To all dog kennel chicken RUN owners with no hardware cloth (graphic)

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Glad you posted that. We do have the dog kennels too but since it's winter, they are all covered up with tarps, boards and towels. Planning on moving them and setting them up a bit different in the late Spring so ... yeah, I'll be doing things a big differently. Thank you!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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Thank you very much for your condolences!

Also thank you to everyone who has offered their condolences.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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Yes, I am going to rethink using it like a chicken tractor. I think I would indeed be better to keep it stationary and maybe do an apron out. Thank you very much.

Coons are so awful!

 

[mominoz]

Might also mention, that those cyclone dog kennels are not dog-varmit proof at the bottom. Most only have a link occasionally. I have seen dogs dig at the bottoms and lift up the fence or rip it up and get out/ or in. Our vet sunk his cyclone fence in concrete. I suggest you wire the bottom on each link. My neighbors dog ran the end of the link thru her foot digging at the bottom.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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Thank you!!! I will do this!!!

 

[Smittenroade]

I am just about to put hardware cloth around the my whole dog kennel and across the top. Im making it into fort knox!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

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This is what I plan to do also... but I have a question

... do we need to cover every square inch ? or just around the bottom ?

Also... what about the chain link door ? cover just the door ? or cover and overlap to close up gaps ? What have you done ?

Just thought of another question... will hardware cloth rust away if you bury it around the perimeter ? is it better to bury it outside the run OR dig and bury it under the run itself ? which is better and which will keep digging predators out the best ?

(sorry if this is the wrong place to address this... move if needed)

 

[luvmychixandducks]

I have a dog pen recycled for ducks, and I lined the sides with 4' by 8' sheets of clear plastic (poly?) 1/8 inch thick, so no raccoon
grabbers can reach them from the sides. The roof is covered with chicken wire- I know this stuff is not coonproof, but come spring, it will be enhanced. This year with all of the snow, the roof covering has been a non issue- frozen ice/snow has capped the pen since December. Just now melting. Find some used chain link fencing (Craigs list free stuff) and zip tie it to the bottom of your cages, laying the fencing flat on the ground.
It will sink in, but being galvanized will last quite a while, and being so wide, no critters digging in can get around it, or through it, and are too dumb to back off four feet and try digging again.
The cost is minimal and it sure is frustrating to the diggers. Grass grows through, and you can mow over- can't even see it after a while.

 

[Smittenroade]

mmaddie's mom :

Quote:
This is what I plan to do also... but I have a question

... do we need to cover every square inch ? or just around the bottom ?

Also... what about the chain link door ? cover just the door ? or cover and overlap to close up gaps ? What have you done ?

Just thought of another question... will hardware cloth rust away if you bury it around the perimeter ? is it better to bury it outside the run OR dig and bury it under the run itself ? which is better and which will keep digging predators out the best ?

(sorry if this is the wrong place to address this... move if needed)

Theres actually I believe 2 kinds of hardware cloth, the metal kind like a reinforced chicken wire and the hard plastic kind. I put the plastic kind across the top of the kennel tied together with tie wraps and the metal kind I used just about 3 feet up from the bottom. Not too worried about digging under because the coop is closed off anyways. But the dog kennel came with alot of holes in the bottom and could be pulled out pretty easily. Its all fixed now, Ill post pictures of it tomorrow if you want, so you can have an idea.

O btw I didn't bother with the gate, I dont think it should be a problem.​

 

[drumstick diva]

I think you do need to work hardware cloth or something else in the gaps between a chain link gate and the connecting posts - there is quite enough room usually for a slick fingered raccoon to grab and pull at least some body parts thru.