DIY Peacock Pen

Give your peacock plenty of space.

As with any animal, such as a peacock, that you want to keep on your property, it will need the appropriate living space. If you make the pen enclosure too small, your fowl will not thrive, may not have adequate space for males to flaunt their feathers and they may even hurt themselves from flying into the outer perimeter of the enclosure. Give each peacock at least 100 square feet of space or more for best results.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• String
• Stakes
• Leather gloves
• 4-by-4-by-10-foot lumber posts, amount depends on size of pen
• Cement
• 5 gallon bucket
• Stir stick
• Trowel
• Wire cutter
• Wire mesh
• 2-by-4 inch lumber
• Saw
• Nails or screws
• Hammer or screwdriver
• Staple gun
• 2 to 3 door hinges
• Self latching lock

Instructions

1. Measure the area you want for your peacock pen. The general rule is a 100-square-foot enclosure or larger for each peacock. Mark this area with stakes and string.

2. Put some leather gloves on and dig holes 4 feet deep for every 10 feet of your marked area. Also dig a hole that is a yard from one of the corners. This will be for the pen door.

3. Place a 4-by-4-by-10-foot lumber post vertically inside each of these holes. If done correctly, the posts should extend 6 feet above ground.

4. Mix the cement according to the product instructions in a 5 gallon bucket and mix with a stir stick. Fill each hole with this cement mixture, around the posts, and smooth the top of the cement with a trowel. Allow the cement to dry thoroughly, according to the instructions, before proceeding.

5. Unravel the 6-foot-tall wire mesh. Cut lengths of this wire mesh with a wire cutter so the mesh fits from one corner of the enclosure to an adjacent corner. Pull the wire taut and secure it in place with a staple gun. Do this for all sides of the enclosure, except the 3-foot-wide section that will be used for the door.

6. Construct a frame for the wooden door that is just under 3 feet wide and is 6 feet tall. Hold the corners together with nails or screws. Attach hinges to one of the 6-foot-long sides. Cut a length of wire mesh that will fit over this door and secure it in place with a staple gun.

7. Hold the door upright and attach the hinges to one of the sides of the door frame. Attach a self-latching lock on the door so it will latch when you enter and exit.

8. Use a 2-by-4-inch piece of lumber or larger for the perch and situate it at lease 3 or 4 feet off the ground. Place the perch at least 6 to 10 feet away from the fence so they don’t fly into it.

9. Provide a covered area with three sides for a shelter for the peacocks. Although they are hearty fowl, they do best when they are not left in cold, windy weather without shelter.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is high risk of predators invading the peacock pen, dig a foot-deep trench around the entire perimeter of the pen. Place the wire mesh into this drench and secure the mesh into place on the post as instructed above. Push the dirt back into place around the base of the mesh and pack it in tight.

References

• Leggs Peafowl: Building Pens for Peafowl; Brad Legg
• “Peafowl Housing”; Bart Harrell; The UPA Newsletter; The United Peafowl Association; August 1999
• Amy’s Peacock Paradise: Tips for Building Peacock Pens