Recycled Metal Shelving for Chicken Pen

by Janet Garman


How to make an even bigger pullet pen using old metal shelving panels.

It happened again.  I brought home more baby chicks than we could house in the brooder/grow out area of our chicken coop and run.  Someone had recently asked if we wanted some metal shelving that was being thrown out.  The shelf panels were about 4 x 4 with small square openings.  They were sturdy and heavy but not unmanageable.  

We had room in the chicken run, there just wasn't a big enough grow out pen.  We began to partition off a corner  portion of the run next to the coop.  This would give the pullets a place to grow, while watching the other hens but not being picked on.  The area has some natural shade but I also placed a shade cover over the corner and put a low roost bar under the shade cover.

On the inside, we had to move the roost bar to the other side of the coop.  Then we added to of the panels in the corner to keep the pullets safe from any aggressive hens.

The panels were fastened to the inside walls with nails and are temporary.  Soon they will be removed, when the pullets and the hens have all become acquainted with each other.

The panels can be opened at this corner to clean or put the waterer inside.  It is held closed with snap hooks.
I even added a roost bar in the pullet pen. It is not large, but since it is temporary, the space is adequate for now.

Once again, I have to give credit for the idea to my husband.   This cost us nothing but time and saved something intended for trash from entering the landfill.