Chicken Run Foundation Over Hardware Cloth

[CrookedCoopAz]

I tried 6 mil plastic sheeting vapor barrier for wrapping the sides of the run - it can work for a few months. I've been really pleased about the transparent tarp.

After a while, mold grows/dirt gets stuck on the tarp and reduces tranparency (at least where I live). But it's still better than a solid color - I have tree cover to keep it cool. I've taken the tarp down, scrubbed it off, and reinstalled, and I've also tried to scrub in place. An anti-fungal rinse might work better, like the stuff they put on roofs, like Spray & Forget, but I didn't want the chemicals in my yard. So soap and water it was.

here's an example of my winter setup to cut down on biting winds thru the run. I have an enclosed coop/run combo, so they're in it 24/7, and I wanted to maintain ventilation but cut out the velocity. It worked well, and I removed it once weather was warm again. It was a warmer December day here - I propped the bottom open along half of the coop.

This is a fantastic idea for keeping their new run dry. We originally didn't plan to do so, but after reading so many ideas and suggestions we are opting to do it. Our winds start mid fall and don't stop til mid spring. So having something that would hold up in those would be a benefit. As for my coop itself, all the open areas will have the hard plastic clear pvc roofing panels. The previous owner of the coop used those and they held up in the winds, rain and snow and kept the coop dry, they were just damaged during the move and I needed to order new ones.

 

[CrookedCoopAz]

Do you have a bunch of digging rodents and predators in your area?

I see you mention changing it up isn't an option, but personally I'd take it out in favor of a perimeter skirt, mostly because it's 1/4" HC used on the ground. 1/4" HC is only 23-ga thick vs 1/2" HC at 19-ga, and with ground contact/being buried will deteriorate much faster than normal, and make potentially hazardous surface when they dig down to it after a few years. If the ground is full of lava rocks and stones, I don't see many predators being able to penetrate that even if they wanted to. I'd be much more concerned with the snow loads vs that pole structure if you're trying to winterize it. I'd also have the same concerns about the main structure, since it does not look like it's built to support snow loads on that roof and wall framing.

I have 1/2" HC under the floor of my coop structure only, and 6" is about the shallowest I buried it on the shallow-end, to keep chicken feet away from it; on occasion they've dug down to it, but they also have a bigger run without any HC underneath and they can dig freely there. We have heavy mole activity everywhere in our property, and in old coop rodents started using those holes and tunnels go get in/out of the run; more rodents = more rattle snakes that I definitely don't want around. I also have dry CA climate with no snow and hardly any rain and a solid roof overhead, so less concern about it deteriorating.

I use a base of wood chips + various organics in my runs. Everything mixes up with native soil below over time, I just keep adding more organics. A few years of chicken activity + wood chips has allowed me to now be able to easily dig 12" down in the run with little effort, in what used to be hard ground because of lots of decomposed granite. Now at a point where I've been harvesting topsoil/compost blend from my run to use in gardening.

Thank you for your input! It's appreciated!

To be honest, when we assembled the run, the last thing we thought about was our future snow loads. After discussing with my husband yesterday, I got that blank look, oh crap face. Details matter, and that is one we overlooked. Hard to think about snow when it's sunny and 80 degrees.

We have decided to add additional wood framing around the metal run to help support for the snow. The main coop is reinforced with 2x4 throughout and enough support under the roof that the snow loads are not a concern. It know it looks kinda janky from the outside, but I promise its solid, and it took 5 grown men to move it.

We decided to do a 4" layer of wood chips on top of our 6" layer of soil. We will see how the girls handle it and adjust as necessary.

We do have predators in abundance and we have neighbors who lose their flocks regularly. We opt'd to fully enclose to be safe, rather than sorry. Overkill? Maybe, but it makes us feel better.

 

[FunClucks]

Thank you for your input! It's appreciated!

To be honest, when we assembled the run, the last thing we thought about was our future snow loads. After discussing with my husband yesterday, I got that blank look, oh crap face. Details matter, and that is one we overlooked. Hard to think about snow when it's sunny and 80 degrees.

We have decided to add additional wood framing around the metal run to help support for the snow. The main coop is reinforced with 2x4 throughout and enough support under the roof that the snow loads are not a concern. It know it looks kinda janky from the outside, but I promise its solid, and it took 5 grown men to move it.

We decided to do a 4" layer of wood chips on top of our 6" layer of soil. We will see how the girls handle it and adjust as necessary.

We do have predators in abundance and we have neighbors who lose their flocks regularly. We opt'd to fully enclose to be safe, rather than sorry. Overkill? Maybe, but it makes us feel better.

