Coop foundation ideas??

[gsim]

I got this confused with a lady who was installing an electrical fence. I suggested the cemented corner posts before setting the line posts. Duhhhhh!

For this coop, the auger-anchors used on trailers would be good and not too expensive. Also good would be concrete anchors with eyebolts set in each one. Then woven wire cable could be used to tie it down to the eyebolts using lag-screw eyes on the top of the 4 corners of the structure.

 

[Farmer Benjii]

gravel for a layer 1 and then i reckon you could cement over thats witch makes a good foundation or you could leave as is

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
I agree. The ideas of putting in concrete "footings" or concrete corner posts are great, but being that this chicken coop is already built needs an easy "add on" that doesn't require redoing the work they already put into it. I was going to suggest concrete form stakes. They come in several different lengths (16" and 24" are common) and are basically just round steel stakes about 3/4" diameter. The stakes have holes predrilled so that you can drive nails or screws through the stakes into your wood frame. This way you stake the 4 corners to the ground so it can't tip over in the wind. I would put two at each corner, if you drive them in with a sledgehammer at an angle it would be very easy to do.

Another option would be to use "earth screws". Not really sure exactly what they are called, but are used commonly with greenhouses where large metal screws are screwed into the ground and attached to the bottom of the greenhouse. Very similar to the screw stakes sold at Walmart for tying your dog outside in the yard. I think these would be harder to install after the fact, but have a much better holding in the dirt.

One other comment... Your latch that you have a closeup on your pics should be mounted to a longer block of wood. Cut a piece about 12" long and mount it in the same place, but with the grain going vertical. Screwing into the endgrain is only going to split out the wood after a little while and since it critical that that latch holds to keep your chickens in and other critters out you may want to do this before it fails.

That was the coop that our coop will be similar too--ours isn't built yet so all ideas are very helpful!

 

[chickerdoodle]

All your ideas are very helpful and we will try to see what will help us once we finally figure out which way we will go. Much appreciation for all of you! Any other ideas are also welcome

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
Our plans do have the nest boxes in bump outs outside of the run closest to our house for ease of collecting eggs and the entire coop is in a high area that rain does run away from naturally but hubby is planning on a gutter system too. We also will have doors open on both sides of the hen house to facilitate cleaning and linoleum type flooring covered with a few inches of pine shavings for cushion (when hens jump off roost) and dryness. I also will have a board a few inches high on the inside area (and pop door) once the doors are open to prevent too many shavings from falling out of hen house.

To answer gsim, we are going to use all 1/2 hardware cloth that will be fastened at close intervals for security--including the windows and screen door. I am looking at locks that should be easy to use yet raccoon proof. I will also keep in mind that we have to get out of the run once we are closed in it too as I read about some other BYCers who got locked in

.

I will pass on your info for securing the coop to my hubby. I bet he won't be too thrilled about having to dig 2 feet down in very hard packed clay

!!

I have to admit I have learned a lot from other's mistakes in this group and am so happy they shared them with us! Thanks a bunch!

EAsy way to dig those holes if you do not have a powered auger is to take a roundpoint shovel and start the hole, then add
water. Go to next, and next, and next, etc and repeat. Then take post hole digger and dig a little and then add water, and repeat from hole to hole. It is easier. If it really gets tough, switch to a digging bar to break the rock that the post hole digger is bouncing off of. I am 67 years old and did 12 of those (6 for pen, 6 for coop), so if I can, so can he.

Any chance you want to visit Oregon?