How to Build a Chicken Pen

 Have you decided that you want to keep chickens for your own fresh, organic eggs? Many people with all kinds of different backyards are finding out how much fun learning how to build a chicken pen and keeping their own chickens really is.

You may have created DIY building projects before with a lot of success. However, with a backyard chicken pen you are building a structure for animals, which need certain elements of protection. Weather, predators, or cold and damp conditions can affect chickens and their egg production. By using a few simple tips, you can avoid the top problems that many people face who don’t have a good plan. Here are the tips to follow.

Plan your chicken pen design with windows

• Your chickens need natural sunlight to stay healthy and actively producing eggs.
  
• Chickens thrive in a social atmosphere where the move around freely with plenty of access to fresh air and light.
  
• Plan your chicken pen with as many windows as make sense in the plan. Position the chicken pen to capture the most sunlight during the day, and build the majority of the windows on that side.
  
• Get the benefit of ventilation if you invest in sash windows or sliding windows that open.

Protect from predators

• Next, be sure to choose backyard chicken pen plans that protect from predators. Traditional predators to chickens are fox, coyote and other wild animals, but don’t forget roaming dogs and cats might be tempted by an unprotected chicken pen.
  
• Avoid a chicken pen disaster where an attack wipes out your chickens. Take the right precautions by using quality materials and good building practices.

Make sure your measurements follow the backyard chicken pen plan exactly for the most solid structure you can build. And don’t forget to install a locking latch on the door of the chicken pen and on the chicken run. Cover roof ventilation units with wire and bury wire at an angle under the chicken run.

Consider electric lighting

• You may want to consider backyard chicken pen plans that include instructions for electric wiring.
  
• Although it is an extra expense, you may need it. If you live in a cold climate, you will need a heat lamp over the water source to prevent freezing water.
  
• You may also need a heat lamp installed over the chicken roost for freezing temperatures.
  
• A sensor light outside the door of the pen will detract animal attacks and egg burglars.

• Choose a backyard chicken pen plans with electric wiring instructions to install this right the first time.

By applying these tips you will make sure you pick the right chicken pen building plans for your project. Many people don’t ask themselves these questions before they get started and end up choosing the wrong plan.

No matter how big a chicken pen you want, having the right guidelines up front will save hours of time and prevent potential disasters. You can make this simple building project a great success by using these few simple tips as a starting point.

These are the plans I settled on: 

They really worked for me and I got the chicken coop I wanted within my budget and my building skills. I highly recommend you check out Building a Chicken Coop, the ultimate guide to planning and building your own coop in your backyard. In includes drafts of plans, dimensions, materials lists and sources to everything you need to build a sustainable chicken coop.