will have a coat or 2 of paint on it, as the pallet siding isn't completely sealed tight.
All OSB framing inside will have the exterior face painted with 2 coats for those rain drops that do make it thru.)

Hoping tomorrow to:
Paint more of the pallets
Finish putting siding on the pallets that need it
Install window into front wall
Finish doors
Start on nest boxes

 

[CHIKENROOKIE]

Looks nice, built mine inside garage as well......designed to be taken apart for transport to backyard, still gave me a hernia moving it!

Keep posting pics please !