Coop on pavers?

[zinnia5117]

As someone that installs patios, I know how labor intensive and expensive they are.

If it was my choice, pavers or any other stone patio, would be my last choice for a chicken coop.
Polymeric sand is not made to have wet material laying on it constantly.

Thanks mowin, so my only other option is straight on the ground out in the yard, and water is constantly flowing through the soil (and falling from the sky) for 8 to 9 months out of the year, so no matter what I do there, I will not be able to prevent the ground from getting wet under the chickens’ feet (unless I put some sort of water-impenetrable barrier like a tarp or...?), or unless the deep mulch method will somehow not wick up moisture...

What would you do in this situation and how would you make the yard situation less wet? Or does it matter? Maybe
Oregonian chickens need to just suck it up and deal with the rain like the rest of us.

I get it, the patio was kind of expensive and it was nicely installed. My husband is on board with having the coop there though, and that it is a big deal for me too.

So, this is the view from the top of the deck of the yard (looking south). The only other place I might logically be able to put the coop and still have it be 20’ from neighboring residences is where the trampoline is right now. Or maybe on the upper part, same end of the yard, but building a structure on a slope is probably beyond my skill set. Where would you put the coop?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Too close to the house... Oregon, wet... smells = gross.

G

 

[zinnia5117]

Too close to the house... Oregon, wet... smells = gross.

G

Ok but it can’t smell bad or my neighbor will 200% for sure call it in. If it smells, I need to know ASAP. That is the underlying point here. So I am trying to be preemptive here and plan for a situation that won’t stink.

Lots of people have chickens in Portland; don’t be hatin’ just cause you live in paradise in SoCal! Give me some ideas so I can partake in your chicken paradise too!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Give me some ideas

Build a coop in the yard, make a proper foundation and a dirt floor for deep litter. Mine does not smell and I have not cleaned it in two years. I just do not think it's going to be ok under the deck so close to house. I bet the regulations require a certain distance from houses.

Gary

 

[Ghosty]

How many chickens are you keeping? If anyone has noticed, the OP has a small yard and the coop will be near the house anywhere it is placed. They are more concerned with keeping it off of the neighbors houses.

 

[Norcal527]

I would go for it. It's a small area and wont be hard to keep clean.

 

[paneubert]

Some people with drainage issues or low-lying property see success in keeping their chickens feet dry by trucking in some fill dirt and raising the coop and run area significantly from the surrounding soil. For instance, a coop and run that are 8 or 12 inches higher than the rest of the yard. If you can get a dump truck back there or are willing to wheelbarrow dirt back there, this might be an option. Contain the raised dirt with some form of wall. Either blocks or thick/ground contact rated/pressure treated wood. You could always meet halfway and only raise it a couple inches with dirt, then do deep litter for the rest of the height.

 

[mowin]

Thanks mowin, so my only other option is straight on the ground out in the yard, and water is constantly flowing through the soil (and falling from the sky) for 8 to 9 months out of the year, so no matter what I do there, I will not be able to prevent the ground from getting wet under the chickens’ feet (unless I put some sort of water-impenetrable barrier like a tarp or...?), or unless the deep mulch method will somehow not wick up moisture...

What would you do in this situation and how would you make the yard situation less wet? Or does it matter? Maybe
Oregonian chickens need to just suck it up and deal with the rain like the rest of us.

I get it, the patio was kind of expensive and it was nicely installed. My husband is on board with having the coop there though, and that it is a big deal for me too.

So, this is the view from the top of the deck of the yard (looking south). The only other place I might logically be able to put the coop and still have it be 20’ from neighboring residences is where the trampoline is right now. Or maybe on the upper part, same end of the yard, but building a structure on a slope is probably beyond my skill set. Where would you put the coop?

Make the runs framing out of 2x8 lumber. Put down 4-6” of sand on top of the soil. Sand drains quickly. Then add 4" of course wood chips. Even if the soil underneath gets wet, the sand will let the water drain from the run.

I'm no where near the rain fall as you are, but my area doesn't drain well. The soil is saturated, but the sand and wood chip have been working great.

 

[concrete_boots]

Mason here by trade with extra pavers on hand and ability to easily pour a pad in the run but I shaded away from that idea because I see how they like to naturally scratch at the ground and I can’t see how a concrete or paver base would be beneficial to the birds..maybe easy to hose down or whatever but just seems unnatural in my opinion.

 

[Nats Chickens]

My coop is on pavers with a light layer of bedding.