Chicken Pen Ideas

Chickens give a family a daily supply of eggs for food, and chicken pens are popping up all over in suburban neighborhoods. In many areas, zoning laws usually allow up to four hens per family in suburban areas. Check with local zoning boards for pen requirements and quantity of chickens allowed in the area before getting chickens. Try some of these simple chicken pen ideas for keeping the chickens happy and productive.

  1. Location of the Pen

    • Choose the location for your pen wisely. You want the pen in a safe, open area with partial shade. This gives the chickens a cool place with less chance of predators attacking. Areas with heavy foliage or lots of trees increase the risk of predators. Make sure the ground area for the pen has good drainage and stays dry. Chickens shouldn't get wet or stay in damp areas because they get respiratory problems easily.

    Pen Size

    • When deciding on the pen's size, use this formula for the square footage. The number of chickens multiplied by four equals the square footage needed for the pen area. So, for every one grown chicken, you need a 2-by-2-foot square for happy chickens. If the pen has a second level, add that space into your overall square footage.

    Pen Type

    • There are several types of chicken pens. A-frame pens, sheds or old storage buildings are popular. An A-frame house is the fastest and easiest type of chicken pen. Many people use a mobile pen so that it is easily moved when the chickens eat the grass in the area. Mobile pens let the chickens graze and fertilize an area, then do so in a new area. When you build your pen, make a separate small pen for any sick or aggressive chicken that might need to be separated. Old sheds convert easily into chicken coops. Add nesting boxes in the coop and hang a piece of wood across the building for a roost for the chickens.

    Putting in Nesting Boxes

    • If you are raising hens for eggs, the pen needs nesting boxes where the chickens can lay eggs. The ideal space is a 12-by-12-inch nesting box. Chickens share their nesting boxes for laying their eggs. You need one box for four chickens. Place standard plastic milk crates turned on their side in the chicken coop and line the milk crate with hay.