Pallet Chicken Coop

The pallet chicken coop is 95% done. I worked on it for most of the day yesterday and all that is left is to get the hinges on the wood flaps so that in the winter-time, I can close them for warmer digs. I have the hinges, but I currently can't find them at the moment. I just know if I give in and buy some more, they're going to show up and I hate that! So for now, I'm still looking.

Would you like a tour?

The main entrance. This chicken coop was designed entirely in my head, nothing written down, once I knew I wanted to make it from pallets. It is 2 pallets long and 1 pallet wide. The only material we had to buy was more nails and 3 8x4 pieces of plywood for the roof; leftovers went for the outside walls. Pallets, cinder blocks, roofing materials and chipboard all came from scavenging construction sites.

The door came from my Mom's home, when the contractor used it to make a temporary door when the firemen ripped out her front door. We asked them if they were going to keep it and they let us have it when they installed the new front door. They left the hinges on, too! All I had to do was cut it down to size. We also got all the wood they used to cover the broken windows.

Right-side view. Recycled some old cast-iron plant hangers that old owners left behind to hold watering can and feeder.


Left-side view. "Windows" are covered with chicken wire and in the winter, flaps will fold up to cover the windows. Small trees were sacrificed for roosting bars.

Rear wall with 9 nesting boxes. I have more nest boxes than hens, but eventually, I hope to have a larger flock of chickens. The floor is covered with pine shavings and it does not smell in there at all.

All told, we spent less than $50 for materials to build the chicken coop. This was more my project than it was my husband's, so I did the majority of the work. He helped me cut a few pallets apart, helped me lay down and nail the shingles and he cut down the trees I needed for the roosting bars, too. Thanks, dear! The rest of the work, I did myself. I have my Dad to thank for teaching me how to use power tools, measure twice, cut once, and for letting me be his "assistant" while he worked. Thanks, Dad!

I'll see big trucks go by with pallets stacked on them and I holler at them to drop 'em off at my house. I see pallets in a whole new light now, and I have a few more projects involving pallets up my sleeves.

The chickens seem pretty happy with the coop, they put themselves to bed every night and all I have to do is a head-count before shutting the door for the night. I'm proud of it and it was a fun project to do!