Building a Chicken Coop - Part 2: Cladding, Wire Mesh and Nest Boxes - #10

Merch: makedogrow.tee...
Join our members club: club.makedogro...
The chicken coop saga continues in this episode. With the frame complete, we started by building the first version of our nest boxes (which will be significantly altered in the next video!) and install predator-proof hardware mesh around the chicken run and some rather fancy (but very FIDDLY) cladding on the hen house.
While progress has been good it's been slow. We wanted to make this a two part series, there's still SO MUCH to do. We completed 80% of the build in this video but it's the remaining 20% of finishing touches (and design improvements) that take 80% of the time!
Follow along as we continue the build, ready for chickens to arrive next week...

[@shanekennedy5243]

Cluckingham Palace is coming along nicely

[@luminyam6145]

😂🥳🥳🥳

[@cheskydivision]

Your carpentry skills are steadily improving

[@huwtindall7096]

Those first eggs are going to taste even better with all the effort

[@raymondmills9377]

The idea of the roof covering all the wood is to protect it from rain and sun. It is indeed a beautiful structure.

[@HeidiPriest]

this is by far the best chicken coop I have seen build, some very lucky chickens to be sure,

[@JoeTheLion60]

Great video - you guys are great storytellers and I'm really enjoying your adventure...

[@sherylmerritt2650]

I love these episodes and have been eagerly awaiting the next, don't worry about putting out content, we will be here!

[@HeidiPriest]

Spot on

[@JustinBellingerTV]

Don't forget, as you move solar to a permanent place, the roof of the chicken coop can work too.

[@grahamwillox]

I don’t know why it is but you guys put out ridiculously addictive content IMO. Love watching other people working or something. 👍

[@jaymurtagh]

Great video, poor Kylie, I could feel your frustration. But your end result looks very impressive. You'll have some very content chicken's

[@vickiel1284]

if the spruce shrinks too much, add a batten to cover the gap. If someone gives you grief, tell them it's a design feature the chickens demanded, err, requested. Love your design and attention to detail.

[@dper1112]

To make it even more air sealed, put a bead of caulk in the gap before adding the batten.

[@francespassman168]

Great film, really good to see all of the frustrations and barriers that you continue to work through, can't wait for next weeks video, think that's going to be very interesting. You are so inspiring.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

The frustrations have all been worth it (though at the time there was a lot of colourful language). We collected our girls yesterday, they’re so happy 😃

[@francespassman168]

@@MAKEDOGROW I think it's the carrying on through the gritted teeth that is so inspiring. Good to hear the hens are all in

[@lindaburns2237]

Hey from Texas. Love your videos.

[@florentinalily]

red spider mite is a real problem in hen houses and on the hens; so if you can build to clean out with soap and a hose once a week it makes it less so. I also use shredded paper (from a school) instead of straw for the bedding and a removal base in the house under the perches to take out the muck easily; which also reduces the mite and Harkens pigeon mite drops every now and then. The more you can remove - such as the perches and the bottom - the easier it is to take out and clean and dry in the sun. The mites will get into every crack; every end of perch; in the ceiling of the nestboxes and the joints in the timber. I use a steamer after cleaning to get at the beggers. I think your house is amazing....It's a Palace! and you are both genius! A solar door is just heaven to save thinking about opening up each morning and closing at dusk. You might find you may need more boxes - and perhaps a bit larger.. but then I have had Australorp which are big birds.. if you have one going broody then the others will go off under a hedge. Sorry for the essay... I was writing as I watched so remembered tips I wish someone had told me in the beginning.... Its really great!

[@terrimccullough724]

Good Saturday morning from the U.S. Coop is looking great.

[@chronicfish]

Kylie, all those upper body workouts are definitely starting to show 💪💪 .. the coop is looking great guys!

