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I like chickens a lot. Maybe because, when I was small, I remember walking out to my mother's chicken house, and gathering eggs...I'm not sure why I like them so much, but every spring I look at the signs that say: "Chicks here!" and want them so badly. We recently got a Murdoch's Farm & Ranch store in our town. I love Farm & Ranch stores, by the way. Anyways, so when they started advertising 'Chick Days', I stopped in a few times to let the kids look at the chicks. At least that was my excuse! It was actually a good excuse for ME to get my chick fix.
I have tried 3 times to keep chickens here, and they always get eaten - either by fox, coon, or skunk. I had told myself firmly that it was a waste of time, money and energy to try again. But on the third trip to Murdoch's, I caved. I got 3 Red Star, 3 Buff's, and 3 Wyandottes. I like variety. I also was trying to get cold-hardy birds, since they will be living in a drafty coop most of the year. If they survive.
I knew the set-up I had been using was not going to work, so I set out to build me a coop. Now, as you know, I am not a carpenter. I do, however, believe anyone can do anything if they want to bad enough. I think more 'skill', and 'talent' is in our hard work, than in natural ability. I think anyone can be a musician, great cook, cowboy, writer, or, yes, even a carpenter, with enough learning, perseverance, and hard work. I know certain people can naturally do certain things alot easier than others. But usually its more experience or desire than actual talent.
Case in point: My Cowboy never wanted to be a carpenter. Never enjoyed it. But he is an excellent carpenter. He can build anything, without a plan. And it lasts, believe me. Why is he so good? Because he started when young, and worked with his dad, who taught him all he needed to know, little by little, hard day of work after hard day of work.
Me? Why, I had a dad who despised carpentry, never built anything he didn't have to, and therefore most of my family is slightly lacking in carpenter skills. (except for a few brothers who actually enjoy it, and learned later. ) So I had no examples, and certainly no help building things. But I have built my first freestanding, semi-solid, totally un-square, sorta-kinda-cute, and totally functional structure! It held my chickies for the first time last night, and despite the multitude of cracks, they (the chicks) are still all there this morning! I hope the critters don't find a way in - cause I have certainly tried to make it critter-proof, if not weather proof. It does keep out the rain, thankfully, as it rained last night. Here is how to build a coop on the cheap frugal, with minimal zero expertise...
I dug about 24 of these 1x4's out of the ranch dump. They are from a fallen windbreak, I think. They are 8 ft. each. I had to jerk out about 4-6 old nails out of each one.
Then I got 3 old pallets that were sturdy, and nailed the boards over the cracks. Instant studs! Yay!
I cut out a section of the one pallet for a nest-box entrance, and made a nest box out of scraps I found in the barn.
I missed taking pics of whole sections of the process, but anyways, here it is - the nest box isn't finished yet, and it need some paint. The roof is longer in the back to help protect the nest box from rain/snow. (that sounds good, anyways...the real reason was because i didn't want to cut metal, and this piece was basically the right size.)
The front. I did have to frame this, since I just couldn't wrap my brain around how to cut/fasten a door in a pallet. It was pretty easy, tho. Took me two tries to get the angle right on the door cross-support.
The inside. here you can see the pallets. I used some corner braces to fasten it to the floor. I couldn't think of any other way. Didn't have long enough screws to screw through the oak stringers.
Check out my skylight! I wasn't sure how to build a window, so I found this piece of clear roofing, and it works great as a skylight. Some days I will have to leave them in the coop all day, and I wanted them to get light.
Frank painted it last night. Well, some of it. See the nest box out the back? It missed getting painted, but I will finish it soon. I am quite pleased with my little coop. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but functional, and not totally sloppy-looking. And I didn't have any help from the master carpenter, aka: My Cowboy. The cord is for the heat lamp, in case you wondered. Its still pretty cold here at night. (30º - 40º)
I was so worried last night, I kept waking and wondering if the fox/coons had found a way in to the coop...I went out this morning and there they all were - hale and hearty. I got that Tom Hanks/Castaway moment of "I can build! I have made a chicken coop!" Ha ha!
I had several things I wanted in my coop.
1. Easy access to the nest box from the outside. Check.
2. Natural light source, so I wouldn't have to run a light. Check. I have to have a heat lamp, but don't want to have to run a light when they are grown.
3. Door big enough for an adult to get in, if necessary. Check.
4. Somewhat rustic/cute. Check.
5. Critter-proof. Check.
I am satisfied.
i totally believe that you like chickens!Great job!!
I would like to have chickens for the healthier meat, but I'm not fond enough of chickens to go to that much trouble. Although if I ever need help for something like this I know who to ask 🙂
Fryers only need to be about 16 weeks before you harvest for dinner.
so cool!!! where there is a will,there is a way! yay!!!
Hi Kay,
Just wanted to say, I think your coop is awesome! Very nice to see someone working through a problem to the solution without pretending to be helpless. I love that spirit and wish you the best in your chicken adventures!
Sue aka The Pocket Farmer
You did an amazing job on your coop! We have had chickens now for almost two years, although I didn't build our coop, Phil did :)I love them, fresh eggs are the best! So fun! ~Sheila
I like that... That coop ought to keep the babies comfortable even during y'alls terrible winters... Ok... how 'bout some omlets... I could totally go for some huevos rancheros.
What size were the pallets?
I used 40" x 48" pallets. Pretty standard size, I think! 🙂
@stone - Omelets comin' right up!! 🙂
Super impressed!! I know where to get help building mine once I talk Santosh into letting me get chickens! Very proud of you!!!
We (the barely teenage boy, the pre-teen girl and I, the wife) built what my husband, the non carpenter said we couldn't. It totally rocks (pink with a purple door) and so does yours. It feels great when you accomplish what you set out to do. And yes I believe that anyone can do anything they put their mind too.
That's great! Good for you persevering.
Looks great. Thanks for the inspiration
You might consider looking into a working livestock guardian dog (LGD). They'll guard your animals and ranch. Just be sure to read up on them first. They aren't your typical pets, but need to be bonded to animals. They can be trained to protect sheep, goats, cattle, chickens, etc. Maremmas and Great Pyrenees are both good LGDs.
Kangals all the way
It`s a good idea to use cheap or even free material to build a chicken coop!
I read Murdochs and thought maybe you were in Montana or somewhere else close? Anyway, how many pallets did you use? And your floor was that a pallet also? Thanks in advance!!
The floor was a pallet covered with other extra board I had. I do not remember how many pallets I used, I'm sorry! It's been too long. We are in Wyoming. 🙂
We have used pallets to make a large open front shed. I have a question on using treated pallets for the chickens. Will the treated wood harm the chickens in any way? We bought a beautiful Amish made coop, 28 x 10’, with ron, but need to have a smaller one to raise some chicks. ( plus it was very expensive and can not do that
I wouldn't know about that.
We built a fenced-in chicken run and a small access door in our pallet coop. We have a source of standard pallets (40"x48") and we stacked them on edge for a coop with headroom of 80", and framed in opening widows and an outside opening nest box for easy access. In order to discourage attacks from the resident hawks, I covered the run with chicken wire with a central support for headroom. We had a hawk decide that our birds looked pretty tasty, so, at an altitude, it performed a spectacular dive headed straight down. It didn't see the covering until the last few seconds. and performed another spectacular feat with an airbrake demonstration to rival the best fighter jet, and missed engaging the chicken wire by only a few inches! After that, I guess the word got out to the local hawk communitee to avoid this area.
Wow! That's impressive!