EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

This is the first part of the construction of my kennels at the new place.....The first phase was hand clearing this area and burning all the crap to make a hole to put this deck in.  Creek Bottom Construction, Swamp Donkey Design, Pine Goblin Architecture still working on a name for building this kind of contraption on hill on the way to a creek bottom....  Plan on framing it and partially decking it this weekend, I'll update with pics as I progress.  This deck will be 14'x72' and will hold 7 Priefert kennels when it is done.
Posts installed....
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Looks like work to me.

Seeing the slope, I can understand why you decided to go with the wood over the concrete.

It is funny to me what a string level will teach you, we both thought it sloped the opposite direction over the 72' then it does.  The closest corner on the left is my bench mark at 24" off the ground and everything else is leveled off of that.  The far back corner is 43" off the ground haha.  Kinda like a kennel on stilts...

Keep us updated Matt, I want to see how it turns out.

looks good Matt,  that ground should drain good..

Thanks guys, if it will ever dry out around here I am sure it will drain excellent but the problem with a sand hill is seepage.  Every hole I dug had water in it before I could finish digging it and if you let it set for a few minutes it would be brim full with water.  I never did get down to the clay or iron ore layer even at three feet deep so I know there will be plenty of sand to soak up what I put on it after the kennel is built.  I decided to use 2"x8" to frame and deck with, I am going to save nearly $400 over 2x12's and I shouldn't have any cupping issues that could arise with a 12" wide board.  Going to pick up 160 2x8x14 Saturday so I will see how far I can get if it doesn't rain on me.

If you dont mind me asking how much you spent on just the lumber. Thinking about building me one.

I should have about 1800 in it when it is all said and done, not cheap but about half the cost of dirt and concrete

Good choice on the wood with that slope, It would probably end up about 1800 w/ dirt and concrete alone.

To have someone else do it concrete alone would cost you $3800

Yeah, thats right. I was thinking of doing it myself.

Well after a solid days work she is starting to take shape, I hope to finish decking it tomorrow, have about 45' left, and set a few kennels on it.  If you don't own a nail gun I suggest you go get one immediately!  Chris let me barrow his and man that thing is nice, makes projects like this go by a lot quicker.
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Looking good Matt.  How much gap did you leave between the decking boards?

looking good. 

I am butting the boards together and letting the gap come as the boards dry.  We put a mark on the front and rear joist 12" apart so we could track our progress and make sure we did not get off on either end and not know it.  So far we are dead on after 45'.  Sometimes a board may be a quarter or and eighth off on one end but we fix it with a pry bar (t-post against the ground) and go on to the next.  We have been lucky too that we got a good load of wood and the boards have looked great so far.

Nice Matt, like the way its lookin so far.

Well started this morning about 7:45 and by 3:30 we had it looking about like this, long weekend but I am pleased with what we were able to accomplish.  Another few weekends and we ought to be dog ready.  Going to bring the remaining three kennels over and put them up, roof the whole thing and finish my perimeter fence.  I'll keep the pics coming till it is finished.
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matt

what are the dimensions of the kennels?  looks great i have been contemplating the exact same thing since i cant afford to pay somebody to level the ground and poor the concrete..

looks good Matt,  those trees should provide plenty of shade..

Each one of the kennels is 10'x10' Priefert brand, leaves me with a 3.5' walk way.  I am putting a 14' roof on the kennels so the wholed deck will be covered even the walk way for feeding.

Craig,
There will be tons of good shade down there I just hope they can catch a breeze, and being that close to the creek the skeeters don't carry em off in the summer time haha.  I think they will like their new home.  If it is too bad I will install some fans  8)

Thats gonna be real nice Matt....I like it. I knew some old men in the cajun swamps who did theres like that but w/ a thin slab and about 4' in the air.

got a ? if you dont mind as a comparison how much did you save by not poorin a slab jw

By not pooring a slab in this exact same location I saved over 2K in dirt work and concrete.  The slab alone would have cost around $2800 but the dirt would have run me another 500-1000 if I spread it myself.  That and I didn't have to change the natural landscape too much and water can run underneath it, there were a few advantages outside of the cost savings that I feel like I got by going to an elevated wooden deck.