[@JesperAndersen]

Nice work!! Well done

[@tonypereira1484]

I just used 10 pallets , screws and wire ! All done on 1 day and the chooks are none the wiser . Maybe the KISS principle needs to be applied occasionally ? lol 😂

[@lesliekwan6654]

An excellent build. Chickens are going to be snug and happy

[@mariapelleya7410]

The chicken palace indeed! The router idea was great although very very very time consuming. It will be worth it in the end. The chickens will thank you.

[@FaenumVena]

Tip for cutting the wire mesh, use tin snips instead of side cutters, it really saves your hands and is much faster.

[@victorsummers2283]

Or a “nibbled”

[@michelehernandez5992]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this or not as there are a few comments to go through. On the outside facing boards (cladding) where she did the overlap maybe add some sort of sealer caulk either the clear or white you could also use a bit of wood glue both might help also with the shrinkage.. It will help keep the water out and help kind of cement it all together. It is just a thought. I must say you two are two of the hardest working individuals I watch. Such great teamwork.. I loved this whole process..Thanks for sharing..Have a great week

[@emmaslow]

Such a great 2-parter, thanks for sharing. You've also helped me make a decision on a 2nd fix nailer 🤣 I wasn't sure whether to go for the DCN660 or the 16 gauge DCN680 - seeing yours in action I'm going to get the 660. Had to screenshot & zoom in to read the box, decision made 🤣🙏

[@southernfriedkiwi6340]

Chickenham Palace!

[@patchurch1677]

I've been told that chickens need ventilation. They don't like wind directly, but need good ventilation.

[@ritawentworth]

Looks good ? Take a break once the tension starts, sometimes it is what you need to do before everything starts going wrong. Been there.

[@gaynor3976]

I'm loving the Chickenam Palace build. You are both precise builders and want everything just right and you're getting there. I love my Saturdays with a brew, toast and Make.Do.Grow video on my tablet. Loving your videos. Have a good weekend and week ahead. Xxxx

[@gracegomes2632]

Love your commitment to getting it to as close to perfect as possible!

[@carlroge]

looks great!💪

[@monalingan9523]

That is definitely a chicken Palace. I have raised chickens, and I can tell you I haven’t seen a nicer chicken coop before.

[@klazyy641]

That's not just a hotel---it's the Ritz! So it takes a little more time than one figures; it's still a beaut and I am sure the chicken inspectors (the actual chickens themselves) will approve. A little frustration is part and parcel of any fabrication and the way it's expressed is an art form all in itself. Thanks for an enjoyable jaunt in Construction Land, Portugal!

[@kimberly_erin]

I’m sure it’s been mentioned, but have you considered mounting the router to your saw horse there and running them through like a table saw. Then you can run all of the first pass on each and then adjust and run all of the second pass.

[@celiasnyman2885]

'im thinking ahead'! 😂

[@rrialb9371]

A few years back, I decided to make chicken coops to sell. Watching you two on the project brought back so many memories...hardware cloth can be a bitch, lol! I sold every one of the coops that I made, and made a profit, but it was a lot of labor for a little amount of profit. And with the price of lumber here 7 years later, I'd be a fool to try it now. BTW, that's a pretty small roof for rain harvesting. Might have extended the roofing the length of the coop, to make it worth your while.

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, been there, done that! It really is the way you describe any jobs that you do for the first time. It seems that we have a tendency to overestimate what we can do in one day, and underestimated what we can do in one year. We went into farming after 20 years of army service, we first fenced the perimeter of the property with a 10 strand deer fence, put in water troughs, build the animal yards, build the batch, put in vegetable garden, build the track to the house site, put in septic tank and sewage, build a house and went to a full time job at the same time. Yes you can do it, all you need is a hardworking partner and attitude. Good luck mate, remember you cant fight water, just divert it. Cheers mate. Harera

[@SwimCoach8]

Ok guys...for future small builds. Design your walls as complete frames/panels not a series of stacked boxes. The walls can then be built laying flat on the ground. Anywhere! The cladding, wire, doors...heck anything can be installed while they are laying flat. As many members as possible need to extend from ground to roof, with the corners being the most important. This gives stability and allows you to stand the four walls and screw them together. If any wall is a little long divide it to make it easier to handle. My father(life long carpenter) and I built a 14 x 20 shed in my driveway one wall at a time. As each wall was finished we carried it to the foundation. When all four were done we stood them up and banged them together. He made a detailed plan of each wall on graph paper. Door and window opening...every thing. Just don't make them too heavy to carry.

