My pallet hybrid coop!

[Soon2BChixMom]

We have gone back and forth with what to do for a different coop for my chickens (we = my husband and I).
I was given my chickens in October and went out and bought a prefab. While the prefab has done what it is supposed to, I wanted more for my chickens especially for the rural open field area that I live in.
I saw a new coop at tsc and thought about buying it, but then kept thinking of other options which would be similarly priced like a resin shed. Yeah, I could do that! However, I was talked out of the resin shed due to having no shade whatsoever for my chickens and the heat of the shed might be too much in the summer. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.
Still kept the different tsc coop in my mind as it would be an easy option, but just didn't want to - because I really wasn't getting much more for the extra $.
Then, the idea of tearing down an old play structure to repurpose popped up. Posted here on byc and got good advice. However, the realization of the time and effort plus trying to corral everyone needed to do it was just overwhelming to the point that I decided I was going to just buy an overpriced well made coop and run (not tsc but a built coop). I almost pulled the trigger on that, but wanted a new dining room table more. Decisions! Coop vs dining table. Lol
So, last night my hubby decides we should peruse the farm and see what goodies we could find to build a coop.
I thought we were going to totally build one from pallets, but the hubs decided to make a hybrid of sorts. We still have a ways to go, but here is what we have so far. It's not going to be super fancy, but will definitely be super sturdy!
The legs are made with cedar, the base a pallet, osb and then an old scrap of vinyl we had for the flooring, and the frame so far are all from repurposed materials. I did have to rush out and buy a box of screws as we didn't have enough good wood screws.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

We have gone back and forth with what to do for a different coop for my chickens (we = my husband and I).
I was given my chickens in October and went out and bought a prefab. While the prefab has done what it is supposed to, I wanted more for my chickens especially for the rural open field area that I live in.
I saw a new coop at tsc and thought about buying it, but then kept thinking of other options which would be similarly priced like a resin shed. Yeah, I could do that! However, I was talked out of the resin shed due to having no shade whatsoever for my chickens and the heat of the shed might be too much in the summer. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.
Still kept the different tsc coop in my mind as it would be an easy option, but just didn't want to - because I really wasn't getting much more for the extra $.
Then, the idea of tearing down an old play structure to repurpose popped up. Posted here on byc and got good advice. However, the realization of the time and effort plus trying to corral everyone needed to do it was just overwhelming to the point that I decided I was going to just buy an overpriced well made coop and run (not tsc but a built coop). I almost pulled the trigger on that, but wanted a new dining room table more. Decisions! Coop vs dining table. Lol
So, last night my hubby decides we should peruse the farm and see what goodies we could find to build a coop.
I thought we were going to totally build one from pallets, but the hubs decided to make a hybrid of sorts. We still have a ways to go, but here is what we have so far. It's not going to be super fancy, but will definitely be super sturdy!
The legs are made with cedar, the base a pallet, osb and then an old scrap of vinyl we had for the flooring, and the frame so far are all from repurposed materials. I did have to rush out and buy a box of screws as we didn't have enough good wood screws.
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That looks great! I’m looking forward to the finished product!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

That looks great! I’m looking forward to the finished product!

Me too! Thanks!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

We got the walls up. Since we are using osb, we are insulating between the osb and will use metal siding to match our building. We have extra lying around and so far we have not spent any extra money except on a box of screws. Oh and I ordered an Ador1 door!
Tomorrow my FIL and hubby will cut out the door areas, finish up the insulation and second layer of osb, then add the siding.

 

[lilmillefleur]

awesome!

 

[jthornton]

Are you planning on cutting some of the OSB off to allow vents under the yet to be built overhangs?

A good thread on ventilation.

JT

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Are you planning on cutting some of the OSB off to allow vents under the yet to be built overhangs?

A good thread on ventilation.

JT

There are overhangs - we are leaving the front and back open for ventilation.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

They are out working on it now. Maybe these next few pics will help? @jthornton .

 

[jthornton]

As @lazy gardener says

Minimum recommendation is for 10% of floor space or 1 s.f. of ventilation PER CHICKEN.

I see 56.25 square inches of ventilation... If you have 4 chickens in there you need 576 square inches of ventilation so you have roughly 10% of what you need. You're almost as far north as @aart so frostbite is a real problem in your temperatures. The only way to combat frostbite is to have enough breeze free ventilation so the moisture from breathing and pooping can escape.

The big overhang will help keep rain and snow out of the coop.

JT

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

As @lazy gardener says I see 56.25 square inches of ventilation... If you have 4 chickens in there you need 576 square inches of ventilation so you have roughly 10% of what you need. You're almost as far north as @aart so frostbite is a real problem in your temperatures. The only way to combat frostbite is to have enough breeze free ventilation so the moisture from breathing and pooping can escape.

The big overhang will help keep rain and snow out of the coop.

JT

The ventilation is on both sides. It is 36" x 2" per side. 72 sq in x 2 = 144.
I tried to tell my hubby to leave the side gaps open, but he didn't listen.