Suggests for turning dog kennel into chicken wonderland

[Sheepheart]

I would build the coop outside the kennel, so ,if you need to, expanding is easier.

 

[BleuSaphir]

I think building the coop outside the run would be optimal best.

 

[3KillerBs]

I see that you've put your location in now and that you're also in central NC -- though on the clay instead of the sand.

Here in the Steamy Southeast heat is a much bigger problem than cold so you might consider turning the entire kennel into an Open Air coop by giving it a roof and putting some wind-blocks on the sides toward your prevailing winter winds (I'm using dog-eared fence boards for my current build given the high price of exterior grade plywood right now).

Alternately, you might build a 3-sided structure on the windward end, using the kennel's wire as the 4th wall. (Having 2 doors in your kennel eliminates half the trouble people have with dog kennel conversions).

If you feel that you really want a fully-enclosed coop, I strongly suggest a Monitor Roof to maximize heat venting in our vicious summers. My Little Monitor Coop is too small for your proposed flock, being designed for 4 hens, but I have clear photos of how to frame the monitor.

Since you're on the clay you'll need to be sure of good drainage. Hopefully whoever installed the kennel already did that.

 

[jaybyrdsfarm]

I see that you've put your location in now and that you're also in central NC -- though on the clay instead of the sand.

Here in the Steamy Southeast heat is a much bigger problem than cold so you might consider turning the entire kennel into an Open Air coop by giving it a roof and putting some wind-blocks on the sides toward your prevailing winter winds (I'm using dog-eared fence boards for my current build given the high price of exterior grade plywood right now).

Alternately, you might build a 3-sided structure on the windward end, using the kennel's wire as the 4th wall. (Having 2 doors in your kennel eliminates half the trouble people have with dog kennel conversions).

If you feel that you really want a fully-enclosed coop, I strongly suggest a Monitor Roof to maximize heat venting in our vicious summers. My Little Monitor Coop is too small for your proposed flock, being designed for 4 hens, but I have clear photos of how to frame the monitor.

Since you're on the clay you'll need to be sure of good drainage. Hopefully whoever installed the kennel already did that.

Yes the kennel is on well drained land. It is clay but sandy on top.

I'm trying to design the coop to be cool in the summer. The placement of it should be where the shade is in the summer and also there are some big shade trees. I'm looking into how to best do the vents

Is it crazy to some how put fans in to circulate air?

Should I insulate the walls for the winter or not so it doesn't hold the heat as well?

Thanks to everyone who is helping. Im already enjoying becoming a crazy chicken lady

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes the kennel is on well drained land. It is clay but sandy on top.

I'm trying to design the coop to be cool in the summer. The placement of it should be where the shade is in the summer and also there are some big shade trees. I'm looking into how to best do the vents

Is it crazy to some how put fans in to circulate air?

Should I insulate the walls for the winter or not so it doesn't hold the heat as well?

Thanks to everyone who is helping. Im already enjoying becoming a crazy chicken lady

Shade is great!

If you have adequate ventilation (1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation per adult, standard-sized hen minimum), insulation is moot, really.

Ventilation should, ideally, be placed above the birds' heads when sitting on the roost. Since heat and ammonia both rise, I think that ridge or gable-peak ventilation is especially critical in our climate.

Supplemental vents low on the shady side to help draw in cool air are useful too. I never actually close the supplemental vent in the coop I linked because it simply isn't necessary in this climate.

Some people use fans (if you do be sure to get one rated for barn use so as not to start a fire), but I think that adequate passive ventilation is superior. This diagram is from an article on cow barns, but the principles hold for chickens:

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I have a very similar chain link fence that I use as a run for one of my flocks. My coop is on the outside to maximize space. I've got an small opening cut out of the fencing and then a frame built around the opening. This is where the coop and run connect. The coop has a very small run own it's own and the half sized chicken door opens to the large run. This way I can close them out of the run or close them out of the coop if ever necessary. Yes, this is one extra step of opening/closing the door to the run, but it's been perfect for me and my flock and I like this one further step in hopeful protection. I wish I had pictures to show you but I now have coops on both sides and it's impossible to get a picture. I wish you the best!