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

Oh no! Part 3, Another episode to come, what a pity. ;-) Cracking tip with the WD40 on the saw blade. I've used candle wax before.

[@carolynkennedy7772]

Frustrating I'm sure, but honestly, it looks fantastic! Hellllllllllllll...I'd live in there myself, guys! Hang in there!

[@gailwarrington3841]

What I love about you guys is the honesty of how hard things can be and your true grit and determination to get good quality. It is a pleasure always to watch your videos, even if my husband complains that I get too many great ideas to try out 😂👍

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Glad you enjoy our approach. We really dislike the volume of ‘look at me, aren’t we amazing’ content that makes everything look like rainbows and unicorns .... life just isn’t like that! We’re trying to bring some balance to that 😃

[@gailwarrington3841]

@@MAKEDOGROW Could not agree more! Well done and may reality come back into all our lives soon 😂

[@kathybaugh3823]

Seven star chicken hotel. your standards and care and skills are incredible. You set an incredibly high bar. can't wait for the next installment. 👍👏💪🐔🐓

[@mk-xq1tt]

Chicken chateau coming along nicely - they will reciprocate with lots of eggs.

[@-_James_-]

Very much looking forward to part three of two. 🤣

[@advancednutritioninc908]

Great Build! Liked!! I have used both natural branches and 1.5 inch by 1.5 inch square wood rails for perches and roosting. The round is far better. The poop builds up on the square ones and it does NOT on the round ones. So if you use all round tops you wont be scraping pop off every so often :)

[@filipar949]

Can I not move in to that beautiful chicken mansion 🐥 not promising eggs though 😜

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣😂

[@lisahahn173]

Nice coop! Most folks don't realize it does take time to custom build a chicken coop and the materials usually come pretty close to $1,000 US. A decent coop and run are no joke, there are a lot of decisions to make and improvements are always part of the deal. Backyard chickens in PNW! As always, thanks for the great content.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Yeah, something we learnt real quick .... as we say, learning comes by doing. We estimate we’ve spent around €500 on the build .... that’s a lot of eggs the girls need to lay 😂

[@christinetrewin9717]

Kylie I feel your pain with the wire, it is so squirrely it is practically impossible not to get cut. I had the same problem with the staples and had to go round and hammer them all in firmly. It’s going to be great and your future girls will love it🐓 😍😎🇫🇷

[@footplate0]

Instead of staples small screws with a washer makes fixing the mesh so easy. Using this method also aids you when you need to change things or repurpose the wire mesh. Just place a screw through the washer and place it in the corner of the mesh and screw away.

[@JasonGolden79]

Same. Had me taking to the screen 😂

[@francoisbosman7253]

@@footplate0 just use button screws

[@veemount3803]

Castelo Frustracao coop just awesome 👏👏👏

[@sonarsphere]

If I was a chicken, I would love to live there:)

[@simonwalker8300]

Things are never apparently straight forward, makes one appreciate the lot of a builder more and more. The coup looks fabulous, frustrating in my have been, however, the end result must have been worth it. looking forward to part 3.

[@midlifecrisistheportugalye6682]

Fowlty Towers?

[@victorsummers2283]

Water will go behind your fascia if the roofing is inside it, no? Also, you could do the shiplap cuts on the table saw - probably faster.

[@01AceAlpha]

You probably already have completed it but I would recommend using chicken wire for the soffit. It will vent and keep predatory birds and critters out.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Not needed, the entire structure is encased in hardware cloth

[@davidpartridge406]

Hi don’t worry about the odd draft as the chickens will need some ventilation especially in the summer in Portugal also have you thought about collecting some rainwater off the roof and drain into bowl inside on the floor just so that they can have some nice fresh rainwater, I collect all the water for the chickens off the roof and keep it in a dark water tank which I add garlic peeling to.

