Question about chain link dog kennel for run

[M Kelley]

We are planning to use a 12x12 chain link dog kennel for a run for our chickens and ducks. We will be moving them outside soon. The floor of our dog kennel is cement and we planned to move it off the cement about 3 feet so they have some dirt and we will put pine wood shavings over the cement, Is the cement okay for chickens and ducks? I will have a coop and a duck house but I plan on them sharing a run, I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not. Also, is the chain link enough to keep out any unwanted visitors? We are new to raising chickens and ducks so we are trying to get as much information as possible before we move them outside. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[lja440]

With only 12x12 concrete IMO will make it much easier to clean. You can plant some grass in pots for them to peck at if their green space is small (you didn't say how many birds will be using it). I'd recommend covering the top with some type of wire or netting to protect from hawks. Leaners facing out strung with wire will help prevent raccoons and such from climbing over. Woven wire or chicken wire laid on the ground with at least 2' on the outside of the kennel panels will help prevent those who would dig under.

 

[topdog24]

I sugest you wrap 1 inch chicken wire aroud at least the bottom half of the outside all the way around, mink, weasels and other small killers can go right through chain link wire and they are supper viscious, they will wipe your flock out in just a few minutes and only feed from one. i totally agree with everything stated by lja440

With only 12x12 concrete IMO will make it much easier to clean. You can plant some grass in pots for them to peck at if their green space is small (you didn't say how many birds will be using it). I'd recommend covering the top with some type of wire or netting to protect from hawks. Leaners facing out strung with wire will help prevent raccoons and such from climbing over. Woven wire or chicken wire laid on the ground with at least 2' on the outside of the kennel panels will help prevent those who would dig under.

We are planning to use a 12x12 chain link dog kennel for a run for our chickens and ducks. We will be moving them outside soon. The floor of our dog kennel is cement and we planned to move it off the cement about 3 feet so they have some dirt and we will put pine wood shavings over the cement, Is the cement okay for chickens and ducks? I will have a coop and a duck house but I plan on them sharing a run, I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not. Also, is the chain link enough to keep out any unwanted visitors? We are new to raising chickens and ducks so we are trying to get as much information as possible before we move them outside. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[topdog24]

I streched my kennel to 16x27 top/ i streched it a second time to 25x27, bottom, notice i have a predator prooof chicken house to replace the grow out coop.

 

[lja440]

Very sweat set up. I'll post picks sometime of mine.

 

[M Kelley]

Thank you for all the helpful responses. I have 6 chickens and 4 ducks that will share the run. Our yard if fully fenced in already. There will be about a 4x12 area that we will move off the cement to give them grass and I plan to let them free range around my backyard a few hours a day. We do plan to cover the top with chicken wire like topdog24 recommended and we will also plan to go over the chain link with heavy duty chicken wire half way up so would we only have to dig a barrier into the ground around the area that is moved off the cement? Would we use the heavy duty chicken wire and how far down do we need to dig down? Also, should we lock our chickens and ducks in their coop/house at night and if so do they need food and water in there for the night, the ducks make such a mess with water, I was planning on keeping there drinking water and food outside in the run. As for the chickens, if the food and water is in their coop at night will they poop in it? Sorry for all the questions, we are still learning. Thank for posting pictures of your coop, it is helpful to see what others have done.

 

[Rhandi74]

Thank you for all the helpful responses. I have 6 chickens and 4 ducks that will share the run. Our yard if fully fenced in already. There will be about a 4x12 area that we will move off the cement to give them grass and I plan to let them free range around my backyard a few hours a day. We do plan to cover the top with chicken wire like topdog24 recommended and we will also plan to go over the chain link with heavy duty chicken wire half way up so would we only have to dig a barrier into the ground around the area that is moved off the cement? Would we use the heavy duty chicken wire and how far down do we need to dig down? Also, should we lock our chickens and ducks in their coop/house at night and if so do they need food and water in there for the night, the ducks make such a mess with water, I was planning on keeping there drinking water and food outside in the run. As for the chickens, if the food and water is in their coop at night will they poop in it? Sorry for all the questions, we are still learning. Thank for posting pictures of your coop, it is helpful to see what others have done.

I keep my chickens and ducks separate so at night the chickens go in the coop and get locked up. They have food in the coop but it is hanging so no poop in it. they also have water hanging. My ducks would make a mess with both if they were in the coop together with my chickens. Also if there is food there has to be water for the ducks. I also had a hard time getting my pekins to use a ramp due to their size. I invested in a very large custom built dog house for them and they do not have any more problems. My ducks hang out outside most of the night, they use the house when it is hot for shade and it is insulated so I think it is cooler inside. They have a 8 ft by 16 ft run with dog house in it. My chickens run is attached to theirs and is 16 ft by 16 ft with an elevated coop so they have run space under their coop. I have 4 ducks, 11 full size chickens, and 7 bantams. Hope this is helpful even though it does not answer your questions directly.

 

[topdog24]

Thank you for all the helpful responses. I have 6 chickens and 4 ducks that will share the run. Our yard if fully fenced in already. There will be about a 4x12 area that we will move off the cement to give them grass and I plan to let them free range around my backyard a few hours a day. We do plan to cover the top with chicken wire like topdog24 recommended and we will also plan to go over the chain link with heavy duty chicken wire half way up so would we only have to dig a barrier into the ground around the area that is moved off the cement? Would we use the heavy duty chicken wire and how far down do we need to dig down? Also, should we lock our chickens and ducks in their coop/house at night and if so do they need food and water in there for the night, the ducks make such a mess with water, I was planning on keeping there drinking water and food outside in the run. As for the chickens, if the food and water is in their coop at night will they poop in it? Sorry for all the questions, we are still learning. Thank for posting pictures of your coop, it is helpful to see what others have done.

If you use 1/2 in hardware clothe around the bottom half of the run, you should be able to get some 24 in hardware clothe and lay it on top of the ground around outside of the run, wire the edge of it to the bottom rail about every 6 to 8 in. and line the outer edge of clothe with bricks or ornamental blocks, such as sidewalk liners, that way if you need to move the coop/run, you can fold the wire up and tie it off till you finish the move, then lay it back down and put your blocks back around the edge, from what I gather, especially with ducks, the grass will last about a week at most, so I would keep it mobile so you can move it to better grass at times. You only need to cover the part that is over dirt, nothing will dig through the cement. I would separate the ducks and chickens at night, the chickens will need some water at night, especially in hot weather, I would not worry too much about feed if they have full time access to food outside, they will be full and ready to roost by dark, but they will get down to drink if they get thirsty, just put a 1 gal. waterer in the coop, leave the water and feed in the run where you have it. If you have room, put a large doggie carrier in the run for the ducks to get in.

 

[lja440]

I don't dig down for the wire to confound diggers. I laid a 4' roll of chicken wire along the ground where I was placing the kennel panels. 2' outside and 2 foot inside. Weigh it down until the grass anchors it. Just weed eat the edge around the pen so not to catch it with the mower.

Incidentally I did this in my dog kennel as my Doxie is quite the digger.