Using a dog kennel for outdoor run

[clavesd]

The dog kennel panels work really great and people seem to always be getting rid of them. I just added on to my chciken yard and the panels make it easy. I covered my yard with poultry netting and ran hardware cloth around the bottom, works great.

 

[redheadmama13]

We use a dog kennel for our juvenile coop and run (it used to be for the big girls, but chicken math got the best of us). The top is covered with poultry netting. We attached wire to the bottom about a foot up, and then bent it and ran it along the ground about a foot in (90 degree angle). We then buried the wire along the ground about an inch or two. That way the chickens are safe from dig-ins, and we can still walk in the coop without stooping. We got ours used for a good price on craigslist.

 

[Tapsmom]

Thanks for all the great pictures. I think I found a good one on craigslist today. It's 6' X 12' and 6 feet tall. I am going to see it tomorrow or the day after. It actually has something on the top already. Some of it looks a little rusty. Is that a problem? (Although I guess it will get that way eventually.)

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
You can paint em... use a roller with rustoleum. Wont be perfect but will dress it up. Takes a very long time to rust through.

 

[gottadance]

I see a few people saying they're using poultry netting on the top - aren't you afraid of critters getting in - raccoons, possums, chipmunks, etc? They just climb to the top of the fence and chew right through...I'm a newbie so I am trying to understand this all.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Quote:
I think for the most part the netting just keeps them from flying out or outside birds from getting in.
Most of the critters you mentioned do their deeds at night...and almost everyone I know keeps their flock locked up in their coops at night and that should be secured so none of the above can get in

.

 

[gottadance]

Aha! That makes sense! Is that common to keep chickens locked up at night? I just figured if you have a secure run you wouldn't keep them locked up - they'd go in and perch anyway and then they could come out in the a.m. when they want to.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Personal preference I'm sure, since some places have more predator access than others and it'd depend on how secure that run is.
The chickens can't defend themselves at all at night, they can't see in the dark, so if they're roosting and something did get in, they'd be unable to get away. At least in the daytime, they can see and would try to get away or make enough ruckus to alert someone.
I keep mine in at night because we have way too much wildlife that comes around that would love a free chicken dinner and I sleep better knowing they are up safe and sound.

 

[perchie.girl]

Mine are going to have hard wire on top of the pure bred runs. There will be an area of the yard I am reserving for Sumatras and some bantams they will have the Aviary netting because I want to give the Sumatras a place where they can fly a little. All of them WILL be escorted back to safety for the night.

 

[whitehart]

Chain link works great .Our coop is under construction now and we plan on using extra sections of 6' chain link we had on hand for our outside attached yard. The chain link wire opening will have chicken wire added on inside about 4 ' up so as to protect from curious cats and other critters from getting their paws through the wire. We will totally inclose this area with an attached cover consisting of 2x4's back to coop covered by 1x1 14GA wire cloth and a sunscreen on top in summer.