How are you liking the kennels Bryant? Any changes yet? What did you end up doing about the hay getting in the septic system?
Love the kennels, and wouldn't really change a thing. The hay last year was definately a problem. This year, the dogs just had to be cold. The north end of the building is sheeted, and the barrels also face south so no wind gets to the dogs..just cold temperatures. During one spell this winter (below freezing temps for almost a week) I did break down and fill the barrels with hay. I just closed the septic drain, and cleaned by shovel for a couple days. When temps did warm up, it took me about 4 hours, a shop vac, pair of gloves and about five trash bags to get everything straightened back up....not something I would want to do often.
The septic system (knock on wood) has worked flawlessly. When I built the pens, in my mind I just had figured having to have it pumped maybe once a year. I'm going on two years of housing +/- 15 dogs at all times and so far no problems. I do add rid-ex to the system once a month and make certain that no chemicals go down there. I wash the pens at least every other day and a LOT of poop and water go down the drain.
I did have to go back and add partial roofs to a couple of the pens. I have a bulldog down there named Monkey (and rightly so) that can climb over the 6' panels faster than I can shut and lock the gate.
The automatic watering system works like a champ also although I've considered setting up a couple pens and trying some of those lickers. I have a couple male dogs who really like pissing in their buckets and its irritating having to empty and refill those particular ones.
