coop out of a dog pen?

[kwolf10]

any ideas on how to convert an old dog cage into a chicken coop? its about five feet tall, eight feet long, and prob about three or four feet wide. we have two chickens as of now and need a quick space for them. t hanks!

 

[CrazyWestTexasFarmGirl]

If its chainlink... and they are big enough not to slip through the chainlink....
I use the same ones. Chicken wire over the top. with a doghouse like structure inside for shelter and some roost bars slid through the chainlink about chest high on me. My silkies and cochins are in one of these and they wont stay inside any shelter... they want to be outside on the roost bars and just lay eggs inside the house. I am taking some trampoline mats this weekend and strapping htem on the top for shade and extra protection from the elements ( lots of hail in our area this year.) Now determined dogs can get through chainlink like butter..... mine are inside a fenced in area in these runs... dogs would have to go through the outer fence and then through the chainlink. I have had big dogs tear holes in the chainlink to get to my chickens before.... short of being set in concrete chainlink is not inpenetrable.....
Eventually I want to build a shed for shelter that becomes one wall of the fence... Right now I like the single run setup because it is protable and I can rearrange if I want...(Im a woman... I like to rearrange things a couple times a year...... haha.

 

[awhitfield627]

That's what we used. We have 3 hens and 2 roosters, and they seem just fine! We put some chicken wire on the top, and we're actually using old rabbit hutches as our coop. It's not wonderful, but it does the job!

 

[Rammy]

From what Ive read on here chicken wire should not be used. A determined predator can and will get thru it. I would use some welded wire or get some chain link to stretch across the top or even get a panel and zip tie it to the top for extra security. Thats what Ive done with my chain link pen I currently have for my RIR pullets. I also added some hardware clothe around the base on the outside and have it held down with cement blocks and under the panels a little bit to keep out digging predators. Inside I have an insulated dog house they sleep in at night and a 2x2 piece of wood in one corner of the pen for them to roost on if they want. Ontop of the pen under the panel I put a blue tarp for shade. Seems to work pretty good.


Rammy

 

[barredrockgrl]

We are using a dog kennel as a run (10x10x6). It is chainlink which we reinforced with chicken wire. Chicken wire isn't ideal, but it's only being used because I thought the chainlink holes were a little too large. So far it's working out really well, and I'm very comfortable with it security wise. In fact, I'm on the lookout for more panels because I want to make it larger!

I will add though, that I lock them in the coop we built at night. I know raccoons can be smart and determined when it comes to killing chickens.