DIY Chicken Pens

Keeping backyard chickens, either primarily as pets or for their eggs, is a way to enjoy farming on a very small scale. Unfortunately, humans are not the only animals that like eating chickens. Completely free-range chickens are at risk from foxes, weasels, birds of prey, coyotes and even domestic dogs and cats. In some places, there are restrictions on free-range livestock, and, of course, your neighbors might not appreciate your chickens scratching about in their gardens. You need a chicken pen to protect your chickens and stop them from wandering off. They'll also need a coop to roost in. You can build a simple, secure chicken pen over one weekend. Whether you also build the coop or buy one ready-made is up to you.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Strong, stiff wire mesh
  • Strong, flexible wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Pliers
  • Chicken coop
  • Tent pegs
  • Hammer
  • String
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy or make the chicken coop first, as you need to know how big the coop is when measuring for your pen.

    • 2

      Measure the length and breadth of your planned pen and the height of the coop. Add at least 6 inches to the height of the coop.

    • 3

      Buy enough wire mesh to cover these measurements, with a bit extra if possible. For example, if you want to construct a 10-foot by 5-foot pen that is 3 feet high, you'll need at least 30 feet of 3-foot-wide mesh (2x5 + 2x10). You will also need a roof, so buy at least 10 feet of 5-foot-wide mesh.

    • 4

      Measure off the first side and bend the mesh accordingly with the pliers. Repeat for each side until you have a rectangle.

    • 5

      Fix the open ends together by weaving the wire through them using the pliers.

    • 6

      Attach the roof in the same way.

    • 7

      Place the pen over the chicken coop and secure it in the ground by hammering in the tent pegs.

    • 8

      Make a door at the back that is big enough to access the coop through. Cut away a square of mesh to create the door. Attach the door back at the top with another piece of wire and temporarily secure it closed with string.

    • 9

      Bend all sharp ends of wire and mesh out of the way with the pliers so neither you nor the chickens get scratched later.