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

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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]

😂🥳🥳🥳

[@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.

[@grahamwillox]

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

[@mannydossantos9603]

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

[@HeidiPriest]

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

[@raymondmills9377]

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

[@sallyrowland6063]

Cluckingham Palace !!! 🐔 🐔 🐔 👋 🇦🇺

[@sueg2658]

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

[@cheskydivision]

Your carpentry skills are steadily improving

[@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!

[@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

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

The coop will work out fine. Weather and vermin proof. The chickens will thrive and you will be glad that you can move on to another bit of the general project which doesn't involve fighting with that net.

[@huwtindall7096]

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

[@paulan5989]

“Want me to hold it? No. … Maybe yes? Yes” Teamwork make-do-grow style :)

[@paulan5989]

The roosting bar seems a little high. They may need a little assistance. And will you be adding a tray of some sort to easily clean underneath?

[@nicarazzi]

You guys are amazing the way you think through and apply. Gives me encouragement that I could tackle woodwork.

[@JoeTheLion60]

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

[@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. 👍👏💪🐔🐓

[@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

[@cynthiashepherd3833]

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

[@kimberly_erin]

I’m loving the chicken coop series

[@hexabob57]

I'm so glad to have found you, having "lost" the previous channel. I really enjoyed catching up and look forward to more videos.

[@michaelcripwell1724]

Lol, we’re all nailed parts to the bench or cut through a cable of the tool we’re using. Nice job 👍.

[@JustinBellingerTV]

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

[@jareldb]

The measuring tape tip is made to accurately measure when pushing it into a corner (it compresses) and when pulling it out against an edge. So you don't need to compensate like you are. I only learned this a few weeks ago.

[@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”

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@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 😀

[@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 😂

[@d.j.robinson9424]

Love your videos, and I like the longer ones. Even enjoy the fiddley bits. Could you two enjoy an orange together straight off the tree on one of your breaks. We live hundreds of miles from any citrus..? 👍👍💚🍊🍊🍊

[@layna8924]

ENJOYED YOUR PART 1 & 2 IMMENSELY...;)

[@mauricebrown9094]

All wood shrinks or twists. That is how the Board & Baton idea started hundreds of years ago..

[@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 :)

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 😂)

[@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😂🤣😂🤣)

[@hellequin04]

Amazing job you two! Thanks for the every sec of video from your work, with the good and the bad :) may the force be with you!! ahah I can't wait for the next part!

[@SailingCartagena]

That is quite some coop! The rebate solution to the shrinkage problem was good. I make various type of TandG. I usually grove each board and use a loose tongue. Boards like this look great in framed doors. I also, recently, made a TandG ceiling by rebating boards and adding a 45 degree bevel. Looks just like aTandG board. I use a router/spindle table but I have also made two other router jigs, one vertical, the other horizontal.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

A router table (or spindle) is definitely on my list, but need to wait until we have a workshop. I want to try and duplicate the original ceilings in the first floor - all t&g and lots of different moulding around the edges. I can see weeks at a router table in my future 😀

[@carlroge]

looks great!💪

[@hiramatangi1736]

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

[@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

[@southernfriedkiwi6340]

Chickenham Palace!

[@JJaci17]

It's all good Guy.

[@patchurch1677]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@markwalker7813]