I fully enclosed mine too. Haven't regretted it once. Not one predator loss in 4 years. We don't have digging predators here, so we did everything but the ground in the run. Nice wide 3 ft apron keeps the predators out. Keep any opening into your coop or run at 1/2" or less, and you should be good.

Good luck framing out your roof! The more angled, the better the snow and ice will slide right off.

We get eggs nearly year round where I live because they have as much sunlight as they can get. Keeping daylight at least 10 hrs or more per day is key.

Please post pics of your roof build as you get them, and as you get things finished. Now I'm really curious to see how things go for you guys. Good luck!!!

 

[perkolator]

Thank you for your input! It's appreciated!

To be honest, when we assembled the run, the last thing we thought about was our future snow loads. After discussing with my husband yesterday, I got that blank look, oh crap face. Details matter, and that is one we overlooked. Hard to think about snow when it's sunny and 80 degrees.

We have decided to add additional wood framing around the metal run to help support for the snow. The main coop is reinforced with 2x4 throughout and enough support under the roof that the snow loads are not a concern. It know it looks kinda janky from the outside, but I promise its solid, and it took 5 grown men to move it.

We decided to do a 4" layer of wood chips on top of our 6" layer of soil. We will see how the girls handle it and adjust as necessary.

We do have predators in abundance and we have neighbors who lose their flocks regularly. We opt'd to fully enclose to be safe, rather than sorry. Overkill? Maybe, but it makes us feel better.

Glad to hear you'll be making a few upgrades for the snow. Coming outside to see a collapsed coop/run from snow, has to be one of the most horrifying things to see.

I still have concerns over the wood coop structure even though it's 2x4 construction - the low pitch of that roof will likely hold a considerable volume of snow.

4" of wood chips will be fine for now. You can always add more. Many people just add more materials through the year as the absorbent chunky wood gets mixed up with the soil and the fines below.

 

[KJsHalfPintFarm]

Welcome and best of luck! I'm also a newbie and didn't expect to love chickens so much but they've wrapped their little claws around my heart. BYC has been amazing and this post is my own way of giving back to the community by sharing my experience.

Before I go into detail on coop and run bedding I noticed from pictures your coop is using chicken wire. When I researched, like you, I spent hours reading content on bedding and building but what was nearly universal was to use hardware cloth not chicken wire for structures. And a very scary video of a raccoon easily ripping through chicken wire. I read in one of your responses that you are covering with clear pvc for winter so that should be OK but uncovered I use hardware cloth.

My coop is 6'x4' elevated above run #1 and I use sand in coop. I scoop out droppings from the sand every afternoon when it's nice and dry, mix with straw and throw in compost bin. (https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/best-chicken-coop-bedding)

My space also has mild pooling and drains quickly but I wanted even dryer so I elevated using cinder block borders. Run #1 is 4x12 and was slightly sloped so I mixed the clay soil I excavated during leveling with mulch to fill up to the top of the cinder blocks then covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. The coop went on top to weigh down the cloth. Then I added half ton pea gravel (~2") topped by ton of sand (~4"). It was December 2023 in Cincinnati so I then topped with straw from a local farmer for warmth. When updating the space this summer I jumped into research again and now I use straw year round. I kept the sand and pea gravel underneath bc good for drainage. (

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I have an adjacent 9'x6' space, run#2, accessible via a human door that is always open (except during see+separate last month with new chicks). In this space I put the cinder block border on top of the 1/2" hardware cloth floor and then filled with dirt from another backyard project. Also topped with straw for winter warmth and now keeping straw year round. I spend maybe a minute a day cleaning up droppings then periodically replace the nicely shredded straw and all goes into compost bins. In run #2 they dig down past the straw and find dry dirt for dust bathing. (

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Using cinder block borders might help keep hardware cloth floor in place with not being able to dig into your rocky earth but seems like your solution with metal zip ties is great! I also filled mine with pea gravel and topped with solid covers for extra weight and stability.

I use tarps, old shower curtains and random plastic in winter on hw cloth walls. My coop and run are both diy with wood framing so roofs are pretty solid. I tap the winter plastic into the frames with poultry staples or screws or bungee cords in the hw cloth.

Run #2 has a clear poly roof I cover with an opaque tarp in summer. In winter I use a wide handled broom (when chickens are in their house because it terrifies them) to sweep off snow.

I also use old burlap coffee bags on hardware cloth walls. They provide shade during hot weather and good protection against rain while still allowing ventilation. And are much prettier than all the plastic.

I now have 6 girls sharing 102 square feet of run space + 24sf elevated enclosed coop. Just outside of this I have a small area I call the protected range covered with a hawk net. I also let them in my fenced in front, side and back yards with supervision.