Building a run down a slope

[Simkie]

I'm prepping for chickens this March (yay!) and am working through how to build the run. The coop is this adorable 8x8 playhouse building.

The run will come off the back of the coop, opposite of the little kid door that's in the front of the pic here, and will be ~ 35' x 12', down a slope. I'd very much like it to at least have a partial roof.

I have some ideas about how to do this, but am curious to hear from you all here, as I'm sure some of you have also built runs down slopes? The slope is a little tricky, as it tying the roof into the back of the coop. Rotating the coop 90 degrees is not an option.

Would love your thoughts!

 

[cjoffutt]

We had to do this at my sisters house for their Coop & Run. We formed up the backside of the coop area with some railroad timbers and brought in enough gravel fill so the coop itself would sit level there. For the run, it is 100% downhill slope. Pitch wise, it's probably a good 4/12.

Run was made using 4x4 pressure treated posts set down 3 feet (frost line) on a true vertical. Used some 2x4 pressure treated to act as band boards at the top and at about 30" up where the HWC meets the normal chicken wire. A 2x8 was used at the very bottom at ground level. These were all ran to follow the contour of the slope itself. Also used 2x4 pressure treated to form the roof trusses to hold the chicken wire roof.

As to where the run met the coop, we spaced the run 'front wall' about 12" off of the 'back wall' of the coop. We then took HWC from the coop wall to the run posts. This will allow the coop and the run to move independently of each other and not cause any issues. And depending on what the overhang on the backside of the shed is, you could possibly get away with tucking the run roof under there? Or even extending the shed roof a foot to allow more overhang. Then any runoff from the shed would fall directly onto the run roof.

I can take some pictures of my coop/run set up if you'd like. It is NOT on slope, but the run/coop are built via the same method.


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With regards to tying in your shed roof to the run roof. I would plan on using something flexible between the two structures. You could easily bridge the gap with a double layer of ice/water shield. Will allow it to move independently. Might need to be replaced every few years, but the stuff is cheap. I would not even attempt to have a hard joint between the two structures.

 

[cavemanrich]

Consider using a tarp. I have my run covered with 3 of these. Attached solid at one end (building) and stretched at the opposite end with bungie rubber straps. The tarps being flexible and held with rubber straps do not rip/tear. When snow builds up, the rubber straps just elongate/stretch. Use the heavy duty 9 mil for longer life. The thinner ones will work as well but will not last as long. I get about 3 years out of the silver heavy duty ones average.
You can attach to the top of gable so the height can be more favorable for walking underneath.
I'm sure you can get creative installing these. The added benefit of these tarps is it keeps flying raptors from taking your chickens.
Tarps do come in various sizes. The link is to one 12 x 20 approximately. 2 would protect your run well.

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-ft...-all-purposeweather-resistant-tarp-69120.html
You can find these at many Homecenters as well.

 

[lazy gardener]

Depending on your slope, you may want to do a bit of terracing.

 

[cholland]

x2 on the terracing. Chickens move stuff downhill quickly. My run has a pretty good slope to it. I didn't want to get all fancy with terraces so I just used several logs and branches across the slope. Put a few large rocks on the downhill side to hold them in place. Holds most of the soil in place. I try to keep several inches of litter, mostly leaves on everything. It still builds up at the bottom. Just shovel that out and into the garden once or twice a year.

 

[aart]

I can take some pictures of my coop/run set up if you'd like.

I'd like to see pics of your sisters run on a slope.

 

[cjoffutt]

I'll see if I can con her into taking some pictures of it tonight. It is not roofed however.

 

[Simkie]

cjoffutt, I would love to see whatever pics you'd like to share!

caveman, a tarp is an interesting idea, but the chicken run is sharing a fenceline with a horse paddock, so whatever we put up has to a) be horse proof (and they are troublemakers) and b) not scare them into the next county

I am not concerned about the ground surface itself at this point--we have a strategy already in place. I'm really looking for brainstorming on the actual build and roofing of the run.

Thanks, guys!

 

[aart]

I am not concerned about the ground surface itself at this point

Should really keep it in mind tho, it may affect how on you frame the walls and roof.
Once they denude the vegetation in the run,
which does not take long,
erosion can be a real issue,
so bedding must also be kept from migrating down hill.

 

[Simkie]

Should really keep it in mind tho, it may affect how on you frame the walls and roof.
Once they denude the vegetation in the run,
which does not take long,
erosion can be a real issue,
so bedding must also be kept from migrating down hill.

Yes. As I've said, that's covered. Looking to brainstorm the build and roofing of the run, not erosion control.