Making a Chain-link Chicken Run Look Attractive

[Jencleg]

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I am thinking add it to it? Just a little something extra to change the look and fill in the gaps at the same time.

 

[DarkMelody]

The round corners on the door were the reason I didn't purchase the dog run from Tractor Supply Company, but I did buy one with nice full 90 corners at Lowe's.

I think a screen door over the gate would look great! Especially if it was one of the old-fashioned wooden ones like on my mom's kitchen. The kind we saw and heard bang on "The Walton's."

 

[Patricia Jane]

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I have used a dog run pen as a run and am decorating it with a barn star, old wire baskets and starting vines, morning glory up one side. I'll post pics when it's finished. Also did a sitting area just outside with an old metal glider, lawn flag, swing etc.

You may want to rethink the morning glory. They are toxic to chickens.

 

[Tab003]

If you are going use Wisteria you need heavy support it can bend metal.
I planted climbing rose on the front side and planted gourds, beans, peas.& cucs...on the rest.

 

[hennyannie]

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That is a great idea! I think we have some old ones in the barn loft.
I may have to try this. I have been looking for ideas for covering the gate.

 

[elmo]

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Mine is not as pretty in winter, but thrives pretty good and still adds some green!

Careful, english ivy is poisonous. It also tastes pretty bad to chickens, so they don't usually touch it if they have other green alternatives. But if the ivy is inside a run or tractor, they might eat enough of it to make themselves sick.

 

[elmo]

There are several types of inexpensive rolled fencing that you can attach to the outside of a chainlink kennel. Reed fencing is the least expensive but lasts the shortest amount of time. Willow fencing is more durable, and so is bamboo fencing, both slat and pole. One of the nice things about adding the rolled fencing is that it can provide some windblock for winter. You can also increase the wind blocking properties by attaching plastic tarp under the rolled fence in winter, and it's pretty easy to take it back down in the spring when you don't need it anymore.

 

[RHRanch]

Honeysuckle is also poisonous.

Grapes are highly toxic to dogs - only a few can kill a dog. Don't know if they would hurt chickens, but if you have dogs, grape vines are a bad idea.

Check every vine before you plant to see if its toxic - look it up online. Many vines are poisonous.

 

[Andora]

We have two chain link dog kennels. One for each coop. They have a tarp roof on them. They are butt ugly! I was hoping for good ideas from this thread but I'm still at a loss as for how to pretty them up. Apparently vines are dangerous. I'm not sure painting would help because I bet the paint would chip off/weather pretty fast. I can't afford all of that wood to box them in, that does look quite nice!

I would love to see other people's dog kennel runs for ideas!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Lots of people use all kinds of vines out here in AZ to keep their runs shady. I use grapes to cover my run. The issue of grapes and dogs has come up here a few times. I also have a dog as do lots of members here with grape vines and some even have vineyards. I've never had a problem with my dog eating grapes. Don't get me wrong, she's eaten lots of grapes, just not from my vines. Grapes also do not usually fall to the ground, we're much to eager to gather them up long before that happens. Having said all that, the grapevines only cover the run for 8-9 months of the year, even here in our warm climate. Shade cloth can be made to look nice and works year-round.