Hey, Guy, I know we're behind the actual work being done, so you may have already noticed this and fixed it, but I think I spotted what appears to be 'binding hinges' on the drop down access to the nesting box. It was a bit hard to see, but in one of the video shots, it did appear the screw heads in the hinges were not completely flush, and would therefore 'bind' when the door hinge was closed. The evidence for this was the much closer gap at the bottom of the door and the much wider gap at the top, forcing you to have to 'push' against the top of the door to get it to close flush. The hinges binding puts excess strain on the hinge itself, especially the thin connecting parts of the hinge adjacent the linchpin, and this can lead to adverse wear and/or failure. This is an FYI, just in case you hadn't already picked up on it. The fix is to to use a countersink bit to widen the holes for the screws a tad, so they sit flush with the face of the hinge surface. I'm also not sure if you have enough cross bracing. It did appear when you were chiselling the edge of one of the doorways that the entire coop was moving substantially side to side, and I can only see a couple of small 50 x 50 'braces' in the corners under the floor. Possibly covering one complete end of the underfloor area with OSB might then provide the additional stiffness. Or, perhaps you might like to revisit your lack of OSB under the roofing material. Often, stiffening the roof also stiffens the walls. Just a suggestion... Two comments on poor Kylie's 'routering' ordeal.....you need to get a bigger router! And, a router table or a longer bench, so you can do the routering before cutting the boards to length. Much less faffing about with clamps and tape measures if you can do longer runs. I have mounted my (larger) router in a vice before now, and built a 'table' around that to simulate a proper router table. I was also trained to make physical 'guide templates' with a 'fence' against which to slide the base of the router as Kylie was doing, but with a return (downwards) so the object board was slid into a sort of 'pocket', underneath the main template, before the whole lot was clamped down. So one clamp held both template and job. Saved having to re-measure every single re-set of depth or width of the cut..... For future reference. She has my sympathies. I've worked as a 'tailer out' and there is nothing less thankless than spending the day liberally covered in shavings and dust. Nearly as bad as sanding..!!! Apart from those minor gripes, you are constructing the 'Rolls Royce' of chicken coops. A veritable 'Palais des Chooks'. Luvvin' yer work! :)

[@geraldjeewoonarain1141]

excellent finish love this project

[@lindaburns2237]

Hey from Texas. Love your videos.

[@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.

[@mariannekuijpers9298]

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

[@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.

[@lesliekwan6654]

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

[@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.

[@grecow3484]

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

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣🤣

[@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.

[@Cidtalk]

"Yes I know it's a chicken coop, but we like to build nice things." Love it!! I appreciate the attention to detail. Thanks for sharing!

[@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.

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

Excellent job

[@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 🤣🙏

[@JesperAndersen]

Nice work!! Well done

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@nena4215]

The over lapping wood was a brilliant idea, it’s looking so nice!

[@adbc8737]

Nice looking chicken coop! 🌀💚🌀

[@stephenbembridge9118]

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

[@carolbulmer8253]

Coop 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!

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@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

[@anniemacsrecommendations3883]

Great work 👏

[@celiasnyman2885]

'im thinking ahead'! 😂

[@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.*

[@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

[@BernardAguiar]

Your videos make my day.

[@Wlachancegofordividend.]

It looks fabulous. You guys did a great job on it. 👍

[@gracegomes2632]

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

[@offgridwanabe]

You folks build high quality Chicken Coops. I hope the Chickens like it.

[@jerrielindsey5939]

Beautiful chicken palace.

[@eleanorcain6511]

WOW!! Great building!! Happy chickens & safe!!!

[@jennichristie5264]

Looks fabulous. Great effort.

[@andrewmullen4003]

Great job Guy and Kylie, things take as long as they take, no biggie, looking fantastic, Loved Cluckingham Palace!!

[@louisecooper4803]

Very stylish coop. Love it.

[@raycharsley]

Super job.....enjoying the video. thank you both.

[@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.

[@marilynlanger1932]

Great video! Great job!

[@nelsondesilva3916]

Those bloody chickens better be happy! Amazing work guys.

[@MAKEDOGROW]

OMG, you have no idea how many times we said that to each other 😂

[@filipar949]

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

[@MAKEDOGROW]

😂🤣😂

[@midlifecrisistheportugalye6682]

Fowlty Towers?

[@judyking241]

Been watching you guys since day one on your Portugal homestead! Smashing job, keep the videos coming!!!!!

[@carolined3058]

Doing things yourself let you have even more respect for the tradespeople.

[@ceciliagrave1807]

Great detail to your way to go through in making a 🐔🐔🐔 hotel. Really really good. Not putting aside your patience. Thanks so much for sharing 🐇🌤️🐇🌤️🐦🌤️🐦🌤️🐔🌤️🐔🌤️🐔

[@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]

😂🤣😂

[@cindybickford9939]

You guys are going to have well housed chickens! Great job wit your half gap thingy