Will dog kennel work as run?

[bbowen]

Thanks everyone.

Looks like I'll go ahead with the dog pen. Craigslist doesn't exist for my town. Nearest towns are btw 30-50 miles away and the pickings are slim there. We do have a local paper that people sell stuff in so I'll check that.

I'll definitely screen off the bottom, top, and sides to prevent the predator stuff.

I wasn't sure how they went together so I didn't know I could make the trapezoid shape. I'll have to figure out a roofing method because we can get heavy snow up here and I'd like to be able to let the girls out if its warm enough.

My mom said she'd get me the pen from Tractor Supply. So, if I can find a used one I'm set there. I'll just owe her a million eggs!!

 

[bagendhens]

they have a petsafe "2 in 1" 10 x 10 OR 5 x 15 on sale right now for 199, check out the website to see if your local store carries it!

were now planning on buying 1 and doing like someone else said, modifying it since one side will be up against a solid surface (in our case the shed AND coop) well take those extra peices to make it a 10 x 20 and give the girls a HUGE space. (were only getting 5 lol)
im planning on adding chickenwire around the bottom with an apron to keep the diggers out, and then either more chickenwire or bird netting ontop to deter hawks

 

[bbowen]

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Store is brand new and won't open until Saturday. It doesn't show up yet on the website but I'll look for it on Saturday!!

Thanks!

 

[MrsChickendad]

We bought a couple of those runs from TSC and they have worked well EXCEPT if you need to move them. If you can get the kind that is individual panels that you bolt together, you will be much happier. One of the TSC models is a frame you put together and then roll out the fence fabric and wire it to the frame. It is a NIGHTMARE to put together and breaks apart if you need to move the whole business. So go for the individual panels. It doesn't have to be 6' high, the shorter one works great. We cover the top with bird netting and tie it on with cable ties.

I agree, though, run hardware cloth a couple feet up the side and into the ground if you have a serious predator problem. That way, you can put younger birds in it when the weather is nice and they won't squeeze thru the chain link holes.

 

[Cindy in PA]

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[BarredBuff]

Yeah it will work one of my relatives does that for their run and I am probably going to for the new coop

 

[jbowyer01]

We attached a 10x10x6 run to our enclosed coop and placed a tarp over the top (I was losing my birds to hawks). I did place hardware cloth along the bottom two feet and dug about a foot down and out to bury wire for extra protection. I only paid 198.00 for my panel kit at lowes and I think another 20 for the tarp.

 

[Oosik]

I have a dog kennel and did not use chicken wire along the bottom. My problem was that raccoons (and a hawk) were coming through the top. I put some old wire fence on top which kept the hawk out but not the coons. I then turned to an electric fence with two strands along the bottom, one very close to the ground, and another strand about 15 inches high. I then put a strand along the top to stop any adventuresome coons. It has worked like a charm. You should be able to get 4 inch electric fence posts that can be affixed to chain ling fencing. Also, be sure to put in a roosting pole in the pen which you girls will appreciate.

 

[flgardengirl]

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Wifezilla I like the way you think

 

[Zahboo]

I don't know what kind you are getting but we have 10x10x6 panels of a dog fence. I LOVE IT. I want to find another but they are expensive around here or the panels don't seperate from each other. I use 2 panels for my chicken pen. Since I have a preexisting pen I just line up the 2 panels with a corner of the existing fence and wire them together. I have 2 pens from a kennel that was here when we moved

. I have reinforced the bottom where the chainlink attaches to the poles because the resident fox made a mockary of it, ripping the 3 wire pieces off and killing some hens. I strongly suggest kennels, but I bury my panels about 2 inches in the ground so I know there aren't any gaps and it's harder for predators to dig.

Long story short: go for it! I used extra fence and some 12' 2x4s to make a slanted frame on the top and used a trampoline cover (the black jumpy part) on the top to provide shade. It works great! Zip ties hold it down. Does it look the best? No, but I got thr cover for free