Dog Kennel

[tripleBfarms]

I have a dog kennel with small coops now, but we are upgrading to 1 big coop. The problem is connecting the new coop to the dog kennel that they use for a run, do I cut a hole in the kennel where the chicken door opens. I also bought two fence panels that I was going to place at the chicken door entrance and then cover in chicken wire and hardware cloth, but that still doesn't solve the issue with the kennel, if i cut the kennel will it mess it up?

 

[DobieLover]

I have a dog kennel with small coops now, but we are upgrading to 1 big coop. The problem is connecting the new coop to the dog kennel that they use for a run, do I cut a hole in the kennel where the chicken door opens. I also bought two fence panels that I was going to place at the chicken door entrance and then cover in chicken wire and hardware cloth, but that still doesn't solve the issue with the kennel, if i cut the kennel will it mess it up?

Can you post pictures of your current setup and the kennel? You're going to have to open an access into the kennel one way or another if you want it attached to the coop.

 

[Cindy in PA]

If it's an all-in-one kennel you can cut a hole in the fence & re-enforce the wire, butting it up tight with the coop. If you have a kennel with panels, just bolt two panels coming out from the off the front of the coop. You won't need a panel across the front.

 

[FunClucks]

I have a dog kennel with small coops now, but we are upgrading to 1 big coop. The problem is connecting the new coop to the dog kennel that they use for a run, do I cut a hole in the kennel where the chicken door opens. I also bought two fence panels that I was going to place at the chicken door entrance and then cover in chicken wire and hardware cloth, but that still doesn't solve the issue with the kennel, if i cut the kennel will it mess it up?

So, I haven't cut the fence fabric myself, but I'm just finishing up a chainlink open air coop/run covered entirely with hardware cloth.

If you do cut the kennel fabric, that won't hurt the kennel outer frame. However, I think you should probably stabilize the kennel fabric by placing wood or something over at least one side of it, and using pipe strap or wooden sheathing to secure the cut fabric in place between two pieces of wood, or wood and pipe strap. If you make your cut in the right location, you can un-weave part of the fence, and then use wire to secure the opening shape sides prior to immobilizing it between two pieces of wood. If you study the weave of the wire fabric, you'll see that the strands go vertical, but zig zag back and forth to connect to each other. I'm saying you'd cut one or more strands at the top and bottom and remove them by unweaveing them, rather than just cutting the entire hole. You could bend the top and bottom cut strands back like they do at the top of the fence to reduce pokiness and secure the opening.

 

[tripleBfarms]

If it's an all-in-one kennel you can cut a hole in the fence & re-enforce the wire, butting it up tight with the coop. If you have a kennel with panels, just bolt two panels coming out from the off the front of the coop. You won't need a panel across the front.

what kind of brackets would i use to secure it to the coop

 

[Matejka]

I have a chain link run, and separate coop. I cut a hole in chain link, inserted a piece of culvert, then cut a hole in plywood, slid on other end of culvert, fastened plywood to inside of coop, where pop door was.

 

[tripleBfarms]

I have a chain link run, and separate coop. I cut a hole in chain link, inserted a piece of culvert, then cut a hole in plywood, slid on other end of culvert, fastened plywood to inside of coop, where pop door was.

i actually really love the culvert pipe idea, i ordered a coop from the amish up the road so it won't have any run attached to it at all

 

[FunClucks]

Galvanized pipe strap with radial washers and screws works well for securing chain link top rail (rail) to anything wooden. Also there are other plumbing brackets that could work, but the pipe strap is so handy and versatile and cheap, that's usually what I end up using. I use radial washers and screws to secure the hardware cloth to 2"x4" at the bottom for my apron, and so I often use a radial washer and screw to secure my pipe strap to the 2x4 through the hardware cloth.

When using a chain link panel, the layering from inside the kennel to outside is: chain link top rail, chain link fence fabric, 1/2" hardware cloth (outside barrier for the vertical kennel panels), 1/2" hardware cloth (for apron, bent up around the 2x4 so it can be secured), ground contact 2x4. The pipe strap would snake around the chain link rail at the bottom of the panel and then you'd place it so the screw goes through the washer, through the two ends of the pipe strap, through the two layers of hardware cloth into the wood. I slide the pipe strap sideways so it's bent like a "b", and lays flat against the 2x4 after circling the rail.

Also here's a link to my first build - greenhouse frame covered with hardware cloth. Note how I secured the bottom rails to the wood through the hardware cloth (at the apron specifically). Final pics at the end.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-now-i-need-a-coop-please-help.1519455/page-9

 

[tripleBfarms]

this is perfect!! Thanks!

 

[Cindy in PA]

what kind of brackets would i use to secure it to the coop

I used metal pipe straps. They are shaped like a horseshoe w/ tabs for screw holes & come in different sizes.