Building a new area for the birds - Please Help me do it right.

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
I was going to mention that. I think people that like sand do use it so they can sift out feces.
I much prefer pine shavings in the coop and straw in the run.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Wow, here is my $.02. About the only place we could place our coop and run was over our leach field, gulp. For that reason I did not want to plant posts and, if needed, could disassemble it. Overall was 10' x 30' with the coop taking 10'x6' and being elevated about 18".

Due to slight irregularities in the area, I first put down a 2' apron that started under the pea gravel and block but NOT inside the run! First was the wire, then pea gravel as a leveling course, next was either 2" or 4" thick, 8"x16" pavers, thickness as needed. I then built panels to set on the pavers, free standing. We would screw them together and had a 4"x4" post at each of the 4 corners. Completely roofed with corrugated roofing. After building the coop and installing the panels, all is/was good.

One problem occurred and that was the grass didn't last long despite our efforts to water it, chickens LOVE grass! But the problem was that the chickens started scratching the pea gravel which started to undermine the pavers. I ended up mixing up some ready mix concrete and making a fillet of concrete on the inside of the run, maybe 3-4" thick at the pavers and then taper to nothing 7-8" into the run. I would do a 4-8 ft section and cover it with scrap plywood till it dried to keep the girls from getting into the soft concrete. This worked out fine and added almost a foot of digging predator barrier on the inside of the run and under the coop.

Might be a good idea to see our posts under Spring 2017 First Timers Post. We posted many pictures of our efforts starting with the laying down of the pea gravel and continuing on. We have had ZERO intrusions by anything except an occasional fly!

Good luck to you. BB

 

[aart]

Unfortunately, the area the chickens (and goats) are in is where the leach field is.

I would be very leery of digging anywhere near the leach field.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If the OP hasn't done so yet, before any further construction, I would go through all the coops/runs on the following link to see what others have done and their comments on their experiences with their endeavors in retrospect.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/chicken-coops.12/

 

[Enchanted1s]

I would be very leery of digging anywhere near the leach field.

@aart Very leery indeed! Makes me VERY nervous. The leach field runs right down the middle of the entire area where we have the goats and the chickens. The picture I posted - where I moved the goat fence. That obvious hump in the middle of the fence - runs almost all the way from the front to the back. PITA!

I will check out that link - thanks @ChickenCanoe /

 

[Enchanted1s]

We usually call the building they go into at night the coop.
The wired in larger space where they spend most of their day is usually referred to as the run or pen.
If no pen and they are free to roam = free range.
When you say the box they sleep in, are you talking about the nest box? Once maturing, they should be sleeping on a roost. The roost should be wide enough so they can cover their toes at night if it gets cold there. Most use a 2X4 with the wide side up for a roost.
They shouldn't sleep in the nest box. That is a habit that causes poopy eggs. The nest box is strictly for laying eggs. One way to prevent it is to have the roost higher than the nest boxes since they like to sleep as high as possible.

Thanks - I do have two roosts (2x4 with 4" up) in their coop. This coop does have a nest box attached to it, that they have always used to sleep in. I have other laying boxes for the eggs. NOW, that I have redone the roosts in the coop - the only one sleeping in the nest box is Rudy. All 3 of the girls choose to sleep on the roosts - inside the coop.

I guess I was confused because 1) the coop in a box was called a coop - also had a tiny run. and 2) they only go inside their structure to eat, lay eggs, and sleep - they free range all day.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For the time being, you can block off the nest boxes in the afternoon, giving them no option but to find somewhere else to sleep.

Those tiny manufactured coops never cease to amaze me.
They seem to be designed by someone with some carpentry skill but zero experience with chickens. They always grossly over exaggerate how many birds they will accommodate. I think they take the square footage that caged layer hens have and use that number. A little building that would be tight for 4 birds, they'll say will hold 10-15.
Then they put 3 or 4 nest boxes in when they only need 1 or 2.
And they are expensive on top of that.
Chickens like friends, they just don't like them that close. That's why cage layers need their beaks trimmed.

 

[Enchanted1s]

OK - @aart and others have convinced me to skip the SAND and rake more leaves! If I am understanding what I am reading - they will be fine, happy, content with just dried leaves in their run?? We have more leaves than we know what to do with! I need to find some more info on the Deep Litter run, but thrilled that I don't have to come up with another $100 for sand! THEN, Christmas Eve, my better half found this on Craigslist, for FREE. Guess what we did on Christmas Eve LOL. This may change my building plans - but again thrilled to have the reclaimed lumber!


Another question - I am still working on digging the hole for the under run barrier. Could I use roofing tin? We just got a new roof and I have an abundance of roofing tin. Could I bury that under the structure to keep out burrowing critters and predators?? BTW, I am pretty sure that where the structures are is just behind the end of the leach field.

Took the babies are a month old and went outside for the first time today. All went very well. The older ones were curious but not aggressive at all. I have to run a mile of extension cords (slight exaggeration) for their heat plate, and took them back inside before dark.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

OK - @aart and others have convinced me to skip the SAND and rake more leaves! If I am understanding what I am reading - they will be fine, happy, content with just dried leaves in their run?? We have more leaves than we know what to do with! I need to find some more info on the Deep Litter run, but thrilled that I don't have to come up with another $100 for sand! THEN, Christmas Eve, my better half found this on Craigslist, for FREE. Guess what we did on Christmas Eve LOL. This may change my building plans - but again thrilled to have the reclaimed lumber!
View attachment 1219857

Another question - I am still working on digging the hole for the under run barrier. Could I use roofing tin? We just got a new roof and I have an abundance of roofing tin. Could I bury that under the structure to keep out burrowing critters and predators?? BTW, I am pretty sure that where the structures are is just behind the end of the leach field.

Took the babies are a month old and went outside for the first time today. All went very well. The older ones were curious but not aggressive at all. I have to run a mile of extension cords (slight exaggeration) for their heat plate, and took them back inside before dark.
View attachment 1219853

it’s great that you found that old jungle gym (?) for free. You could put plywood on the sides and it would make a nice sized henhouse.

 

[Enchanted1s]

What is everyone's thought on using roofing tin on the floor of the coop? I was thinking this would take care of any draft coming up between the floor boards and should be easy to hose down when needed?

ALSO - Here in the desert - New Mexico - do I really need sheathing under the tin on the roof? No snow to speak of. Funds are a huge issue for us. Roofing tin, we have an abundance of and I plan to use instead of plywood where I can. Possibly some removable tin panels that we can put up in the winter and take down in the spring?