Build a DIY pallet coop for under $100

Reclaimed pallets, hardware cloth, and basic tools produce a functional coop for 4-6 hens at a fraction of retail price. Most materials can be sourced free from warehouses and construction sites.

Steps

1. Source 8-10 pallets: Check local warehouses, Craigslist free section, and Facebook Marketplace. Look for heat-treated (stamped HT) pallets — avoid chemically treated (stamped MB).
2. Build the frame: Stand four pallets upright to form walls. Screw together at corners with 3-inch deck screws. Add a fifth pallet as the floor, raised 6-12 inches off the ground on cinder blocks to prevent moisture and deter rodents.
3. Add roofing: Attach corrugated metal or plywood with roofing felt on top. Slope the roof slightly for rain drainage.
4. Install hardware cloth: Cover all openings with 1/2-inch hardware cloth (NOT chicken wire — raccoons tear through chicken wire easily). Staple gun and 1-inch staples hold it securely.
5. Add roosting bars and nest boxes: Screw 2x4 lumber flat-side-up at 18-24 inches high for roosts. Attach 12x12-inch wooden boxes or repurposed milk crates for nesting — one box per 3-4 hens.
6. Build a door: Frame a simple door from pallet wood and attach with hinges. Add a latch that raccoons cannot open (carabiner or two-step latch).

Tips

• Allow 4 sq ft of coop space per hen inside, 10 sq ft per hen in the run
• Add ventilation gaps near the roofline (covered with hardware cloth) — ammonia buildup causes respiratory disease
• Paint or seal the exterior with leftover exterior paint for weather protection