- Aug 29, 2010
- 10
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I am preparing to convert an above-ground pool deck into a chicken coop. The deck was built around a little more than 1/4 of the circumference of the above-ground pool we just got rid of. I'm hoping you'll have some pointers for me. I read an article at http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Bu...lements-on-Building-a-Chicken-House&id=477219 and other similar articles. But I'm wondering whether I'm fooling myself by believing such a conversion can be done.
The pool deck sits about 4.5 feet off the ground on a foundation of multiple 4x4 deck posts, most of which are fastened into concrete post foundations sitting on the ground. The outer perimeter of the deck is about 30 feet long and "curved" outward by angling the degrees of straight runs to match the round contour of our former pool. The inner curve (close to the pool) is about 20 feet long. The 4x4 posts on the outer perimeter are buried in the ground and run all the way up to about 12 feet from ground to full height. These served as the supports to which lattice walls were attached when it was a pool.
My plan is to strip it all down to the essentials, removing the aging, spaced deck boards and lattice walls. Then, as option 1, I plan to insulate the floor by either making a "false floor" by laying down 3/4" particle board, then a setting of floor joists filled with insulation, then another final floor of 3/4" particle board. OR, as option 2, trying to attach the 3/4" particle board underneath the existing floor joists (difficult), laying down insulation, and topping that with more 3/4" particle board.
Once the floor is in place, then come the wall framing with windows facing south and west, exterior walls, insulation, interior walls, roof and insulation (vaulted to the west side only and draining to the east, away from the run), and rain gutters. The flooring finish will be vinyl, which I hear is easier to hose down, graded towards a drain hole that empties into a barrel to store and use the droppings for garden fertilizer.
The run itself is the circular area where the pool once sat. It sits in a slight depression relative to the surrounding yard and is currently covered with fine beach sand. I'm going to cover that with a layer of pea gravel, bordered with plastic yard edging (to contain the pea gravel and act as a barrier to digging racoons) and a chain link fence outside of that and flush with the edging. I hear that pea gravel is good for easily washing "down" the run droppings with a hose. Of course, there will be a ramp leading from the run up to the coop with a door we'll manage manually or electro-mechanically on a timer.
There is electricity to the deck and even a gas line that once fed the gas water heater for the pool that can be reworked to provide light, electricity, and heat for the coop. We were planning to get a used refrigerator and put it inside the coop, just inside the entry door, for storing the eggs.
Have you seen other people convert pool decks into chicken coops? Do you think this is doable? Which will be better in the long run for the floor, option 1 or option 2? And, is it wise to try to store and reuse the droppings in this way or is there a better way?
Thanks.
Rob Watson
Spring Grove, IL
The pool deck sits about 4.5 feet off the ground on a foundation of multiple 4x4 deck posts, most of which are fastened into concrete post foundations sitting on the ground. The outer perimeter of the deck is about 30 feet long and "curved" outward by angling the degrees of straight runs to match the round contour of our former pool. The inner curve (close to the pool) is about 20 feet long. The 4x4 posts on the outer perimeter are buried in the ground and run all the way up to about 12 feet from ground to full height. These served as the supports to which lattice walls were attached when it was a pool.
My plan is to strip it all down to the essentials, removing the aging, spaced deck boards and lattice walls. Then, as option 1, I plan to insulate the floor by either making a "false floor" by laying down 3/4" particle board, then a setting of floor joists filled with insulation, then another final floor of 3/4" particle board. OR, as option 2, trying to attach the 3/4" particle board underneath the existing floor joists (difficult), laying down insulation, and topping that with more 3/4" particle board.
Once the floor is in place, then come the wall framing with windows facing south and west, exterior walls, insulation, interior walls, roof and insulation (vaulted to the west side only and draining to the east, away from the run), and rain gutters. The flooring finish will be vinyl, which I hear is easier to hose down, graded towards a drain hole that empties into a barrel to store and use the droppings for garden fertilizer.
The run itself is the circular area where the pool once sat. It sits in a slight depression relative to the surrounding yard and is currently covered with fine beach sand. I'm going to cover that with a layer of pea gravel, bordered with plastic yard edging (to contain the pea gravel and act as a barrier to digging racoons) and a chain link fence outside of that and flush with the edging. I hear that pea gravel is good for easily washing "down" the run droppings with a hose. Of course, there will be a ramp leading from the run up to the coop with a door we'll manage manually or electro-mechanically on a timer.
There is electricity to the deck and even a gas line that once fed the gas water heater for the pool that can be reworked to provide light, electricity, and heat for the coop. We were planning to get a used refrigerator and put it inside the coop, just inside the entry door, for storing the eggs.
Have you seen other people convert pool decks into chicken coops? Do you think this is doable? Which will be better in the long run for the floor, option 1 or option 2? And, is it wise to try to store and reuse the droppings in this way or is there a better way?
Thanks.
Rob Watson
Spring Grove, IL
