Anchoring a coop

[PirateGirl]

Here is one of the conceptual drawings of the side elevation. There is definitely pitch to the roof. I'm not locked in to the 2' 6" henhouse height. That floor can go up or down based on the slope of the ground.

Skip

I have a raised coop with almost the same height space beneath. Based on my experience if I was going to do it over, I would change one thing. The chickens love the sheltered space I would not take it away, however, I would make it more easily accessible for humans. Consider making one of the fence panels below the coop a removable panel. I have found on occasion that I need to get under there, the wind or a chicken will blow/kick the feeder over out of reach or I need to catch a chicken for some reason so of course she will hide under the coop. Learn from my mistake and my crawling around on my hands and knees in chicken poop with a long broom handle trying to reach things

 

[Hamiam]

Greetings Skipcurt,

Sounds like your chickens will have a great coop to live in.

Consideration of weather conditions is so critical when planning the coop. We recently covered the run, so that the chickens could still go outside during rainy days, and so I wouldn't have to get drenched while tending to them. We also live in a flood zone, so we placed the coop on a small hill to prevent it from flooding out, which has also paid off! High winds are another weather condition we have to deal with living in a mountain pass. But, if you pitch the roof just slightly, water will run off and the wind force will be reduced.

Our coop is 12" off the ground, but 18" would be easier for me to rake out the poop. Stack concrete blocks, on the West side of the coop, provides wind protection for the chickens, as they sit under the coop in bad weather.
Here is a picture of our coop and run.

View attachment 1240615

Here it is before the covered run addition. We had to use camo netting in the Summer for extra shade too!
View attachment 1240619

There is a recreation pen that was also added, but not visible in these pictures. Also, predators have not been able to penetrate the perimeter of the pen, since we filled a 12 " trench with concrete and boulders, and set concrete pavers outside the pen to prevent digging into the pen.

Yup, if you get it right in the beginning, that will mean more to time to spend enjoying your flock!

Hope this was helpful.

God Bless.

I love it!

 

[aart]

Here is one of the conceptual drawings of the side elevation. There is definitely pitch to the roof. I'm not locked in to the 2' 6" henhouse height. That floor can go up or down based on the slope of the ground.

Skip

Go bigger than 4x6 if you can.......here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

 

[Hamiam]

@Skipcurt, when you get a chance, post pics of the progress you've made on your coop.

 

[lazy gardener]

I see your setup is screwed/lagged together but not down to the blocks from what I can see. I will be doing similar but was thinking about mounting down to the blocks.

Agreed with Aart. Is there a reason why you are not going 4 x 8? That would give you increased size (which you'll be very glad to have) and improved economy of using your materials. We used these:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-7-i...5-in-x-10-375-in-Concrete-Deck-Block/50113084

Coop is 10 x 12, we used 4 x 4 vertical posts, then framed the floor, and built up from there. (coop shown in my interview in my signature interview)

I think that with the weight of your framing, you won't have issues with the coop blowing away. I assume GA has sandy soil? You might be more comfortable filling those blocks with concrete, and sinking rebar down into the soil? Perhaps a pea stone base under the blocks???

 

[Skipcurt]

Agreed with Aart. Is there a reason why you are not going 4 x 8? That would give you increased size (which you'll be very glad to have) and improved economy of using your materials. We used these:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-7-i...5-in-x-10-375-in-Concrete-Deck-Block/50113084

Coop is 10 x 12, we used 4 x 4 vertical posts, then framed the floor, and built up from there. (coop shown in my interview in my signature interview)

I think that with the weight of your framing, you won't have issues with the coop blowing away. I assume GA has sandy soil? You might be more comfortable filling those blocks with concrete, and sinking rebar down into the soil? Perhaps a pea stone base under the blocks???

Not any reason in particular. I think I was thinking about the roof more than anything. At 6' deep with a 1' roof overhang front/back it works out perfectly with an 8' sheet of plywood. The extra 2' would be nice but I also just completed the block work and to be honest with you I'm not really interested at this point in moving it out an extra 2'.
Our soil here is clay like. They actually call it GA clay. Very thick, heavy dirt that clumps together very easily. I did fill every other hole in the cinder block with cement to help weigh it down and firm it up but that wouldn't do anything to keep the actual structure from blowing right off. I do agree that the weight of the framing, especially the coop end will likely keep it down but the run end is a different story. I'd love to be able to drill a hole through the cap and either toggle bolt it or cement in one of those threaded rods that are bent at a 90 deg and cement that into the open cavity of the block. What worries me the most is breaking or splitting the cap while drilling it.

 

[aart]

I think I was thinking about the roof more than anything. At 6' deep with a 1' roof overhang front/back it works out perfectly with an 8' sheet of plywood.

It's 6 of one or half dozen of the other...either waste material on walls or extra material for roof. I'd go for extra material on roof, larger coop and still good overhangs on roof.<shrugs>

 

[kitkat5505]

Agree with going bigger and thinking about under coop access. My coop is very similar in size and design. I wish I’d gone bigger and made the coop ground level instead of higher. I have to send my kids to get stuff that gets stuck under the coop like garbage.

I do not have mine anchored and we get strong winds, but it is right next to my fence on the side the winds come from and hasn’t budged.

 

[Skipcurt]

Sure, bigger is always better but at some point finances & space come into play and that's where we end up. As PirateGirl mentioned a few posts up, I'm going to plan on making one of the end panels under the coop hinge out for accessibility.
Mine will also be a few feet off of an existing 6' tall fence so it likely will not go anywhere but it just keeps nagging me.
I will probably use an anchor like I've attached.