How to Build a Chicken Coop

To make this henhouse from pallets you will need the following tools:

• Jigsaw

• Nail gun

• Sander

• Drill/ screwdriver

• Chisel

• Hammer

• Brush and roller

• Screw clamps

The materials listed below are also needed:

• 5 pallets

• 2 MDF panels measuring 1000 x 500 x 10mm, 2 of 300 x 200 x 10mm and 2 of 200 x 250 x 10mm

• 1 wooden plank measuring 1000 x 250 x 250mmand 3 of 330 x 220 x 5mm

• 1 panel of wood measuring 2200 x 600 x 18mm

• Exterior paint

• Nails for nail gun

• Hinges

• Screws

The approximate cost of materials is around £50. Please note that the given measurements are suggestions, and these will depend on the size of your pallets.

To complete this project, you need 5 pallets: one for the henhouse base and four for the walls.

First you should sand every surface of the pallet, as these are often very rough and uneven. And we wouldn't want our hens to get a splinter, would we?

We recommend using an electric sander and medium grain paper. This will allow you to sand all of the pallets in just a few minutes.

The next step sees you taking apart the base of two of your pallets, which will be used for the side walls of the henhouse. To do this, place the chisel between the crossbeam and the block, then hit it with the hammer. This will allow you to wedge in the chisel and use it as a lever to separate the slats.

Next, use a saw to cut off the part of the nails sticking out.

The frame of the henhouse is made up of

• A pallet for the base or floor

• 2 pallets (not dismantled) positioned vertically (front and back of the hen house)

• Another 2 pallets with base removed, positioned horizontally (side walls)

As the roof will be sloping, use the jigsaw to cut two triangles from the corners, creating the slant. Next, nail both of these pallets to the base pallet, as per the image below:

To assemble the rest of the henhouse, just follow these steps:

1. Nail one of the pallets horizontally. The crossbeams should be on the outside of the henhouse.

2. Cut the other pallet at the second crossbeam and nail it to the other side of the base. This leaves a space to serve as the door.

3. Nail a slat to the top and bottom of the door space to attach the hinges to. Next, screw these to the bottom of the board that will serve as the door. This allows the door to also be used as a ramp to enter the henhouse.

4. Use the jigsaw to cut out part of the slats from the front of the henhouse, to create a space where you will hang the egg collection box.

5. To make the collection box, use a few pieces of MDF. Next, nail it from the inside using the nail gun.

6. Finally, nail together the two large MDF boards to form the roof.

To paint the chicken coop, we used several colours:

• We painted the slats turquoise.

• The roof and the exterior crossbeams were painted in a shade of red.

• The door was painted white. We also added some decoupage motifs using paper napkins.

Finally, you can add those little finishing touches that add a personal touch to the henhouse, such as a customised door. We also used the remaining slats to make a sign as well as a cover for the egg collection box.

Once you have completed all of these steps, your finished henhouse made from pallets should look like this.

The henhouse door is not only pretty to look at and adds a rural touch, it also doubles as a practical access ramp. This means it is a good idea to tack on some flat strips of wood, horizontally, to ensure the hens don't slip.

Some tips to make your DIY henhouse

• Although this is a medium-difficulty project that you can make by yourself, you might benefit from a little help i.e. someone to hold the pallets while you put the henhouse frame together.

• The base of the pallets which were not dismantled work as a stand for the henhouse, helping to strengthen the structure

• If the henhouse is to be used in a very rainy location, we recommend switching the MDF roof for a sheet of corrugated polyester.

• Increase the size of the henhouse by joining together more pallets.

• To help you to clean the inside of the chicken coop, the roof is not nailed on. This means you can quickly remove it.