Coop in garden over electricity cables

[svh]

Here in the US we call 1-800-DIG-RITE to mark underground cables. Do you have a similar service there ?

 

[Frattoneyes]

Here in the US we call 1-800-DIG-RITE to mark underground cables. Do you have a similar service there ?

Yes - the local electricity company came and marked the cables (The paint has subsequently washed off). So I know within 10-15 inches where they are.
However, they were unable to tell me the depth of the cables - and I don't want to go digging too much to find them.
I'm prohibited from building anything "substantial" above them in case they need to dig up for access in the future. It's because of this reason I'm choosing to site my run here - because it's otherwise a useless piece of land.

The other option would be to get a manufactured Eglu walk-in run but I've been told they're poor quality and not worth ~$900, Plus, I wouldn't be able to do the L-shaped option or utilise the existing fence.

 

[3KillerBs]

If I raised the coop onto blocks, how would I prevent predators from coming in underneath?

You will want a wire skirt/apron around your coop and run anyway in order to deter digging predators.

 

[aart]

The tree protection extends to the roots - so that means I can't damage them. I'm sure placing blocks around the tree wouldn't damage it.

Chickens scratching into and/or any depth of bedding/pavers over the roots could damage the tree....
....but how close do they watch?

Wonder how they buried the power lines without damaging the roots?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Chickens scratching into and/or any depth of bedding/pavers over the roots could damage the tree....
....but how close do they watch?

Wonder how they buried the power lines without damaging the roots?

My guess is the cables went in first and the tree followed.

 

[aart]

My guess is the cables went in first and the tree followed.

Maybe....but that's a pretty big tree and probably very old if it's protected.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My opinion, feel free to disregard.

Use the light deck blocks, they are lower to the ground. Attach skirting around the outside of the run, lay it on the ground, stake the outside perimeter, and cover with leaf litter. Done.

DO NOT use pavers or similar inside the run. Prevents water from moving into the soil, making the run muddy. They are impermeable. Also prevents air exchange with the tree roots, stressing the tree. AND you will have to rip them all up if they ever need to work there on the lines. Finally, all the moisture they are surrounded by, plus the slow decomposition, will cause them to break up and crumble anyways.

DO put several inches of leaf litter, pine or cypress bark, wood shavings, etc on the ground for cold composting. Water can move thru those, they don't completely block the roots abilities to exchange oxygen, and will ultimately be beneficial to the tree - to a point. Draw an imaginary line connecting the bottoms of your posts or beams in those light deck blocks. When the run's litter has composted to that height, rake most of it out for use ion your garden. Replace with fresh litter, and toss/mix to combine. Just as you can damage a tree by burying the roots under concrete, you can bury under too much compacted soil.

Most of the root area is not under the run, so if you don't do this, you likely won't notice the effect - the tree will try to get what it needs through less well covered roots in the zone - but it is good stewardship to minimize damage to the land.

 

[0die]

utility lines? Well it helps to know what UK code is for utility depth. But why are you digging anyway? you should be able to build this that just sits on top of the ground.

Use pressure treated lumber. after you build your basic frame, lift it and slide "sacrificial" 2x4s under all the bottom boards or a line of bricks or pavers to keep the bottom wood slightly above grade to prevent constant moisture and rot. these will eventually rot away and then you just slide those out and slide new "sacrificial" 2x4s under the frame of your coop.

 

[Frattoneyes]

Thanks for everyone's advice so far.

• I'm going to reduce the scope and, for simplicity, build a rectangular run for now - with the view to extending it to L-shaped in the future
• I had a 10-minute "play" in the garden this afternoon with some sleepers (2.4 meters / 7.87ft) to mark out the coop area. Although i've not spent time trying to level the sleepers, simply trying to position them highlights the problems with this plot of land:
• UK planning law prevents me from building anything higher than 8ft form normal ground level - therefore raising the bade reduces overall max height permitted
• The mass of roots and stumps is directly on top of the electricity cables. (I believe the cables were there first. I chopped the big holly and laurel bushes down last year but the mass of their stumps remain). Ordinarily, I'd grind or dig these out. But I'm reluctant to do so due to the proximity of the electricity cables underneath. Any wrong move could be spectacular.
• this means the sleeper in the photo is balancing on top of the stumps. I shall try to cut the stumps right down to earth level - but the sleeper would still be directly on top of the stumps.
• My original idea was to use the roots to my advantage because they would prevent predators from digging under the fence.
• I'm in two minds as to whether to proceed with clearing (as much as possible) and levelling for a foundations or, Instead of having a raised foundation on all sides, think some kind of ledger board against the fence would be the most appropriate. (as @U_Stormcrow suggests).
• There's still a big slope in two directions so I'd need to raise the end of the run (away from the roots) to get it anywhere near level.

Any other advice most appreciated!

 

[Frattoneyes]

Update - I've been digging!

I spent the day yesterday clearing as much as I could from the area and moving some of the earth from the top to bottom of the slope. The remaining roots along the right hand side will work in my favours to prevent predators digging underneath (I'll use a wire apron as well).

I've decided against using the existing fence as it's old. instead, I'll use either railway sleepers or concrete deck blocks as the base foundation.
(the sleepers here are a a guide only - I haven' spent time levelling them or making sure I've got straight corners.

The main thing, though, is that I've got this far and haven't found any cables to electrocute myself with!