How to Build a Chicken Enclosure

Keeping chickens requires an enclosure that is secure from predators and allows plenty of fresh air and sunlight for the birds. Wood and wire mesh comprise the basic components of most chicken enclosures, or "chicken coops."

Things You'll Need

  • 4 small wooden stakes
  • Hammer
  • Post-hole digger
  • Fence post mortar
  • Bucket
  • Water
  • 4 pieces of 4-by-4 inch lumber, each 10 feet long
  • step ladder
  • Level
  • 8 pieces of 2-by-4 lumber, each 10 feet long
  • Electric drill
  • Box of 3-inch wood screws
  • Tin snips or wire cutters
  • Roll of wire mesh/chicken wire with 1 inch holes
  • Box of fence stables
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Instructions

  1. How to build a chicken enclosure

    • 1

      Choose your site. Make sure the land is flat and clear of debris. Drive the four stakes into the ground to mark the corners of a square measuring 10 feet by 10 feet.

    • 2

      At each stake, use the post-hole digger to make a hole for the corner support post. Each hole should be at least 12 inches deep and 6 inches in diameter.

    • 3

      Insert the 4-by-4 inch posts into each of the four corner holes. Fill the hole around each post with mortar. Use a level to ensure that each post is perpendicular to the ground. Allow the mortar to completely dry before continuing; that could take 24 hours.

    • 4

      Attach the four 2-by-4 inch boards to the tops of the corner posts. Screw these supports to the top, outside edges of the corner posts using the electric drill and 3-inch long wood screws. Make sure that the ends of the supports are flush with the edges of the corner posts. Use at least 2 screws for each end of the supports.

    • 5

      Attach the remaining four 2-by-4 boards around the bases of the posts. Attach the baseboards in the same manner as the roof supports were attached in Step 4, except put these boards long the ground.

    • 6

      Cover the enclosure with the wire mesh. Use the fence staples to attach the wire mesh to the timbers. Use a generous number of staples to make sure the wire mesh is securely fastened to the wooden frame.