Palletpalooza Chicken Inn and Suites

[valkgal]

I have your regular, run of the mill, ordinary chicken coop. I didn't love it when I bought it, but the girls needed a place, so I got it. Not thrilled with it. Don't hate it. It's just...blah. I create fun stuff out of wooden pallets so I figured I could handle creating a chicken shed. I'm about in the middle of it now, and it's even better than I imagined. I'll post my progress with pictures as I go along.

Here's where they are now. Pleasant enough but BORING.


Day 1: We started with building the frame. The size is 7' deep and 5' wide. We staggered the studs 7', 6', 5 1/2, 5' to allow for drainage. Since my boys are all over 6', we made the 7' be for the door and the 5' for the back. Although my DH is helping me with the frame, the rest of the project is MINE!



I have probably 20 pallets of varying sizes, plus an endless supply from my brother...he owns a print shop and gets a bunch of pallets all the time. He's very generously donated to my stash! I have a reciprocating saw which I use to separate the boards from the pallet frame. So much easier than when I used to pry them off using a crowbar and my strength! Here is the example of what I'm doing on Day 1.



Day 3, I got a lot accomplished. Picked up more pallets (thanks, Bro!) and a new sawzall (I may have broken my husband's...). I got a lot more accomplished. You see the vent holes on top,. I will cover those with chicken screen to keep out the critters. I also framed my window.





I probably won't work on it again until next week. We have vacation starting tomorrow, and the lake is calling my name! I will update as I work.

 

[Folly's place]

Good start! I think bigger vents and a much larger window, and especially large openings n the south side. And a big window in the people door. Light and ventilation!!! Also, no chicken wire anywhere, only well secured hardware cloth. Security! Mary

 

[JanetS]

Looking good so far.... I agree with Folly's place. No chicken wire. Hardware cloth is better.

 

[valkgal]

I am making good progress on the coop. I've already let littles play in it, and they LOVE it!

I replaced the chicken wire with the smaller hardware cloth. Still allows enough light, and it is still really ventilated. In our 90* heat, I go in the coop to cool off!

We are really close here. We put on the roof yesterday, and I installed the really cool roosting bars. Today I will tile the roof and install the locks on the 2 doors. I hope to be able to install the chicken door, too. We are also putting up a "temporary" fence. Because I live in the historic district, we can't have true fencing in our yard. Chicken owners can put up temporary fencing. I'll make sure my ladies are all safely inside each night, but I really can't do anything during the day.

Still working on siding

"People Door" between the coop and yard. Will have a real door when the cool weather hits.

Front door

Siding the back of the coop.

Nesting boxes shelf There will be a "lip" and the baskets will be flush with the shelf.

 

[JanetS]

Looking good but your "front door" doesn't look secure enough to keep out most predators. Hardware cloth is a great wire to use. Chicken wire isn't strong enough.

Here's a picture of some of our predators. The bobcat was looking right at our chickens but the chickens were safe because of their secured pen. Both pictures were taken with a game/trail camera.

 

[aart]

I have your regular, run of the mill, ordinary chicken coop. I didn't love it when I bought it, but the girls needed a place, so I got it. Not thrilled with it. Don't hate it. It's just...blah. I create fun stuff out of wooden pallets so I figured I could handle creating a chicken shed. I'm about in the middle of it now, and it's even better than I imagined. I'll post my progress with pictures as I go along.

Here's where they are now. Pleasant enough but BORING.

Boring? Maybe.
Way too small, absolutely.

 

[valkgal]

I'm silly...I keep saying Chicken Wire, obviously I mean HARDWARE CLOTH!

The coop is located next to the house. I can hear them in the mornings, even through a closed bedroom door! "Let me out! It's time to play!"


The door is locked with a 350# deadbolt and with carabiner clips to hold locks. We had a hard time opening it this morning. Our biggest and baddest predator is a raccoon I also just today installed motion detector lights on the front door and the sides and back. My dog is AWESOME predator patrol. I've only lost 1 chicken so far. My chickens are locked in at night.

We installed the fence today. They are having SO MUCH FUN with their expanded area! I only have "the littles" in there now; the "bigs" will join them later this week.






I'm not working tomorrow (HOORAY the life of a substitute teacher!) so I'm going to spend time decorating. I'm painting their names, putting in curtains, and painting the shingle "Chick Inn and Sweets." Cheesy, but I love it!

Henrietta (Henny) thanked me for her new digs yesterday by laying her first egg. What a sweet girl! She's in the coop today because apparently she doesn't know what the nesting boxes are for!