How to Build a DIY Pallet Chicken Coop: Your Guide to an Affordable and Convenient Home Composting System
Do you love the idea of raising chickens in your backyard? But think a traditional chicken coop is just too boring and ordinary? If so, you’re going to love this post! We are thrilled to share with you how to build a DIY pallet chicken coop. Let’s get started! >>> If you want to be the envy of your friends and neighbours, then raising hens may be right up your alley. Keeping chickens can be an amazing source of fresh eggs, plus it’s also educational for children and adults alike.
You don’t have to buy some expensive prefabricated chicken house when these cool pallet coops can be built for much less money. They are also very easy to build. Even if you are not usually handy, you will find that constructing one of these coops is not that challenging at all. You don’t need any special skills or certifications, just follow the instructions below and in no time at all you will have a fantastic new home for your hens! Here are some ideas on How To Build a DIY Pallet Chicken Coop:
What You Will Need
Depending on the size of your pallet coop, you will need a few pallets. You can repurpose old pallets that have been sitting around or you can buy them new. You will also need some plywood, nails or screws, a power saw and a hammer, a crowbar, a measuring tape, a level, a pencil, safety glasses and work gloves. If you are planning to add roosting bars in your coop, then you will also need a few more items: a drill, a pencil, a rooster or other wooden stick, a jigsaw or a circular saw, and a few boards to serve as the roosts.
Step 1: Find and Acquire Your Pallets
When it comes to where to find pallets, be on the lookout at your local grocery store or other businesses that receive a lot of product deliveries. They often have pallets that need to be discarded. As a rule of thumb, look for pallets that are clean and in good shape. Marked “clean and safe for food contact” with a company name and logo, a pallet is usually okay to use.
However, if you find one without the markings, be sure to clean it thoroughly before constructing the coop. You will also want to check for nails or other debris that may have become embedded in the wood. You don’t want to accidentally have your chickens ingest some rusty nails! If you find any, be sure to hammer them out.
Step 2: Cut the Wood and Create the Walls
Once you have acquired your pallets, you can begin to cut them to size. You will want to measure the inside of your coop to get the dimensions of the pallets. You will also want to make sure you leave enough room for the floor. You can use a power saw to cut the pallets, or if you don’t have one, a hammer and a crowbar will work just as well. Just be sure to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Once the pallets are cut, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Build the Floor and Run
Now that you have the walls of your DIY pallet chicken coop, you will want to add a floor. If you are building a large coop, you can simply lay the pallets as is. However, if you are building a smaller coop, you may want to put a few pieces together to make a larger piece. You can hammer the boards together or use a nail gun to nail them together.
Once your floor is in place, you will want to add a run. A run is basically like a small fenced-in area that your chickens can freely roam in. It should be high enough so that predators cannot get in. If you are building a small coop, you can simply add a run to your coop. However, if you are building a larger coop, you will want to make sure there is enough room for the run to fit as well.
Step 4: Roof and Windows
Your next step is to add a roof to your coop. Again, if you are building a large coop, you can simply lay the pallets as is. However, if you are building a smaller coop, you will want to put a few pallets together to make a larger piece. You can hammer the boards together or use a nail gun to nail them together.
Once the roof is in place, you will want to add windows to the coop. If you are building a larger coop, you can leave them on the outside and use shutters to close them. However, if you are building a smaller coop, you will want to add windows on the inside. If you are building a smaller coop, you can simply cut a hole in the wall and add a window there. However, if you are building a larger coop and want to add windows, you can use some boards to cut out a window.
Step 5: Add a Lock and Decoration
Your last step is to add a lock to the door. If you are building a larger coop, you can simply use a piece of wood to act as a door and add a lock to it. If you are building a smaller coop, you can simply use a pallet board and nail it to the door. You will also want to decorate your coop. You can paint it, add a shingle roof or anything else that you think would look nice. Your coop doesn’t have to be plain and boring, so be creative and add some flair to it! Once your coop is finished, you can begin to introduce your hens to their new home.
Conclusion
Building a chicken coop can be a fun project for the whole family. With the tips above, you can create a beautiful and functional coop out of pallets in no time at all. For the cost of a few new pallets, you can have an excellent home for your hens. Plus, with all the rustic charm a pallet coop brings to the table, you will be the envy of your neighbours in no time at all! Now that you know how to build a DIY pallet chicken coop, what are you waiting for?
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17’x6′ Walk In Chicken Coop for 6 or more chickens
24’x8′ Walk In Chicken Coop Up to 50 chickens
4’x12′ Walk In Chicken Coop 6 to 8 chickens
8’x15′ Chicken Tractor 6 to 8 chickens
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