I wish I would have elevated mine more than 4in off the ground when I built them. Looks real good. 

Matt,
THanks Guinea pig.......LOL ;D

I really like the looks of those and I am waiting to hear a report in a few months before I pull the trigger on my kennel plans that are swirling in my head.

Keep up the good work and take lots of pictures!
Longshot

Thank you James, I was talking to Richard Skinner this morning about foot conditioning on the soft wood.  That will be an experiment in and of itself but I think between roll roofing and some A/C pads (concrete) I will be able to keep their feet from getting too soft.

Matt, Hurry up! I wanting to see the finished product, with a smiling yella dog in there.

I am considereing my next kennel runs to be on wood floors. maybe up on skids so I can move them with the tractor to put lyme underneath when needed and have a good cleaning.

I love the concrete but after last years hard drought and a wet, wet couple of months I am getting some foundation moving that is causing my drainage to be off.

I have not tried it yet but I am hoping to put some lyme and water in a pump sprayer and spray under the deck to keep the smell down and scoop the solids until I finish my ulitmate gutter project.  Goin to cut some large (24" or greater) sewer pipe in half and attach to the back of the kennel and then have it drain into a burried barrel which should eliminate any need for scooping.  That one will have to wait though, have to finish a good bit of fence and get the rest of the kennels put on the deck and roofed.

Nice kennels for sure .What did the deck run you if don't mind me asking.

 now thats gonna smell sweet   burning dog piss and  well ya know  i threw some on a brush pile and burned it never again
      ewww glad i am not down wind
  Matt good looking job     

         Dexter
 

Matt

Any new progress im dieing to see them finished so i can steal your idea  ;D

Why dont you try hunting them dogs a little bit!! ;D

Timmy I was only able to put em on 16 hogs in January while building all this crap so I will try to step it up a little coming into the spring and start carrying em to the woods a little more often ;D

The way you boys catch hogs that was probably only one or two hunts!!

I wouldnt be worried about soft feet however I would be concerned with the gap left between the boards.

If it is not wide enough water and dirt, feices and Urine will not flow thorugh easliy.  If it is too wide they could hang and brake toe nails or even toes and ankles if it is too wide.

There has to be a ideal gap that needs to be left in between the planks.
Longshot

I butted the boards and hope to have just enough gap to allow for fluids to go through once the wood dries this summer.  Time will tell the tale on whether or not I made the right decision or not.  I will say this, this creek bottom is snakey and has alot of ants and deep sand for fleas all of which I hope to not have to deal with in kennels with them being this high off the ground.  I was wearing a long sleave shirt and a coat yesterday building fence around all this kennel area and found a baby copper head.  I have a feeling that this spring and summer will be a snake killing party with all the woods and the creek around me.  I did manage to put the rest of the kennels on the deck yesterday and finished building my corners for my fence.  All I like is putting up about 75 t-posts and stretching some wire, and then putting the r-panel on the dog kennels.  Two or three days worth of work and I will be ready for dogs and should have a lot more pictures to show of the semi-finished product.....

I am excited about your kennela and cant wait to see the finished pics.

Longshot
PS do you need me to hop in my boat and come help with the T-posts?

I have planted them stinking things everyday after work and I still have about 20 or more to put in.  I am tired of t-posts!!  I am going to buy the roofing material tomorrow and Lord willing we will get it put on and the wire stretched on my fence this weekend.  There is a lot of work to be done between now and then so we will see how it goes. 

I thought it was we around here but it has been raining since last night and is still raining now.  I am considering adding some type of plank to the bottom of my rubber boots to help with weight distribution, you sink everywhere you step.....

Well after three solid days of working at it we finished all of the perimeter fence, roofed the kennels and moved the dogs over.  I am TIRED but will try to take pics tomorrow and get them posted up so everyone can see how it looks but I am ver pleased with the finished product and total cost of the project.

These are the least crappy pics I took this afternoon as it was getting dark, I will take some more when it is sunny and after I have cleaned all my junk up.
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After these were taken I put my "porches" on in front of my houses and put my barrels up on the rails which made everything look a little more organized.

