Outdoor dog kennel as Chicken coop

[nkprycl29]

I am new to raising chickens and we plan on starting with about 8 chickens. We bought an 5x10 outdoor dog run and wooden large dog house. I am wondering if this will work. We plan on covering with hardwire cloth and putting around bottom for predators. I have done a lot of research and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I plan on having them free range when we are home. Will this be big enough for 8 birds? thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Depends on how big the dog house is and if it is inside or outside the run.
4 sq. ft. per bird in the coop and 10 sq. ft. per bird in the run is a rule of thumb. Bantams need a little less.

I have a similar run but it has another 8X8 run attached and a 6X8 coop outside the run. It's held 10 or more chickens well.

 

[nkprycl29]

We plan on keeping the dog house inside the pen for now until we can build or buy something bigger. It is a large dog house and top opens. I can buy more panels for the outside dog run if needed. Thanks for reply

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Predators, ventilation, water and food are your primary concerns.

 

[sherpagirl]

We plan on keeping the dog house inside the pen for now until we can build or buy something bigger. It is a large dog house and top opens. I can buy more panels for the outside dog run if needed. Thanks for reply

Make sure the chickens have something to roost on, otherwise they will probably get mites and they will be sitting in their own poop overnight.

 

[sacchick]

I am new to raising chickens and we plan on starting with about 8 chickens. We bought an 5x10 outdoor dog run and wooden large dog house. I am wondering if this will work. We plan on covering with hardwire cloth and putting around bottom for predators. I have done a lot of research and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I plan on having them free range when we are home. Will this be big enough for 8 birds? thanks

I started on a Saturday with a 5X10 kennel and by Sunday I added 2 more tens so I have a 10X20 with a roughly 4X4 coop and 4 chicks

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Basically in chicken world: bigger is always better.

Plus it's just healthier.

So you're looking at a chicken run that should hold a minimum of 5 regular size birds. Allowing them to free range is great but things could always happen that would require your to keep the birds locked up. So just keep that in mind.

Some people don't give their birds a "true" chicken coop. I'm honestly not sure how this works so I don't really have advice but using a dog house will really depend on your location. My chicken coop is more of a shed but it's 8'x6' and about 7-8ft tall. I live in Kansas so I've got lots of rain, snow, crazy wind, etc. My flock does not like to be outside in "bad' weather so I have to have a large enough coop to allow them to stay inside and be healthy. I didn't know that is how they would behave but I'm certainly happy I had a larger than needed coop built for them.

Good luck!

 

[nkprycl29]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think we will definitely be adding more panels to the pen after the advice.

 

[jetdog]

Don't forget about something on the top like netting or a roof, don't want anything flying away with your girls.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I think your pen will work out fine if you make it larger, it's the dog house where I think you are going to run into trouble. I cannot imagine any dog house being large enough to handle 8 hens. You just really don't want to crowd them and get some nasty stress related behaviors like pecking started. That is all far better avoided then trying to solve if it occurs. Chickens need a lot a space to keep them busy and they need enough room in the coop to roost comfortably without being crammed in to tight.