How to Build a Small Backyard Chicken Coop

Here is what you should know about chicken coop construction. Building a safe and secure chicken pen is extremely important to keep your investment, and your chickens protected. The first thing to consider is whether a simple wire and post pen will be adequate, or if you will require a taller fence to prevent the chickens from flying out.

The location that you plan to build your pen must be safe and secure from predators. It should be constructed in a way that your poultry can not easily be snatched by either animals or people, especially at night. A pen with a locking mechanism, such as a padlock, is ideal.

A post and wire pen is by far the simplest, and least expensive, design. Just as the term implies, these pens are built using posts and wire, using industrial staples to fasten the wire to the posts.

In order to build your pen, you will need an industrial stapler, a hammer, wire cutters, a crowbar and a sledgehammer. The posts can be purchased in bundles, along with the wire and staples, at a construction supply store, such as The Home Depot.

The crowbar can be used to dig holes where the posts will be placed. Once you know where the posts will go, use the sledgehammer to pound the posts into the soil. The size of the posts that you are using determines how far they will need to go into the ground. You will want to try one first to ensure that it is sturdy and stable enough to withstand some force. Once all of the posts are in place, you simply cut the wire to size and fasten it to the posts using the industrial staples. When done, be sure to inspect the pen for loose staples. A hammer can be used for tapping the loose staples in.

When complete, you should have a nice sturdy pen that is ready to house your chickens.

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