Need to build a temporary holding pen...

[Hoytman]

...for my nearly 3 week old birds (17 of them). https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/newbie-needs-some-advice.1255712/

Going to build it tonight and tomorrow. I need it to last for at least one month while I'm working on he coop/large run and other things.

It will stay in garage, but can also be moved outside when needed...or back and forth until the coop/run is built.

How big does it (temporary holding pen) need to be for another month? Square feet and height suggestions needed.

 

[Diamond Peno]

I built this for my Bantam chicks... I used baling twin to hold the doors together and zip ties to hold fencing to the post which are tomato stakes. THIS is a temp run for them. I also got a tarp to put over part of it... All I have to do it pull the stakes out roll it up and move it and repound back in somewhere when it needs moves. YOU can make yours out out PVC pipe as I have seen so its easy to move around even put wheels on it. You can look them up on Youtube to see how to make them. OR even make one out of lighter wood and chicken wire. This one I made is only till I get a coop built just for them. They go in the large coop in a large cage at night. When not here I tend not to let them out as we have lots of wild critters that get after them and that pen is easy to get into. I have already has a Weasel get after them. BUT then it went after the larger chickens and the rosters took care of it.
Not sure how big you would need/want are they large breed or bantam size. If you make it movable you should not need to make it super big. a 10x10 may work like you see a dog kennel run/cage since you can move it then when they dig up the ground you can move it around. for 17 though maybe a 12x12 as I take it you are gonna put something in there like a temp house for them to go into... you can take sticks and tree branches and put in-between the fencing like perches for them. we have that in our larger pen. just have not in the bantam pen yet. I put an old dog carrier in there with hay for them but most of them tend to jump on top of the carrier lol.

 

[mountain chicken]

3wks this is there growing spurt time wouldn't go any thing smaller than 4x8 but that's pushing it! for a temp shelter

those birds should never have been ordered till the coop/run was built and ready to go ,

hope you have a good game plan I suggest get a few friends together have a chicken coop building bbq party
good luck

I'd try to get it built in less than a week as those birds wont stop growing

been there done that

 

[Hoytman]

This temporary cage will stay in my garage...and will be movable (inside or out)...and has to last at least another 2 weeks...minimum...more like another 4 weeks before I can get their main coop/run built. They'll be 7 weeks old by then.

My issue is...by then...since this is my first time having chickens...I have no idea how large they'll be in 7 weeks. Of course, by 7 weeks...the coop will be ready and I'll have over double the space they need...the coop alone then will be 144 square feet...not counting the run.

I have to buy myself some time to build their big coop and run. I figure I need 4 weeks...maybe less...but I want to plan for at least needing that much time in case something happens. I'm trying to work on a house too...to get it to market asap. So, time to build the coop is limited. Thus the need for a temporary holding pen.

 

[mountain chicken]

by 7 weeks I had football players and 17 of them they'll be packed like sardines ,

 

[Diamond Peno]

I am taking it they are regular chicks not bantams. I usually dont put mine outside till they start to get feathering at about a month old or even 2 (depending on weather and when we get them in) but now its so nice out. 17 could go in smaller sized run BUT move it regularly. If I cant let mine out to free range an and cutting grass to put in for them. or moving the fencing that I can move around. Some of mine at 7 weeks were large some where not depended on the breed of large chickens I got. My RI Reds and one Black Jersey giant got HUGE fast. her sister stayed so small I had to place her with my bantams. BUT my silki bantams got way larger then the others faster lol. IF it was me I would do a 12X12 to start with but make it to where IF I had to I could add on to make it larger and still movable encase something comes up. I know how it is trying to get a million things done plus other things. I would check out some ideals on youtube though about movable chicken runs. they got some cool things on there.

 

[Hoytman]

I ended up building an 4'x8'x24"...let's call it a large brooder for the next batch of chickens I get at a later date...I even put in an 8' roosting bar. For now and the next 2-3 weeks at least, it will work fine.

I used 3 sheets of 1/4" plywood with hardware cloth on half of the top and some extra leftover closetmaid wire shelving I had on the other half as hinged top access doors. It's working great. I'm sure the 32 sq. ft. will be too small in a few short weeks, but being put together with screws I'll be able to disassemble it if need be. For now the plan is to keep it as a large brooder box.

Chicks were 3 weeks old on 7/2 and they have plenty of room...and now I have some time to finish a project or two while working on the more permanent coop/cage during each evening.

Those chicks sure do like the extra room and they run and play, try to fly, and just seem to all be so happy and healthy. They love the roosting bar too...even at 3 weeks old.

 

[Diamond Peno]

cool would love to see a picture when you get some time. Like to see chickens having fun. glad you found something that will work. Even if you go past your expected time frame at lat they are OUTSIDE and can get fresh air and not cramped up. and I am sure you could add a little extra room/run if need be if things run late till you get what you need done. Hoping all goes as planed I know how things go wen you are trying to get other thins done hop you hit no snags and all runs smooth.