Using old wood to build a coop????... PICS

[bheila]

My husband and I just dismantled an old 30'x40' school house that was out on my grandma's property. We did it just for the purpose of using the wood to build a new coop or coops. Thank goodness we have a 24' gooseneck trailer to haul all of the wood back to our place. We had to make 3 trips. Some of the beams weighed at least 400lbs. I still don't know how we managed to get them on the trailer. Salvage everything you can. You will be glad you did. Whatever wood you have left over I'm sure you will put to good use. It will seem like it takes forever to get through it all but have family members or neighbors help. Good luck!

 

[tazcat70]

I have been grabbing big pallets. My husband thinks I am crazy....but whatever.

 

[Guitartists]

Heck yeah! That was originally our plan... DH's friend gets as many as he wants... but it's a 30 min drive one way and we don't own a truck

There was recently a post with a pallet coop and it was lovely! Perfect for what I need for my Banties

 

[ChickenTender63]

you don't need to worry about having planers and sanders to reuse this lumber. I would use it with the weathered side out, just as it comes off the barn, but it just depends on what you want your building to look like.

It will make a fantastic coop. Don't worry about sanding the wood or planing it. Just build your coop, and then decide if you like the original weathered look. If not, get out the paint brush and freshen it up.

Just look at gopher boy and the beautiful coops he has and is doing to get an idea of what you can do by reclaiming material. I will be doing the same thing next spring. It will save you a fortune!

Good luck!

 

[onthespot]

Man, there's enough lumber to make a dozen coops. Build them on skids, and sell the eleven you like the least and go buy yourselves a pickup truck! Woo Hoo!

 

[homestead5er]

I used old wood to build my coop, It would split when I put a nail to close to the end of the board so I just started predrilling the hole for the nails works great.

 

[Guitartists]

Thanks for that tip

Hmmm... selling some doesn't sound like a bad idea

I could use a truck.. LOL BUT.... more coops = more breeds!

 

[Verboten]

That looks like a neat project.

I think it would be safer and faster to pull it down (toward one of the gable ends) and then salvage the wood. You could remove the doors (lots of wood there) and the loose boards and stuff from outside and inside first - if it is safe enough to go into (looks like something heavy could fall 20 feet onto your head.).

My reasoning for pulling it over rather than disassembling it would be that you would probably have to take it apart from the top down and without special machinery (boom lifts, cranes) that would be hard to do safely because you would have to be climbing on and removing support from a building that is falling down already. It will definately break some of the boards- but you don't need them all.

Just remember that the building could stay standing for decades or fall over tomorrow. Safety first.

Best of luck.

 

[mtnranchroo]

Heck yeah, as long as it doesn't have lead paint. Wood is wood!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
YES! I'd be in heaven if someone let me have that much free wood. Looks like a couple of coops to me, at least.