Dog house as chicken coop?

[Henrietta23]

We got a large used dog house through our local weekly paper that was advertised as free. We insulated it, added exterior nest boxes and created a door for the hens. We also removed the entired front and put it back on with hinges so it can be dropped and the entire thing cleaned out very easily. Then we fenced the whole thing in for when the girls aren't free ranging. We've only got three hens at the moment but we're thinking of raising chicks this spring and will need more space. We'll leave the older girls in their dog house and convert half the large garden shed for the new chicks.

 

[cute chicks here]

I bought a dog house also and can remove the top for cleaning. But how do you put perchs in it? How do you attach the wire pen to it? I have little or no building skills. Right now I just slid the large dog crate up against it and wrapped wire fencing on the gap to keep creatures from getting in. It looks rather ugly though.

 

[jacksonchicks]

I'm new here. I get my chicks on February 7th. They haven't hatched yet and I am really excited to meet them. About the dogloo. Where did you put the roost for the chickens? I've been looking to convert an old dog house into a chicken coop. I'm getting 5 and we are keeping them under our deck so they will be more protected from predators and neighborhood cats. I've seen where people have built the roosts in the wooden dog houses, but not in the plastic dogloos. Can you answer this question for me? Perhaps in the form of a picture. Thanks so much!

 

[cute chicks here]

My husband drilled a hole on each side and I fit the perch between the holes, then I put a screw through a washer into the wood dowel perch. It has held up well.

 

[jacksonchicks]

I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to do for a nesting box for my girls and I finally came up with a brilliant idea. You know those cubby boxes they sell at Target for the shelves? I had two just lying around not being used and they fit perfectly inside this little wooden shoe holder that I had. It's amazing what you'll find when you clean your basement out. I'm so proud of myself. Just thought I would share.

 

[Fluffychicky]

I'm trying to find a dog house big enough to fit 7 bantams it would be in a large covered run and I plan on building a tractor or letting them free range with me watching. I just don't know the dimensions needed for such a thing. The plan is to start with 3 silkies and 2 frizzle cochins then keep two offspring from the silkie/cochin pair. A large doghouse would be perfect since none of these birds can fly and they all like cuddling together. http://www.wayfair.com/Dog-Houses-C409478.html?redir=dog+house&rtype=6&dept=7&ust= this site has a lot of houses I could modify if needed, can someone point me in the right direction? http://www.wayfair.com/Pet-Squeak-Doggy-Den-Dog-House-PETS-2001-EAK1004.html I like this one because it has a door but would the large size fit all 7 if they had room to explore during the day?