A henhouse is a small building where chickens live and lay their eggs. Farmers build henhouses to keep their chickens safe from predators like foxes, raccoons, and hawks that would love to catch an easy meal. Inside, you'll find wooden boxes called nesting boxes where hens lay their eggs, and roosting bars where chickens perch to sleep at night.

A good henhouse has ventilation so fresh air can flow through, but it's sturdy enough to keep out the weather and unwanted visitors. Many have a small door that chickens use during the day to go outside into a fenced area called a run, where they can scratch at the ground and hunt for bugs.

The phrase “fox in the henhouse” describes a dangerous situation where someone untrustworthy has gotten access to something valuable. If you heard someone say, “Letting him manage the money is like putting a fox in the henhouse,” they mean the person can't be trusted with that responsibility. The image works because a fox in a real henhouse would cause chaos, and the chickens would be in danger.