Opinions please on using Dog kennel or other space for a coop

Hi Friends!

Ive been doing lots of reading and am trying to figure out the best option for my property and set up. Id love to hear what those with experience would do with my options.

1st option:
I have a concrete floor chainlink dog kennel with a top in an area that is about 3/4 an acre that Ill fence. There is some vine growing on the chainlink Ill need to identify as safe for the chicks but it provides good shade, so do the trees above. I live in the sierra nevada foothills and there are many natural predators. I was planning on building a sheltered nesting box area that I may cut the chainlink and create a lifting panel to access. I'd put deep straw on the floor and a perch area and maybe a sandbath if there is room.

Ill need to fence this property, but the last picture is the habitat they will mostly live in and ill build them a lawn tractor for the acreage eventually.







2nd option:

Build a traditional coop in this area in one of the corners of the fenced in area farthest from the house. Some of my garden beds will go in here, atleast 5, but there would still be plenty of room for the 6 chickens I want. Ill need to put a hardware cloth reinforcing on the bottom all the way around this . There is more sun in this area, but still a couple trees.




What would you do if you had these options??

Thank you in advance for your advice!

You can use the dog run, but (and I realise you live in a desert) I would give them a sheltered roosting area to protect from storms. The concrete floor makes it a bit messier, but it is well protected from most predators. If you could put a coop that you could close up at night or during nasty weather, they would be quite happy

Thank you! We actually get a fair amount of rain and some freezing temperatures. I was planning on putting some kind of enclosed space/nesting box.. sounds like I need to make sure it is big enough to comfortably roost..

These two set ups in particular have caught my eye.

I understand why, that does look fun. But definitely enclose your roosts. I am unsure what the other side is meant to be...almost looks like for a rabbit, but if instead you built an enclosed ledge, they would be up high and happily dry.

It looks like the first coop is enclosed on all but one side with roofing. That would give the birds plenty of ventilation and if the open side is protected from too much wind and rain it would be ideal.