[@davidpartridge406]

Should have watched the video all the way through first.

[@gvdmaas]

I liked the challenges and keep it in mind with my own projects hopefully we get at a point in time our eco garden and the planned chickens. But we will see. At least I like your sharing of this project.

[@КалоянНиколов-с3п]

Hello, the chicken coop is doing well and everything else you do. If you take advice, here are two of me. When it rains, the water from the roof will wet the sideboards and they will rot, you may not have liked the roof of the other building you made, but a similar thing needs to be done for the chicken coop. The screws for the roof elements do not have rubber washers, but it is good to put them.

[@francoisbosman7253]

Really really nice coop ! Like your videos keep them comming !

[@johnsage1020]

Looks like a great job.

[@cynthiashepherd3833]

Here in Texas, that is called ship lap & is seen on the horizontal. Very clever lady.

[@lindakurtz2653]

My experience in the US is that you want ALL the holes closed up.of course, that’s based on our predators and my personal context. You probably already know this, but EVERYTHING loves a chicken dinner!

[@mgp1953]

Lucky chickens ♥️🐓

[@laughalot61]

🤬 down tools it’s Beer o’clock 🤩

[@davetomlinson8944]

Kylie just in case your not aware foxes will dig under the bottom edges of the frame work so it would be best to use your off cuts of mesh to staple to the base with a minimum of 300mm to tuck under the turf /soil as it will stop foxy digging under,great job your both doing..

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Don’t worry, a predator apron was always in the plan (and has now been installed) 😀

[@lucindahinostroza8010]

Can I move in? Looks like the Hilton

[@Aphidman1]

If you had a table saw or radial arm saw, you could use a dado blade to make the half-lap siding.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

That’s a big IF .... and those type of tools require a flat surface, which we also don’t have 😂

[@Aphidman1]

@@MAKEDOGROW I figured! 😄

[@haakmaaraan6075]

You have done an amazing job! Little tip: make a little ledge on the front of the nestbox, this will prevent eggs from falling out and breaking. Chickens will start to eat the broken agg witch is not desireble… maybe you have done that already and we will see that in part 3…

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Ohh, that’s one detail we missed. Thanks!! We’ve already got a (rather ling) list of design improvements 😂

[@RobBertholf]

nice work

[@halfabee]

A well over engineered Chicken cope. I served a 4 year welding fabrication apprenticeship plus 3 years with the same company followed by six years in a British Admiralty Research Laboratory where I designed and built all different strange and wonderful fabrications some of which were towed behind warships. Since I retired I have been building in wood. You did a very good job on building the chicken cope in the most difficult and demanding way. Next time create a long side on trestles then build the other side on top of it. The same for the two ends. After the sides and center peace are built assemble them at the location where you want the fabrication to be. Use your router to create rebates for the hinges. For your "joints" look up "Pocket Hole Screws " if they are placed on the down side of each joint they will not collect water. There is also a jig available to drill the holes for them.

[@raytalbot5890]

How will you stop the ends of the cladding from shrinking away from the side frame of the up rights?? 👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@flowerphotos6440]

Looking great and it will last ages. Sending Kylie a hug and just think of all those yummy eggs for breakfast. Can’t wait to see the finished coup. Lisa

[@MAKEDOGROW]

It’s definitely been worth all the frustration (and throwing of wood). Collected the girls yesterday, they love it 😀

[@sueg2658]

The chickens are Portuguese after all, so the name of their fantastic accommodation should be Palácio das Galinhas. Great job. :-)

[@arjanvogel6444]

Is it Fox proof can he dig it's way in on the bottom? found you again.😇💟💟💟

[@desirepflugbeil8986]

Just ride out the frustrations and don't punish yourselves for self-made, impossible schedules. Let is just all happen as it does and enjoy the process. We will enjoy all you show. You take care of yourselves.

