Dog kennel coop- how to make door area predator proof?

[capayvalleychick]

Hi,

I am thinking about making a coop from a dog kennel, either a chain link or welded wire, large run type, kennel.

I've made one before, from a 6x8x4 ft. chain link dog kennel. I was able to make it predator proof everywhere, except around the door. Dog kennel doors all have inches of space around the doors. I did lose one chicken to a predator that was able to reach through that space and gut the chicken.

So, I need to figure out how to cover this gap and still be able to open & close the door. Have any of you solved this issue? Or do you have any ideas?

Thanks,
Kim

 

[ontimeborzoi]

Oh, I know, I know! : ) Go to your hardware store and look in the electrical aisle. You will find U shaped fasteners that are made for attaching anything round in cross section to anything flat...like wood. Come in all sizes, perfect for afixing, say, chain link panels to, say, your chicken coop. : )) Or wood to a chain link gate....

If you intend to stay in chickens, its a great idea to go spend some time in a hardware store and look in every aisle. Check out joist hangers. Plumbing and electrical sections yield some treasures for constructing chicken digs. See whats available...it will help you a LOT!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Here's how I did mine...

 

[pawsplus]

Here are some pix of what I did. I doubled hardware cloth (to make it stiffer/harder for a 'coon to bend) and overlapped it over the gap. The door opens OUT so the HC is on the inside. It's wired together at the corners. Note that this is a RUN, not a coop. If you are relying on this for 100% predator protection at night, I would cover the whole dang thing w/ HC. Even better, make a wooden coop for them to roost in at night that you can completely predator-proof.

From outside the run:

And from inside the run:

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
Would you be able to post some pics from the other side of the door so we can see how you attached it all? I just bought a kennel for our run and am worried about blocking off the door.

Thanks,
Dereck

Here ya' go.

 

[swatchick]

I use the exact same kind of dog kennel for my run, and perhaps you can benefit from our misfortune. I covered the entire lower 3' of the run with hardware cloth EXCEPT the edges around the door. I intended to get to it eventually, but figured that I locked them up at night so it shouldn't be a big deal. Well......at about 4pm one afternoon at the end of summer, my husband heard a ruckus down at the coop, and by the time he got there, a raccoon had already grabbed one of the girls by the neck (I figure she was probably dust bathing and dozing near the door or sticking her head out for some little morsel), tried to pull her through, then tried to pull her out the top (which is covered with wire) and ultimately decapitated her in the effort. The guilt was immense.

So now I have extended the 3' hardware cloth across the door (as well as around the places where they roost outdoors during the day) to cover the gaps. Loads of ways to secure those gaps....just be sure you do it!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
Genius! But how did you secure the wood to a metal frame?

I drilled holes through the metal frame posts, then used 3 1/2" decking screws through the holes into the wood. I then screwed the wood together at the corners. I then used aluminum strips on the inside of the frame as a stop to close the gap between the door(gate) and the frame itself.

 

[ontimeborzoi]

Conduit hangers are about a gazillion times easier than drilling thru metal.
Just sayin...

 

[jetdog]

This is my kennel coop, depending on where you live take cold winds and snow into consideration, my coop is inside the kennel and with the roof it stays dry, sand in the run. In the winter I wrap it with a heavy canvas and I put a frame with a clear shower curtain to let the sunshine in and keep the snow out.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Here is how i did mine.