Some questions: Where are you located? Will the coop go in a fenced backyard? How many chickens would you like in your flock?
Research pallet wood before going that route. There are codes stamped on them that will help you identify whether it was treated with insecticides.
Ideas:
- Nesting boxes. It takes more materials creating an external structure that gets attached to the side of the chicken coop. You could build it from scrap, but you'll also need hinges and latches. Recycle cat litter containers or plastic crates and put them on a shelf inside the coop and save some money. There are some really nice examples of this in the forums.
- The coop doesn't have to be tall enough for you to walk inside. There are shorter coops built on raised platforms that seem to work well for a small flock.
- When you buy lumber make sure you know the length of each cut, do some math, and make sure you maximize the cuts on each one. Will a ten or twelve foot board be used with only a few inches of wood leftover? Then that's what you should buy. Bring a tape measure and cut it down at the store. The longer boards may save you money on each foot purchased, and you won't waste wood.
- Cover your plywood roof with a large tarp and allow for a sizable overhang. This will save you money on shingles or corrugated metal until you can afford to buy some.
- Save money on brackets and go old school for the wood framing. Notching wood is easy, just measure carefully and sharpen your chisels.
- Post holes for the fencing. Forget cement. Toxic, harmful industry. Go old school on this one, too, and use 3/4" road base and rocks. You can buy it in bulk. We got 1/2", but larger would probably lock in tighter. Take a five gallon bucket, tell them how many buckets you need, pay at the office, and scoop it yourself. You want it dusty, not clean and pretty. The fine dust cements when wet and yet you can dig out this hole and reset your posts should the need ever arise. I think we paid $13 for seven five-gallon buckets.
- Don't skimp on the quality of your fencing materials. Do shop for pricing. There's an online website that's been referenced here a lot that offers free shipping and great pricing. I can't think of the name, so hopefully someone will know and post a link.
- I'll say it again (learn from my mistakes): Build with a plan and the measurements of your boards already mapped out. No wasted wood.
I hope you keep this discussion going and post updates on your progress!
ETA: The seven buckets was used for eight posts we sunk 28" into the ground. We had some left over and poured it into the trenching we did around the chicken run perimeter, to secure the hardware cloth we sunk into the ground.
