Jensownzoo's Coop Build

Started construction on my first coop!

Yesterday, I measured and dug out all the post holes. I was *supposed* to have help doing it, but no call/no show. :/ Getting everything squared up would have been much much easier with two people since the ground isn't level. Not to mention the digging. So, this part took all day.

Surprisingly, I woke up today in fairly good shape considering how sore I was the night before. The help that I scheduled for today was much more reliable, so things went much smoother (although I am still very very sore). Only one post hasn't been concreted in--ran out of bags as I forgot to account for the above ground slopes so water will shed the right direction. This pic looks all wonky for some reason, but I can assure you that everything is level and plumb!



Tomorrow I will be cleaning up my mess (too sore to do any more bending over to take care of it today) plus adding in all the joists. I have to arrange transport to get the plywood sheets as they won't fit in my minivan.

Good job thus far, hope your helpers are more reliable for the rest of the project.

you have a great start!!!

the hard part is done, now for the fun part!!!

Right. So. No joists today. Hands are too sore to do much gripping. Will just get the concrete in (should only take four bags) before it rains tonight and fills the holes with water.

Have arranged to go pick up plywood tomorrow morning. I have some oops exterior wood stain to apply to the exposed side of the wood for extra protection against the elements. The coop side will be covered in either linoleum or FRP, so won't need it.

Am seriously considering just doing a 3' apron of HW cloth around the coop base. Was going to bury it 18", but the thought of digging through more wet, heavy clay right now...we'll see.

3 feet of apron seems pretty excessive. I think 18 inches is probably more than enough.

Im new to this, so don't take my word for it. But i've read a lot of posts on here and that seems to be the consensus.

I don't know if the clay there is as hard to dig as it is here in Georgia, but if it is you don't have to dig for the apron.

We couldn't dig down on all sides of my coop, so laid 2 feet of hardware cloth ( attached to coop foundation), topped it with dirt and tampered it down. On top of that, placed large 20-25 pound cement stones close together. Have never had it challenged, but to dig under they would have to start further than 2 feet, dig thru clay and rock, and if the were to tunnel then 40-50 pounds of cement would tumble down on them.

I'd agree on an apron also. Digging clay stinks! Take some ibuprofen, a warm bath to soothe those muscles and just lay hardware cloth and cover with rocks or pavers or whatever. So much easier.

You've convinced me! No more digging for me! I'll do an apron and rake all the dirt/clay left from the post holes over the mesh and start working on finding big rocks to secure the border. There are a few wet weather creeks on the property that can provide me with those.

Jensownzoo said:

You've convinced me! No more digging for me! I'll do an apron and rake all the dirt/clay left from the post holes over the mesh and start working on finding big rocks to secure the border. There are a few wet weather creeks on the property that can provide me with those.

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My way of thinking if a strong fellow ( not me, DH) has great effort to dig in our clay, then predators aren't likely to accomplish that.

But I would suggest you buy, rent or borrow a tamper to pack that dirt before you add the stones. I used bought stones for landscaping and the real ones are too light IMO. You may want to price some heavy concrete ones.

OhGoodie....you have a coop build!
I've really admired some of your posts, can't wait to watch you build you coop!
Ditto the ibuprofen and hot shower/bath, then more ibuprofen before you start the next workday.