Using Concrete as a Kennel Floor

I have an entire blog dedicated to my dogs, but I figured this is a post that can be on both of my blogs, as concrete is widely used in a variety of ways.

For starters, I dislike the term "kennel" because to some it implies an outdoor area in which a dog lives and spends all of it's time.  That is not the case here.

We moved into our home in late November.  The basement is a finished walkout basement, and already had a doggy door in place.  We immediately set up heavy duty kennel panels in a 20' x 30' to make a secure area for my three dogs to come and go as they please when we are not at home.  We purchased two panels with gates, and placed locks on them. We purchased field fencing to make a larger area for supervised play, but the ground froze right after we moved, and until the last couple of days has remained frozen solid or snow covered. 

My dogs are diggers.  With the ground frozen, it is not something I had to worry about.  With Spring and warmer temperatures approaching, I realized I needed to dig-proof their kennel area. 

Several options exist for preventing a dog from digging out under a fence.

• Some, including a friend of mine, use large paving stones the entire length of the fence line.  I considered this option, but there is a cost or effort to make them look nice and ensure that they stay properly in place.
• Others bury fencing three feet or more underground.  This would be timely, and a huge labor investment. 
• I have seen others take cattle or hog panels and place them on the ground, perpendicular to the fencing itself, and then secure the panels to the fence.  Dogs cannot dig an area large enough through the panels to dig out.
• Lastly, I have seen many use concrete.

I ended up choosing concrete for two reasons.  Firstly, I feel that it is safest, in that it is nearly impossible for a dog to dig through or move concrete.  Secondly, my dogs live inside with me.  Concrete will mostly eliminate the mud and dust tracking that terrorizes me on occasion.



We had a warm up and snow melt, that led to my nemesis:  MUD.

The smaller kennel is set up to create a double gated entry, for when we leash the dogs outside to take them on walks, particularly if it one at a time.  This creates a safer environment to prevent escapes. 


Close up of the horrid mud.

I contacted a local company last week, and they agreed to come do the work on Monday.  Sunday evening, we removed the kennel panels, and made a sliding device to close off the doggy door.

They arrived early Monday morning, and did a bit of leveling, set up a frame, and placed a sheet of thick, heavy plastic on the ground.  We chose to have it slope slightly, to run into the grass when hosing it down.

The concrete truck showed up a couple hours later, and poured the concrete in.  I am easily entertained, as I had to watch it being poured.

 

 

Then these gentlemen set about doing the hard work.  Leveling, smoothing, and placing expansion joints in the concrete.  It took them nearly all day.

Monday and Tuesday were beautiful days here.  High temperatures in the 60's, and sunny.  We took the dogs on long walks, and enjoyed the time outside with them either on leashes, or on tie-outs near us, while the concrete "cured."

Last night, we replaced the kennel panels, and this morning, it was ready to use.

It might be hard to tell, but that IS snow in the picture.  After a high of 68 degrees yesterday, it was snowing this morning, and the wind chill was near zero degrees. Only in the Midwest. 

I am glad I chose concrete.  I feel safe with it, and there is also the cleanliness factor.  I am going to purchase some outdoor beds, for the times when my dogs just want to nap outside, so that they don't have to do so on hard concrete. 

Starting Plants from Seed Indoors

Today I took the plunge, and started several seeds today.  This is something I have never done, and am a bit nervous.  I live right on the cusp of zone 5 and zone 6, so am planning on transplanting sometime during the first part of May.  But given this incredibly long and cold winter we have endured, I might be lucky to do so.

I went a bit overboard buying seeds, and have lots left.  I actually have already purchased the seeds I plan to direct sow as well.

I purchased most all Burpee seeds, a mixture of organic and regular.  I picked up the Seeds of Change afterwards, once I realized I had forgotten to purchase the oh so important cherry tomatoes.  Apparently most don't start brussels sprouts and watermelon from seed, but I have a friend who does it with great success, so I am giving it a try.  This is all a learning experience for me.

I chose these Planters Pride greenhouse kits with organic coconut coir for a few reasons.  The main reason is that the cups can be planted directly into the ground, without having to remove the delicate root ball to transplant.

I filled each cup with seed starting mix, and made a giant mess doing so.  I then misted the soil, prior to putting two seeds into each small hole.

Les built a me a rack of some wood we had laying around, to hold the light fixture that his work was going to throw away.  The height of the fixture is easily adjustable because of the wire he used in it's construction.  He also found a lamp timer that I did not know we had, and now I need to figure out how to use it. I placed this on a card table in the extra bedroom. I purchased some florescent grow lights, and will turn them on as soon sprouts appear.

I am slightly paranoid.  Is my soil moist enough?  Too moist?  Is it warm enough in the bedroom?  Only time will tell.  Fingers crossed.

Chickens-Heartbreak then Happiness

I knew I wanted chickens, and a friend of mine also wanted some.  We decided to order some online, which turned into a postal service disaster.

I eventually got some chickens, and the posts about heartbreak and then an update, can be read HERE and HERE.

I did eventually end up with 12 chicks, three each of Buff Orphingtons, Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Easter Eggers.

I few days later, I was at a different Rural King, where they had straight run (a mix of pullets/girls and cockerels/boys) Silver Laced Wyandottes and Welsummers.  I ended with three of each, in hopes that they were all or mostly girls.  One of the Welsummers died, now I now have 17 chicks, ranging in age (I think) from almost 2 weeks old to 4 weeks old.

The 17 remaining chicks are thriving now.  I have them in a brooder box made of a 150 gallon Stock Tank which will be repurposed as a doggy swimming pool.  For heat/warmth, I chose to use a Brinsea EcoGlow Brooder for Chicks, as it is infinitely safer than a traditional heat lamp.  I have only been impressed with it.

These babies are eating unmedicated Nutrena NatureWise Starter Grower, Chick Grit, and the occasional treat of dehydrated mealworms, which they love.

In 4-6 weeks, they will be ready to move outside, so I had best be getting busy building my coop.  We are incorporating it into the existing barn, using one of the bays.  Fortunately, Les has sourced us an abundance of free wood from his job, in the form of shipping crates.

About Us

I am Rebekah, a 30 something RN, and my significant other is Les, a 40 something government subcontractor.  I grew up in the country, and the last few years I have been itching to return.  Les and I had been casually looking at houses, as we already had a mortgage and neighbors we loved, when we stumbled across what would eventually become our home in the summer of 2013.

I loved it instantly.  The house was smallish, but move-in ready, and sits on 7 acres with a barn, pond, creek, woods, and open areas.  I had dreams of my three dogs splashing in the creek and pond, goats, chickens and gardens.

We were able to sell our old house, and moved into our farmette right after Thanksgiving of 2013.

We are slowly (it has only been three months) taking steps towards fulfilling our dreams.  The basement is walkout with a dog door, so the first thing we did is install heavy duty, secure fencing just off the house for the dogs.

Eventually, we will have Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, a hopefully large vegetable garden, and free-ranging chickens.  Join us on our journey!