Poor boy kennels

[Circle C]

Mandi and I have tossed around the idea of building some dedicated kennels in our barn, since the past several years we have been using some of our horse stalls to house the dogs.
Here's a pic of the current kennels/stalls. The dogs are not able to see out the kennels, don't have much of a breeze, and it ties up some of the stalls that we would be using for horses.


 Last year I drew up some plans to build the kennels myself, but haven't found the motivation to break out the welder and get to work.  I figure if it's too hot to hunt, it must be too hot to work too.    Well, last week we made a buy on some galvanized, welded wire kennels at Tractor Supply, and did some trading with a friend on a couple more panels.  We ended up with enough panels and gates to make 4- 5'x10' kennels for $450.00, or $112.50 per kennel.

Here is a pic of the kennels we purchased.


Here is a layout of our barn, everything is on 12' centers, and the barn is 36' x 96' with a 12' concrete center aisle.  The dogs are currently using the first three stalls on the right, and occasionally the first stall on the left. Tying up 4 stalls.  By going with the 5x10 kennels, I am able to demo the last two stalls on the top left of the page, and convert the 12x24 area into 4 - 5x10 kennels and a 4x10 storage area for dog food, supplies, etc.



Tuesday evening Mandi and I got to work, we removed the original stalls, then used the skid steer to dig out the original stall footing, and prepare the area for concrete forms.  Yesterday evening, we installed the form boards, and put a sand base for the concrete. We still need to put in the rebar this afternoon, then we will pour concrete this evening.  The initial pour will be a 30" walkway in front of the kennels, tied in with the concrete center aisle of the barn. As well as footers for each kennel divider, and the 4' storage area.

Here are some pics of the area formed and ready for rebar and concrete.





Ultimately, the kennels will have a two rows of cement block between each kennel, with concrete floors sloped to a PVC drain on each, running to a header, and ending up in a small septic with a grinder pump. All the plumbing is on hold, as my friend that's a plumber is in the middle of his busy season, and won't be available to assist until the fall. So, for the time being, I will leave the dogs on dirt/shavings for the flooring. With just the concrete footers to keep them from digging under, and I'll lay cattle panel on the floor about 2" below grade to keep them from digging holes. 


Total cost at this point for kennels, forms, rebar, & concrete is $702.00 , or $175.50 per kennel.  I still have to tie in the plumbing for each kennels water, and purchase some style of feeders. Might try to locate some like Rockin-P put on his kennels. 

I know there has been some discussion on watering systems, bowls with floats, bowls with irrigation timers, dog lickers, etc...  anyone using a stainless steel pig nipple for their dog water?

[T-Bob Parker]

Good looking set up! I haven't gotten around to posting pics yet because im not finished but yes, in the puppy kennel I have the ss lick stick and they do just fine, I've gotta admit though for the first week it worried me because I couldn't tell how much water they were getting. I even wanted to install a flow meter to determine their daily intake but its been too dang hot and I've been at work for some looooonnngg hours lately.

[Purebreedcolt]

Think it is jp that has the lickers and work well for his dogs

[Rockin-P-Ranch]

Looks dang good to me Chris. The kennels that you are using are the same ones that I use.I have 10 of them at this time pluse the 4 older ones. I have been thinking of using the pig waters also.But not in the mood to dig up my yard to put the waters under ground to keep the water cool.So for the tme being Im still going to use the water hose have got to have it there anyway to wash out kennels and by that time the water is cool enough for the dogs.to drink.But being to your place before I know why you are putting kenels in your barn.Mine are out side under trees with shade all day.Again I like what you and Mandi are doing. Good Job.

[Mike]

They look good... but ummm, you need something to put in them!

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

I like how Mandi has the rake and has obviously been working hard.  Chris takes the picture with his heavy camera.  That is great stuff right there.   

[Reuben]

nice set up...I was going to use the stainless pig nipples but changed my mind on account I have had good luck with the licksit watering nipple. The licksit works good.

[matt_aggie04]

I have about 6-8 of those water nipples if you want to try them out, they are in a bucket in my garage.

[Gallo]

That's defiantly a heck of a set up there,

[slimhogdog]

Chris how do you like those kennels from TS? I am thinking about getting some myself. Do they seem to be pretty sturdy?

[Circle C]

I have about 6-8 of those water nipples if you want to try them out, they are in a bucket in my garage.

Are they in a bucket because you didn't like them, or just haven't gotten around to installing them?


CBK,

    Somebody has to document the progress, and Mandi couldn't do it because she either had a rake or shovel in her hands the entire evening...

