How to Build a Pasture Broiler Pen

Pasturing poultry is a humane method of raising birds. This style of housing is organic, environmentally friendly and offers a product sought after in the gourmet and local foods movement. Recent developments in farm animal welfare are highlighting lifestyle impacts on the animals, stressing the need for stimulating housing that allows the animal to express natural behaviors. Poultry need pasture and a stimulating environment for exercise and development; the pasture pen encourages this.

Things You'll Need

  • Building lumber
  • Saw (circular or hand)
  • Screws
  • Bolts
  • Metal braces
  • Chicken wire
  • Wire cutter
  • Staples (industrial)
  • Tarp or solid greenhouse plastic
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide how large of a pen you will need. Allow at least a 3-feet-square space per bird (slightly less for Cornish game). Choose areas of even ground or level the ground for the pen frame.

    • 2

      Cut the base lumber to the desired size using a circular saw or hand saw. Cut four pieces for the bottom of the frame. Screw the ends together to form a square or rectangle. Screw metal braces to the inside of each end corner for stability.

    • 3

      Cut pieces of lumber for the side upright rails (the number of rails depends on the size of the pen). Note that rail length should be no less than four feet for an adequate interior space and better air circulation. Use enough rails to ensure structural security. Bolt these rails to the outside of the base.

    • 4

      Cut roof rafter boards at a 45-degree angle to fit tightly on top of the rails. Note that the roof is slanted. Screw the rafters to the top of the rails. Use braces on the inside of the rafter/rail joint to strengthen the rafter connection to the rails.

    • 5

      Cut chicken wire with a wire cutter to fit the frame. Screw or staple the wire to the frame wood. Secure the wire along the wood frame at 1-inch intervals. Leave the roof free of wire if desired or secure the wire with strapping. Cut strapping to fit each frame piece. Set the cut wire in place and position the strapping so that it is sandwiching the wire to the frame. Screw the strapping and wire to the frame. Set the screws every four inches.

    • 6

      Decide if you want the entire pen to have a roof or if you want to leave some areas open to sunlight. Cut the tarp or solid plastic (plastic that does not allow sunlight through) to fit the roof area. Secure the plastic by screwing strapping pieces to the rafters (this prevents tearing of the plastic).