The Chicken Pen: For Safety And Security

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Why do you need a chicken pen?

Reasons for a chicken pen:

Your chicken pen, also called a chicken run, should be connected to your chicken coop. I have a small access door (12"x15") that I can close off if necessary.

Even though my chickens free range, I still like having the option of being able to keep them in their chicken run.

A chicken run can be made using chicken wire or any other type of wire fencing with a mesh opening of no more than one inch.

The type of wire you choose depends on Three things:

Cost

If you are raising chickens in an area with a high risk of predator attacks, I would choose a wire such as a 1/2"x1/2" galvanized hardware cloth. Chicken wire is weak and can be easily penetrated by a determined predator.

I live in an area where there are very few predators. I also live on an open field where access to our chicken run would be difficult. For this reason, I chose to use basic chicken wire.

Chicken wire has a tendency to rust out over time and will not last near as long as a good galvanized wire.

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Chicken runs come in all shapes and sizes, but a well built chicken run will have these Qualities:

When you attach your chicken wire to your post and cross members, use either galvanized staples or galvanized screws with washers. Do not use a hand held staple gun.

Building a chicken run is a pretty straight forward process. Just make sure you build it right the first time. Many people who decide to cut corners (not burying perimeter wire), later regret it when predators come and kill their chickens.

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