If you keep, or are planning on keeping, chickens somewhere on your property, building a full enclosed chicken pen will ensure their safety.
It also means that they'll enjoy a happy, relaxed existence, which leads to maximum egg output.
There are an assortment of chicken pen construction plans available to make the task as simple as possible.
This article gives you some tips on which are the best for you particular needs.
Keeping A Small Flock Most people who keep chickens in their back yard tend to have only a few birds; around 5.
If this is you, all you really need is a small, portable a-frame or ark-shaped chicken pen.
These can be built from a few bits of treated pine, some chicken wire, and some plywood or chipboard.
Whilst only the nesting areas in these designs are fully enclosed, the grazing area is completely secure from all kinds of predators.
Mid-sized Mini-Farms If you're more serious about your home chicken flock, you will want to go for something bigger and better.
The easiest to build is the double storey chicken ark.
It's much like the previously mentioned design, but utilizes a fully enclosed upstairs nesting area, with the whole bottom level dedicated to grazing space.
Another option for mini-farms is the box-shaped coop, which is rather tall and narrow.
It's a great option for those of us with small yards.
Semi-professional Chicken Breeders For those of us who take breeding chickens very seriously, and maybe even make money from it, you can't go past the premium hen house or chicken barn.
These are much larger structures, and include an optional chicken run attached.
Most plans also include a way to build a semi-automated egg collection system.
It also means that they'll enjoy a happy, relaxed existence, which leads to maximum egg output.
There are an assortment of chicken pen construction plans available to make the task as simple as possible.
This article gives you some tips on which are the best for you particular needs.
Keeping A Small Flock Most people who keep chickens in their back yard tend to have only a few birds; around 5.
If this is you, all you really need is a small, portable a-frame or ark-shaped chicken pen.
These can be built from a few bits of treated pine, some chicken wire, and some plywood or chipboard.
Whilst only the nesting areas in these designs are fully enclosed, the grazing area is completely secure from all kinds of predators.
Mid-sized Mini-Farms If you're more serious about your home chicken flock, you will want to go for something bigger and better.
The easiest to build is the double storey chicken ark.
It's much like the previously mentioned design, but utilizes a fully enclosed upstairs nesting area, with the whole bottom level dedicated to grazing space.
Another option for mini-farms is the box-shaped coop, which is rather tall and narrow.
It's a great option for those of us with small yards.
Semi-professional Chicken Breeders For those of us who take breeding chickens very seriously, and maybe even make money from it, you can't go past the premium hen house or chicken barn.
These are much larger structures, and include an optional chicken run attached.
Most plans also include a way to build a semi-automated egg collection system.
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