Looks good Matt... you did a fine job. ;D

Now it's time to go play. ;)

AMEN!!  I have never been able to walk out behind the house and feed all my dogs since I started doing this, it sure is nice to walk out and spend some time with the dogs and then walk back up here kick your shoes off and walk in the house.  I know that sounds funny to most people but for 5 years now I had a 30 mile round trip to be able to do that haha, I am spoiled already.

Matt that is got to be the best looking set of pens that Ive seen in a long time. Your hard work has really paid off.

Thank you!  If you look at the front edge of the deck and it looks a little un-even it is, I am going to pop a string on it after the wood dries and trim it off straight and finish the end out with some cedar under the deck, didn't want to think I was that lazy  ;D

Looks good Matt. What gauge is that roof? I am putting mine up this week and I am still unsure what I want my rafters spaced like. I have 26ga r panel.

I think it is 26 as well, I know that each 14' piece is 37lbs there is 888lbs of roof up there  :o

I have a bundle of 17 10' panels and I cant even budge it. I was going to put them 24'' centers. Over kill? We have lots of wind.

I have some 10' material that weighs twice what these 14's do, it is really heavy so I know what you mean.  I only attached the 4x4's front and rear on the kennel with plumbing strap and wood screws and then screwed the roof to the 4x4's, I have done this several times now with no issues.

Nice Work Matt !!!!   

  not that your in the kennel building bussiness you can come up to oklahoma and stay a few weeks and do some hunting and build me a setup like that..  ;D

Have Chis' nail gun will travel  8)  Thanks for the compliments!

Nice,You did a good job.

looking good

Kennels look great!  Good work bud!

Looks awesome Matt!

man thats awesome great job

Matt would like to see some pics of them in a year from now as far as floor wear, and your input on cleaning and such. That looks great.

If I can get 3-5 yrs out of the deck I will be happy, I plan on getting more like 15yrs out of it.  It will be interesting to see in a year for sure.  I think the biggest that will help these is that they are covererd completely by a roof.  The sun really seems to damage wood as much as anything else.

Where is the steps?  ;D Looks good i have wood floors and they have lasted a good while just keep em clean the stinch will sink in em

I ant to find a big slab of moss rock and put it there for a step, I am 6'4" no real "need" for a step  ;D

Looks good!  Next time you come to Oklahoma we'll load you up a big rock or 2 for a step......free of charge.  It's gonna cost you in gas to haul it back to Texas. LOL!

Haha yeah but it would be cool to have okie rock in the east Texas piney woods  ;D

Beautiful construction on that - how long did it take from start to finish? 

If you ever decide you need kennel decks for a portion of the kennel,  here is a link to our decks, they are mold and mildew resistant, insect and bacteria proof, chew proof, impervious to feces and urine - so you can just rinse it away...and will not rot or fade in teh sun.  It also keeps the dogs off the wood, allows for drainage - each piece is a 2 x 4 and can withstand several hundred pounds:

http://gulfcoastpetsupplies.com/Kennel-Deck-Dog-Kennel-Platforms-kenneldeck.htm?categoryId=-1

Thought I would update with some new pics, been using for about 4-5 months now with no complaints.....

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This pen is just set up for her to have puppies in, after they are born and up I will likely take down the plywood....
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I knew you was wanting a walker hound but I'm afraid that ones legs are way too short!

That hound is for getting through the hog tunnels in the rose hedges. Talk about putting pork on the table, she is cold nosed, bawl mouthed, and gets into those thorny tunnels like a weasel. Our long legged cur dogs have a hard time in those tunnels but that hound goes right in and seals the deal. Pretty soon everyone will have one in their pack.
  ;D

I need to get a kennel built. I was going to go with cement. But I could go with wood and put it in the trees for more shade. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the wood deck to the cement.

COST!!  and site prep and the breathability that wood provides, it will flex and is supposed to be better for a dogs joints, I am able to elevate the wooden deck cutting down on dog/snake encounters as well as ground dwelling insects and rodents.....

