How To Build A Chicken Pen
Building a chicken pen in your backyard is an extremely practical DIY project. Free eggs, garden mulch, and food scrap recycling are only a few of the great advantages to keeping chickens at home. This article shows you how to build a chicken pen, and also lets you know where to download high quality building schematics.
Chicken Pen Designs
There is more than one style of chicken pen. Below are some images of the 3 most common styles: the a-frame, portable chicken pen, the mid-sized box chicken pen, and the large, traditional style chicken pen.
All three of these designs can be coupled with a chicken run for extra space (pictured below).
Giving your chickens a large running area will optimize egg yields, and ensure that your flock remains healthy and happy. You can check out some building plans for all of these chicken pen designs by going to the Chicken Coop Plans page.
Chicken Pen Materials
You can build a chicken pen with either wood or metal. I would generally recommend using wood over metal, since it is much easier to insulate, and maintains a more optimal temperature. It’s also a lot more attractive.
Some common building requirements include:
- Timber of multiple dimensions. Pine is the most suitable wood type.
- Chicken wire for the chicken run boundary.
- Plywood or chipboard for the nesting area.
- Tar paper or similar insulation material.
- Straw or sawdust for the chicken pen flooring.
- Nails, hammer, etc..
Pre-construction Essentials
You will save a lot of time and effort by learning how to build a chicken pen the right way. Before you begin, check out the following tips:
- Consider building a bigger chicken pen than what you originally expect. Flocks typically tend to expand in numbers rather than dwindle.
- Work out the exact positioning or your chicken pen. Place it so your flock will have adequate sun, especially in the mornings.
- Think about the proximity to electricity and water. You might need to install a small heating lamp in the cooler months.
- Buy an automatic feed machine. You can even make one with a bucket and a plastic lid.
- Remember, each chicken requires about 3 square feet of space to maintain an optimal disposition and good laying patterns. Make a BIG chicken run!
This is only a very simple outline on how to build a chicken pen. We highly recommend downloading the high quality “Building A Chicken Coop” ebook, which you can read more about on the Chicken Coop Plans section of this website.