[@grecow3484]

If I come back as a chicken, I'm going to ask if I can live with you

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣🤣

[@mariannekuijpers9298]

Love your vlogs! Thank you for being real and showing the complete process not just the final results.

[@paulchadwick4907]

Your chicken house run is looking very smart , sturdy and impressive. You both work very hard & are a pleasure to watch . Thanks for the entertainment.

[@ChristineKelly1000]

Watching how neat you are, cut lists etc. really appeals to my OCD. Sigh.

[@thebigchip]

Either a very clever bit of editing or pure luck. But the drill sound at 8:33. I’d say genius.

[@corinnetonelli489]

Correct you will finish and it will look fantastic! And…. the chickens will love their new home! I never get tired of your videos, you are both very thorough at everything you do, which is great! Keep smiling!

[@jimurrata6785]

Love the shiplap siding but I really feel for Kylie. That's an awful lot of routing (especially with a trim router that is too small to spin a ball bearing piloted rabbeting bit) If you had a table saw or a rip guide for your circular saw it would enable you to make two cuts against the fence and remove a piece of spruce from the corner of the boards. It is a lot less strain than turning that whole section into chips, and a corded tool cutting a thin kerf shouldn't labour. The coop is becoming a castle 🏰 I'm sure your chickens will appreciate it. 🙂 Thank you both for sharing a glimpse of your week!

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Definitely for next project like this we’ll have the right tools. At the moment we just don’t have space to store, or use, more sophisticated gear. Hoping that next year we’ll have a space where we can set up a proper workbench and table saw (and eventually a thicknesses/planner, bandsaw, etc)

[@jimurrata6785]

@@MAKEDOGROWThis shows your determination and positivity. 👍 While the raised beds, coop, etc.. are all very important to making your land sustainable I'm sure you both are looking forward to creating a space in the house to weather out next winter. Creating a workshop space (even a temporary roof over one of your abandoned outbuildings) down the road would definitely help with smaller projects like these in the future. But it seems the rules and regulations around something like that are uniquely Portuguese!

[@MAKEDOGROW]

@@ArmadilloGodzilla we were not willing to put off having chickens until we have the space (we need to build an entirely new building). Unfortunately planning doesn’t circumvent the fact that we’re 2 people with only 24 hours a day (and we do like to get some sleep 😂)

[@simonlewis6276]

Rats will get in through the gap where you have not put in a “soffit “ Rats will eat your eggs .Rats can get through a hole the size of a 50p piece

[@MAKEDOGROW]

Maybe you missed where we enclosed the inner roof with hardware mesh (to keep out rats and mongoose), it’s 11mm per square

[@simonlewis6276]

@@MAKEDOGROW excellent ! Sorry missed that bit ! Cheers .

[@beson5663]

Hi, I've heard that it sometimes rains sideways in Portigal, should there be more overhang on the roof so that it does not rain in through the ventilation net on the sides of the nest?

[@sallyrowland6063]

Cluckingham Palace !!! 🐔 🐔 🐔 👋 🇦🇺

[@gliderspace]

cutting this mesh by hand is SO ANNOYING! I had to cut enough material to one door and it was enough to annoy me to the point I just used a grinder to cut it out.

[@michaeltempsch5282]

Instead of multiple sideways passes with the router, there are typically a 3 height , quick change, depth stop that lets you quickly make multiple passes at increasing depth instead of moving the guide rail sideways for each pass.

[@andyholmes9597]

Or alternatively, set the guide at full width and use a packer piece(s) between the guide and router to make a narrower cut for the first pass(es). I use the rectangular, plastic door and window shims, but thin offcuts of wood work too.

[@erincochran4344]

Been raising chickens for 26 years. Never heard of keeping them draft free. We live in tornado alley with winter blizzards. No issues. Predators are the ONLY issue we've ever had. They dig under. Need to bury hardware wire 12" deep and 12" out from the exterior walls. Cover with gravel. Dogs, foxes, weasels, etc can't dig through it.