Matt, I heard u talkin about how u were goin to cut a pipe into for your drainage and burying a barrel.  I done the very same thing last yr when I built mine,  and I even put a Little Giant grinder pump in the bottom of the barrel and run a 1 and half inch line to my treatment plant to deal with the excess water in the barrel. It sure works fine man, something you might want to try for the excess waste and water.  If u need the specifics let me know and I will take pictures and show em.  It makes me even lazier. Ha

I haven't done anything on that front yet, I would sure like to see some pics of your set up.
Thanks,
Matt

Matt, I will take some pictures of the set up this weekend and post em for u but to tell you the specifics of it, I just run a 28' ft gutter down the back of the pens and run it into a 6 inch pvc pipe which is inserted in a 65 gallon barrel with a screw on lid that is buried.  I thought I was never gonna get it buried though, felt like I was in China when I finished. I then put a cinder block on the bottom of the barrel and set my grinder pump on the block. I came out the top of the pump with my 1'' and half pipe into a union and out the front of the barrel under the ground about 4 inches and run it into my treatment plant, that way the excess water and waste is run into my house treament plant.  Man, i can tell u it is a lot easier to deal with because it has a float on the pump and when the water gets to a certain level it automatically kicks on.  Hope it helps you cause it sure made it a lot easier for me...

My main question is what did you make the gutter out of?  I have a few ideas, all of which are real expensive.

I dont know if yalls lumber store sells the same as ours, but mine is simply a gutter that would hang on the eve of a house.  Probally 4 inces wide and 6 inches deep.  The sections are about 10 feet long and you slide the gutters together and screw them on the ends where they dont come apart.

I got you, that would work for me I suppose I would just need to fashion a "back stop" to the gutter so I could capture the waste as I am washing my deck off.  I really wanted to located some 12" black plastic culvert pipe and cut 1/4 out of it and that would provide gutter and back stop in one piece but at $150/20' it is a little too pricey!

Dude, I have ALWAYS wanted to have every one of my dogs on concrete, but I think that you have changed my mind.  The kennels look real good.  I plan on seeing them in person real soon.   ;D

Matt, I finished my kennels on saturday.  Thanks for the inspiration.  ;) Putting them on wood saved me a lot of "headaches".

NICE!  You need put some pics up so we can see how you did em.  I really like mine and with the number of snakes I have seen around here in the last few days I am very happy with my decision to get them off the ground.

MAN, that looks alot like my set-up,I will post pics in a few days. I too have been figureing out a backstop. 12" culvert, 10''-12" pvc, a 2"x6" for a bottom and a 2"x2"x12" for a top forming a V . But I may land on a commercial gutter , like a home's except larger, I will mount it at an angle . Like a 45 or so to catch as much as possible.But whatever you decide. Be sure to have a gutter on the roof, so the rain doesn't fall right into the septic backstop and overfill the tank. I just finished putting in 8 ton of no.57 rock for a walkway/drainage in front, to much work for a old man.lol

I do not know where you shop for culvert pipe but I found 12" black culvert pipe corrugated on the outside and smooth on the inside for $5.60 a foot. That would be $112 for 20 feet. If you want some let me know. I can check with another friend he might be able to get it a little cheaper. I just want to see yours before I do the same thing.

Very nice looking kennels!!

That's real nice.

Matt or anyone else that has kennels on wood, have you noticed any difference in the toughness of your dogs pads?  I built some kennels on a deck about a month ago and this past weekend I had a dog run a pad off.  I wouldn't normally think anything about it but this wasn't a long hunt and the terrain was mostly ranch land which I wouldn't classify as rough on a dog's pad so I'm wondering if the smooth deck isn't too blame.  I also hunt this dog on a least a weekly basis and this is the first time she's had a pad issue which again makes me think the wood deck may have something to do with it. 

I definitely notice it but roll roofing around the feed/water area us good or that adhesive traction tape. I have never clipped toe nails till going to wood. The price you pay I suppose....

Looks good. :)

I have had dogs on wood for over 12 year, and have not had a problem. Are you road hunting ?? 

80% roading the dogs and 20% casting, which is about normal for how and where we hunt. 

I haven't had a problem with pads in the two years I've had mine on wood, but the toe nails are something different have to trim them also. I don't usually road hunt though.