Reuben,
    Is there a functional difference in the pig nipple vs the Lixit?

Mr Ronnie,
     There are more reasons than the obvious for why I have the kennels in the barn. Other than laying low from the        I don't want the kenneled dogs on the east side of the barn, because my practice pen for the sheep and cattle is on the east side, and the kenneled dogs raise hell while I am working with a dog on stock.  Where did you get the feeders for your kennels?

Mike,
    Don't worry, I still have enough dog power to find a hog or two... just gonna need your catch dogs to seal the deal. Plan on seeing me in the woods in the fall ready to roll. You diehards can have the summer hunting, I'm not that mad at the hogs anymore.

[Circle C]

Chris how do you like those kennels from TS? I am thinking about getting some myself. Do they seem to be pretty sturdy?

Slim,

     I just purchased the TSC kennels, so I don't know how I like them just yet.  I can say this though, they will not hold up long term if you have them in mud, on concrete being washed out daily, or in a coastal environment.  They are electro-zinc plated / electrogalvanized which is probably 1/6th the thickness of hot dip galvanized.  I compare zinc plated to a good coat of paint... I hope that by placing mine inside a barn, and on top of tow rows of block, that the 16" of block will keep the water off of the kennels, and help them last a good while. Time will tell.   I do like them better than any chainlink kennel I have seen thus far.

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

Circle C,

I currently have these.  



As you can see by this pic, I slant them slightly down.





Generally if placed low enough, when pups are about 6-7 weeks old they will have learned to drink out of the above by watching momma.  I have some of the hog nipples in 2 pens in addition to the dog lickers.  There was a time, I kept some wild shoats up at the kennels for a project I was working on.  The lickers will run if they are touched at all .  However, they don't produce a lot of water even with a 70 PSI.  The hog nipples produce a lot of pressure, but must be litterally bit on to flow.  This is why hog farmers use them.  The hogs can't just play in them without having to do some work.  I have had plenty of dogs in those 2 kennels.  I have never seen them drink out of the hog nipples.  I think most likely it is a little hard for them to do.  I have recently placed some chickens in some of my kennels.  I equipt them with the Little Giant 2500 autowaterers.  I should note, in my chick pen, I utilize the 2525 (chick) model.  It is not as deep.  The 2550 is really deep.  If I raised labs, I'm sure I'd invest the extra $5 for them.  Anyway, this litter I am raising now, I have them in with one of the 2500 models.  They love it.  The momma actually prefers to drink out of it over the licker.  Both the bowls and lickers are in that pen.  Everytime I hose the pens out (several times a day), I just shoot the water stream into the bowl.  It washes out anything that may be in there including food that has fallen out of pup's mouths.  

http://incubatorwarehouse.com/index.php/little-giant-automatic-poultry-fount-2500.html

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

CBK,
Somebody has to document the progress, and Mandi couldn't do it because she either had a rake or shovel in her hands the entire evening...

Sounds like a great plan to me.  I see nothing wrong at all.   

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

I was actually somewhat concerned the pups might chew on the red plastic bowl part of the waterer, but they never have.  I think the way a dog's toungue picks the water up, it is easier in some form of a bowl.  That being said, I've been using the lickers in my kennel set ups for years, and I've never heard a dog say one single negative thing about them.   

The hog nipples would be the last choice with the other options out there.  I think it may cause issues for their teeth over time.  JMO though.   

[Circle C]

Thanks for the info on the pig nipples, I think I'll find a different option.  Either the Lixit like you are using, or the water bowls.

I have this waterer in my chicken coop, and it has worked well, except for getting mud build up that has to be cleaned out occasionally.




I might just have to flip a coin and decide which one to use.


Another option I have considered, is something like Bryant did with his water.  Just run a water line to each bucket, then have an irrigation timer turn on each day for a minute, or whatever it takes to fill a 3 gallon bucket.  I already have a digital, inline irrigation timer, and that would keep them in fresh water fulltime. But still allow me to have a built in drain in each line, in the event of a pending freeze.

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

The red waterers are nice as you can set the locknut to dictate what water level you want.

[T-Bob Parker]

Thanks for the info on the pig nipples, [/qoute]

Your welcome

[Oly]

That is one fine set up Circle C. Very nice.

[matt_aggie04]

Chris they were a part of the kennel aquasition I made a few years ago when I bought all my kennels in Round Mountain.  The lady gave me those dog houses that you have and there was a bucket of those nipples and she said I could have them.  I still fill up water buckets.