How to Build a Chicken Pen

If you own chickens or plan to raise chickens of your own, it’s important that they are provided a warm place to sleep and lay eggs that is safe and that protects them from the elements. You can purchase a pre-fabricated chicken pen, or you can choose to build a chicken pen on your own. If you build the pen yourself, it will be time consuming, but can provide you with the customisation you desire, and will more than likely save money as well.

There are several things needed to build a chicken pen, and perhaps the most important is the wood used to build the actual structure. You can use standard building wood, or you can upgrade and use a finer wood such as pine. The choice is yours, as long as the wood is sturdy and fairly weatherproof. Chicken wire or mesh is also needed to build a chicken pen. This serves as a sort of fence to hold the chickens in, but it is see-through so you can watch them as they rest inside.

A light installed somewhere on the ceiling inside is recommended for the chicken pen as well. Choose one with fairly low voltage, and be sure it is wired safely and correctly to prevent fire. The light should be able to provide warmth for the hens as well, so try to install a fairly bright one. Be sure the fixture is waterproof. A tarp made of cloth or plastic is a good choice for floor covering, and pine chips help to absorb moisture and smell.

PVC pipe can also be used for various applications. When building the chicken pen, be sure all nails are trimmed and sanded so that the chickens do not get hurt, and so you don’t hurt yourself. Using screws and anchors is another alternative to prevent any metal from sticking out of the boards. When purchasing lumber, you can always use various types of scrap lumber and cut them to fit to save some costs. Remember, the chicken pen can be painted later on for a nice, clean, and uniform look.

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