Please help with the simplest possible PVC chicken pen

[cicene mete]

I want to construct a "bare-bones" PVC chicken pen. I was thinking of something 10 x 10 x 5. The chickens would only use it when my DW and I were home, so predation is not the chief concern. Has anyone thrown together something very easy and simple like this? Would 1 inch PVC be sufficient? And would I need some kind of reinforcement going up the middle of each 10 foot side? Lastly, is there an easy way to make a hinge and latch so that I can open up one side to put them in or out?

The sides would be covered with chicken wire and the pen would be topped with deer netting, so the weight would be minimal.

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

try this and this.

 

[annek]

This is what I built. It is super easy, super cheap. I used landscape timbers on the long side (1.97 on sale) and treated 2x4 for the short sides. Mine is 8' x 6'. I used chicken wire since I only had them in it during the day when I am home. I wanted it to be movable so I attached a piece of rope to the 2x4 on both the front and the back. I didn't add the plywood sides either. I had some welded wire so I used that for the front and back to give it rigidity. I cut out a 3'x2' section out of one end for the door, then I just made a simple door out of 1x2's and covered it in mesh. To attach it I drilled holes in the 1x2 in 5 places and tie wrapped it to the welded wire. To close it I used either a piece of string or a spring type hook.

Took a few hours to make it and cost under 20.00. My chickens loved it (I have their pen built now so will only be using occasionally). I put a box fan on one end to help with the heat and threw a sheet over the top to protect from the sun. I can take a picture of mine if you need me to.

http://4hpoultry.osu.edu/HoopHouse.htm

 

[cicene mete]

Those are very nice pens. Is it necessary to have the pitched roof? Is there a disadvantage to having a flat on top?

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

Quote:
no and no.