We have two outdoor chicken pens in our lot across the street. The “triangle pen” is in the best condition for immediate use. During the winter, the snow load broke two of the legs and further stretched the wire mesh that covers the walls, but that was the extent of the damage. The two legs were temporary fixes made by cutting suitable lengths from the trunks of unwanted trees. That they only lasted two years is not a disappointment.
Two of the new pieces will replace the broken legs. The third will be placed where mesh of the wall has sagged too much to be left without compensation. This year, as always, I hope it will be the last year we need to use this pen.
I purchased some 8’ 2”x3” lumber and painted it with leftover paint from another project. In our climate, a painted piece of lumber lasts a very long time. In the triangle pen, we have had such pieces break under the snow load, but rotting proceeds at such a leisurely pace that I do not recall ever replacing any rotted pieces.
The whole structure is now as much an example of repair work as it is a model of good design. The accumulated litter has raised the ground level and the accumulated stretching of the wire mesh has decreased the height and width, making the pen increasingly uncomfortable to use. My lower back has informed me that does not appreciate being used to carry feed and water down the length of the pen while hunched over.
On the other hand, replacing this pen has proven difficult. The basic design is so simple and sound that it has lasted close to 15 years with no significant problems, which is an undeniable advantage over our pens with more-covenient designs that have given us greater amounts of repair and maintenance work.
The plan is to install the replacement legs this week and move all the hens to the pen by the end of the weekend. I’m sure nothing could go wrong with this plan.
