Pallet coop- tips and ideas needed!

[PippinTheChicken]

I'm planning to make a pallet coop, to hold maybe 10-12 chickens.
I'm planning to make it around 6x4ft.
I need lots of tips, ideas and pictures!
Examples of nests, roosts, ventilation etc are needed!
I'm planning to have a walk-in door, with a small chicken door cut into the bottom (so I can use my auto door opener).
Thank you!
@SpotTheCat @aart @3KillerBs @KingB

 

[KingD]

I've seen some pallets on the street and you can get a whole bunch on ebay for like 99 pence! It's much cheaper than spending £200 on an old, pre-used shed/wendy house

Well let me know how you get on because I've thought of doing the same thing a few times.
It's a bit too time consuming for me though.
I think there's a few people on here who have made pallet coops. No doubt someone will post links and stuff.

Everything I do make is pretty much all out of scrap wood though.
I have friends who are builders so I go and raid their scrap pile sometimes lol!

It feels good to make stuff at no cost

Best of luck

 

[ColtHandorf]

Good luck. I tried to rip apart two pallets a couple of weeks ago and the supports in the middle were the only three pieces that were salvageable. I pretty much destroyed the rest of the slats. :/

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I've seen some pallets on the street and you can get a whole bunch on ebay for like 99 pence! It's much cheaper than spending £200 on an old, pre-used shed/wendy house

 

[ColtHandorf]

Both ways are equally as good in my opinion but it's often really difficult to break up pallets without them splitting and just turning into useless bits of broken wood.

 

[Cryss]

My coop is maybe 80% pallets. The roof is not, and I covered the outside with plywood rather than disassemble impossible pallets. The floor is 6 pallets. I predator proofed it by wrapping hardware cloth on the underside, up the sides, and folded the ends over the top. Then I covered the top with 3/4 inch plywood sandwiching the cloth ends between the pallets and the plywood. I found it easier to make all of my measurements match the pallets. 2 Pallets are basically the same size as a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood with a few minor variations. It’s 8x12, rear wall is 8ft high, front wall 10ft high. It is outside the run. It is big enough for 24 standard birds (using the minimum space of 4sqft/bird).

 

[KingD]

Will you be using pallets in their current state? Or will you be using the wood from the pallets?

There's lots of people who say they've built a pallet coop but all it is is just the scrap wood from a broken up pallet.

Both ways are equally as good in my opinion but it's often really difficult to break up pallets without them splitting and just turning into useless bits of broken wood.

Because whole pallets are so strong, it might be a good idea to make the shape/frame from them.
I've used them to make firewood stores before. They're so useful!

 

[Lizzy733]

I've given up on working with pallets. The wood is shabby, doesn't hold up to the elements and is difficult to break apart.

I decided on plywood sheets for my coop - did go raised - and just used good ole framing timber to build a box frame to nail to plywood to.

Went thin, it's not cold here, and have two big shutters on the cleaning doors which open to the outside of the run. It's tall enough that a wheelbarrow sits just under the floor for easy waste removal.

And corrugated metal roof on top.

It's served me well and my hens live under the coop when it rains. A bit tedious to climb under, but not something I have to do often.

Training a Silkie to use a ramp is an adventure tho... They do get it eventually.

 

[aart]

Do you have the tools and skills to build such a coop?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/5226378/?q=pallet&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

 

[McChooky]

Good luck. I tried to rip apart two pallets a couple of weeks ago and the supports in the middle were the only three pieces that were salvageable. I pretty much destroyed the rest of the slats. :/

I built a pallet coop and run with an extension this summer using a lot of scrap wood, construction waste and old used 2 x 4's .It took a lot of pallets and framing. If you will take the time to watch videos on youtube you will find a lot of people have shared videos there with step by step instructions on how to make a chicken coop. Looks aren't as important as it being built good to protect your flock from predators and shelter them in bad weather .
It must have good ventilation or your chickens will have respiratory issues and get diseases and die. You want your chickens to be warm and dry without being crowded so aim higher and make it bigger is my suggestion. Chickens need 4 square foot per bird minimum but I would double that because they'll be happier and it will be easier to clean. If you want a coop for 12 or more chickens out of pallets I suggest you design it in such a way to make it easier. 2 pallets wide x 2 pallets long (8 x 8=64 divided by 4 sq ft per bird =16 chickens)