Coop is ordered, but now what?!

[Blooming Hills Homestead]

Hello! We ordered a chicken coop and are having it delivered in six days. We figure we should have some treated boards under it making ground contact to protect the coop itself. Any suggestions on the best way to do this? The coop will be 6x8 and is the same design as the picture. Thank you!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello! We ordered a chicken coop and are having it delivered in six days. We figure we should have some treated boards under it making ground contact to protect the coop itself. Any suggestions on the best way to do this? The coop will be 6x8 and is the same design as the picture. Thank you!

View attachment 2546161

From the looks of things, you're not going to be able to prepare the site by digging it out, laying down landscape fabric and filling, leveling and compacting road base so the skids can sit on something that will drain.

 

[K0k0shka]

Concrete blocks under it would be better than boards. Will last longer.

 

[3KillerBs]

Putting it up on blocks is probably better than wooden skids.

Be sure to either use solid blocks or sit them with the holes up and down for greater strength.

A block set the wrong way:

And set the right way on the other end of the shed:

 

[DobieLover]

Concrete blocks under it would be better than boards. Will last longer.

The biggest problem with blocks is they cause a point load and are more prone to sinking.
Skids distribute the weight over a large area. Setting them on a well drained surface like compacted crusher run or road base will last a very long time indeed.

 

[K0k0shka]

The biggest problem with blocks is they cause a point load and are more prone to sinking.
Skids distribute the weight over a large area. Setting them on a well drained surface like compacted crusher run or road base will last a very long time indeed.

My blocks line the whole perimeter of the coop floor, not just in the corners like a lot of people do. That distributes the load better and helps against sinking. Maybe a combination of a well drained road base with a larger number of concrete blocks under the coop would be best.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is one of the times when knowing the OP's location would be useful.

Here in the Steamy Southeast of the US our termites and our climate would eat wooden skids into nothing within 5 years without taking special measures.

But where I grew up in Western PA blocks would sink into soft clay soil. (The western PA solution would have been locust posts).

 

[aart]

Hello! We ordered a chicken coop and are having it delivered in six days. We figure we should have some treated boards under it making ground contact to protect the coop itself. Any suggestions on the best way to do this? The coop will be 6x8 and is the same design as the picture. Thank you!

View attachment 2546161

Much depends on what is on the bottom of that coop.
What kind of framing is there to use?
...and what kind of ground it will be on.
High and dry....or low and wet(tish).

Location might help with that @Blooming Hills Homestead
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Hello! We ordered a chicken coop and are having it delivered in six days. We figure we should have some treated boards under it making ground contact to protect the coop itself. Any suggestions on the best way to do this? The coop will be 6x8 and is the same design as the picture. Thank you!

View attachment 2546161

It truly depends on the area where you live. In Wisconsin, I put my coop on concrete blocks and stilts. It hasn’t sunk or shifted with the frozen ground since I built it 8 years ago.

 

[cmobley]

Not sure what your asking are you asking for the best material to set the coop on or the best way to set the coop on the already decided treated runners. Either way I'd have my base built or close to where I wanted it most times they have a motorized dolly on the delivery truck and will set the building where you want it. Some of those coops come built on skids either way I'd have my material there and ask the driver to use his dolly to raise lower sides and get whatever material under it you decide to use. If not the good ole floor jack comes in handy.