[@cheryldoorbar7187]

I’m no expert, but that is a goôd looking chicken coop…hotel…mansion. I have only worked with chicken wire once and it was a pain.

[@stephenbembridge9118]

that is going to be so strong ...that the builders of Pyramids would be proud of you both ....WELLL DONE LOOKS GREAT

[@schweizermadel3810]

Love it! Such a beautiful and fully functional chicken coop you two have made! Wonderful work! BUT, don't forget to rest and have fun!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@andreacrashe9894]

*Kia ora Kylie & Guy, That is the most solid & heavy chook house ever built, nothing will ever get thru that. If anything does tho, you have full permission to shoot & kill it. Ok Kylie, hold the hammer near the end of the hammer handle, that will be less stress on your wrist and it will give more force on the hammer head when hitting the head of the nail. Also if the hammer head keeps sliding off the nail, scrub the hammer head on concrete as it will take the smooth of it and that helps to hammer that dang nail home. Keep up the great mahi (work) on and around your property.*

[@stewartwilliams2086]

i can imagine those chickens ; giving it; hey you two my nest box is not square can you fix it , or no eggs for you two lol

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣😂

[@trevorwindle8980]

Hi lovelies one bit of advice a small round branch is ok for fully grow hens not suitable for pullets their keil bone the one that runs down the middle of breast and has not developed it can be shaped into a s bend if perching too early in their development have a board 2 inches or 5 cm in width to avoid this disfigurement everyone thinks a bird must wrap it’s claws around a branch not so great job otherwise 👍❤️❤️❤️🙏

[@sovereigns1grace]

Without a full wood working shop ... it came out beautiful!! Certainly looking forward to episode 3 of the build to see your solutions. Real troopers you are. I enjoy your videos so much.

[@mariadange06]

Chuck Castelo 🏰🐔🐥 If you put it on wheels you could move it easily to new grass areas, l think known as a Tractor.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

This thing weighs a tonne, definitely could not be moved around. Chicken tractors are typically used for meat birds who don’t need egg boxes etc

[@mariadange06]

@@MAKEDOGROW D'accod

[@HelenRullesteg]

@@MAKEDOGROW Have to disagree there, I have seen many, especially market gardeners, who have chicken tractors for their egg layers. But hey, the don't have the des res you've got for your chickens. Although it will be interesting to see how used, as in barren, the area you have for them will get in time.

[@sinistar426]

If you currently do not have a problem with vermin around your house, just add chickens and it will solve that issue.

[@refinerycbr4457]

Cluckingham Palace?

[@brettn4337]

Great video guys. You've spent so much time routing lap joints in the cladding to prevent drafts in the coop, yet you have 2 quite large triangular ventilation areas above the cladding. Anyway its going to be one flash chook coop. Keep up the good work 👍

[@MAKEDOGROW]

The vents are above where the chickens roost ... the sides of the coop however aren’t. We get insane winds that would cause a real wind tunnel if we didn’t do the laps

[@brettn4337]

@@MAKEDOGROW hey you're building it how you want. I built mine out of old fence palings with gaps left right and centre, and the chooks still layed eggs for years. Oh yeah I also had strong winds every now and again

[@keyem4504]

Poor Kylie, I feel with you. Nailing the stuff to the bench at the end of a long day sucks. I am always impressed how much energy you're able to put into these projects.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

@@ArmadilloGodzilla 😂🤣😂🤣😂 totally not scripted (when in hell would we have time to do that 😂 .... this is our real life, not a tv show😂🤣😂🤣)

[@hiramatangi1736]

If I was a chicken, I’d want to live in that coop

[@mannydossantos9603]

I must admit that the chicken coop was very well constructed.... ok, professionally done. The chickens must be happy!

[@richardteychenne3950]

Congratulations your appointment to the RSCA has been confirmed. 🏆 The Royal Society of Chicken Architects welcomes you and for our very modest membership fees 💲💲 you are welcome to stay at the Societies home for distressed Chicken Architects. 🤩😴