Would this dog kennel work for 6-8 chickens?

[Pet Duck Boy]

http://www.dogkennels.com/dog-kennels/dog-kennels/k9kennelchainlink.cfm#ReviewHeader

I'm just about to buy this kennel for my 6-8 chicks that are growing fast. The large size is what I might buy, it's 10Lx6Wx6H. I'm in FL, so the chain link would provide good ventilation. All I would need is a good quality tarp that I could place over for sun and hawk protection. I could also dig some wire a couple feet around the edges to protect from digging predators. I might also cover it with a finer wirse to protect fromr rats too. I have plenty of cabinets that I can use for a nest box, and some large sticks for roosts.

Any opinions? Good buy? Great for FL weather? It seems to have relitively good reviews, setup should take less than a day if I'm not trying.

So what do ya think?

 

[Sweetfolly]

Looks good to me. I'm getting a similar one (used, for free from a family member who's Siberian Huskies all got old and died

) that has two separate runs (I think one's 6'x10'x6' and the other one is half as wide, or 6'x5'x6') for my Bantam Cochins - that way, once I get into them more, I can have two separate pens if I want to separate any out for breeding.

I know your weather in Florida is much nicer than mine up here in Wisconsin, but I'm building my chickens a wooden coop inside the chain-link run that they'll be locked in at night and during bad weather. I don't know if that's necessary where you are, but where I live in the middle of the woods, if I didn't lock them in a secure wooden coop at night, the raccoons would reach right through the chain link and rip the chickens into little pieces - and covering all the chain-link in welded wire mesh is too time-consuming and costly. My family's in carpentry, so it's much easier for me to just throw a cute little coop together.

Also, I'd suggest providing them with some sort of wind-break, unless you're planning on putting this right up against a building or a fence.

 

[onthespot]

I'm in so cal and I use chain link panels. One thing I ahve found that cuts social stress is to add levels, like a second story platform maybe three feet off the ground that gives them a different "space" to be in where they are not face to face with the other bird that they don't want to be around. You can put food and water on both levels, and the roost a little higher and socially things are a lot easier on the chickens in smaller spaces. You can also put the nest box up on there so you don't have to bend over to get the eggs, LOL. Also, not sure what predators are in your area, you may have to reinforce the bottom three feet or so with hardware cloth to keep predators from reaching in and pulling parts of your chickens out through the wire to eat them alive. Kinda graphic, I know, but just saying...
I think it is a nice looking run with a lot of possibilities. Post pics when you are done.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

The predators here would include raccoons, raccoons, and more raccoons. Just the coons, I won't have any problem with burying some wirse several feet deep to keep them out. I live in a very suburban area, just a nice little neighborhood. It will be behind my house, so wind isn't a problem.

 

[Imp]

It might be easier to buy extra panels and use them for a floor and roof. rather than burying wire. I did this and it was easy. Also then you can raise the run a couple inches and fill under with sand to help with drainage. If you are worried about raccoons reaching through the chainlink and grabbing your chickens you can either wrap with hardware cloth, or I've seen tiny chainlink- like 1" squares.

Imp

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Glad to know this would work. I'll make sure to raccoon proof my yard, I'll set up some traps.

Anyone else have anything to add?

 

[chickendude]

I think it may be a bit too small for 8 birds. You only have 60 sq feet. You also will loose sq footage if you put a coop inside the kennel. I have been told a min of 10 sq feet per bird in the run is a good setup. I have 7 birds and use a 10x20x6 dog kennel and it seems fine for me. here is a picture of my setup.

 

[andalusn]

I have one like that, it's the 6' x 6' square and 4' tall. I have used it as a temp pen for 4 small hens and rooster. I did stack the dog crates and they only used the upper one. leaned a wood pallet against one wall and they were not fond of it. I eventually built a run off the barn for them. Currently it's a nursery pen for broody hens. You may want to pencil out what the same amount of money will get you in other materials and consider building a hen house or large tractor type with run attached. You may be happier in the long run and the same amount of money spent.

Mine comes in handy for other things but have not liked it for long term housing.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

There's no way me and my parents will build ANYTHING. This is just a last resort, because my family can not even saw a piece of wood in half. I'm going to let the birds out early in the morning, This is just a nighttime holding pen, or somewhere I can keep them when the weather is bad. I have 8 chicks at the moment, but there's a good chance I might sell 1-2.

 

[lleighmay]

I use chain link dog panels for my runs, but the birds are locked up in the coop at night. If you're going to use the run as the whole "combo-platter" I would seriously put welded wire over the top too- a tarp (no matter the quality) won't stop a determined coon for more than a minute.