Bock-Bock-Bagock
Songster
Took a vacation so I can get to work on the new chicken run and coop. I'm planning on doing this project over a long period of time.
This is where I started:
It was all overgrown with saplings that I cut back previously. There was a small building made of cinder blocks, but it was falling apart. I took the building down to the first row of blocks and filled the space with broken blocks and crusher run. I then raked out decades of leaves and trash.
The next step on Day One was to lay out garden planter blocks and 2"x6" wood. I had to dig out a lot of areas to level it all up. I used the crusher run to fill the holes and trenches. I was concerned about drainage. We had 2 days of very hard rain. Much of my yard is still puddling. However, the entire area was drained, including the holes and trenches dug out to level up the base.
Once the framing for the base was leveled up I began to fill the space with rocks from the property. Once I had enough rocks I topped it off with crusher run. I really love being able to use natural materials from the surrounding area. Especially if it's free. The crusher run was $500 for a dump truck load. But the base rocks are free. And I have plenty!!! There is about a 4 foot wall of all ricks on the side of the hill. I've been pulling from there.
Once I filled it with the base rocks and topped with the crusher run I tamped it all down. That was a ton of work. I got one section done today and got the base rocks in the second section. I also used the crusher run to make a pathway that will compress down and make a good walking path that will stay dry. The ladies do have a wonderful view.
The coop and run sits on top of a hill with a creek running at the bottom. It overlooks a valley. There is a church and a home across the street, but fairly quiet neighbors.
I plan on building a walkway around the entire area so I can access the nest box and get behind the coop in case I need to. I figure it's best to give myself room that I may rarely need as opposed to having no room and needing to get behind the coop to do work in the future. The walkways are going to be the same method. I am taking rocks from the surrounding area and placing them where I will have the walkway. Then they will be covered with crusher run and tamped down.
So that's where I am on day 2 and 3. I will be working again tomorrow to dig out some of the area of the right side of the base and bring more base rocks in for the walkways. Then it's dropping the crusher run. I found a couple little creatures during my work today. I believe this is a rat snake and the other thing is a newt or salamander of some sort.
Back at it tomorrow.
This is where I started:
It was all overgrown with saplings that I cut back previously. There was a small building made of cinder blocks, but it was falling apart. I took the building down to the first row of blocks and filled the space with broken blocks and crusher run. I then raked out decades of leaves and trash.
The next step on Day One was to lay out garden planter blocks and 2"x6" wood. I had to dig out a lot of areas to level it all up. I used the crusher run to fill the holes and trenches. I was concerned about drainage. We had 2 days of very hard rain. Much of my yard is still puddling. However, the entire area was drained, including the holes and trenches dug out to level up the base.
Once the framing for the base was leveled up I began to fill the space with rocks from the property. Once I had enough rocks I topped it off with crusher run. I really love being able to use natural materials from the surrounding area. Especially if it's free. The crusher run was $500 for a dump truck load. But the base rocks are free. And I have plenty!!! There is about a 4 foot wall of all ricks on the side of the hill. I've been pulling from there.
Once I filled it with the base rocks and topped with the crusher run I tamped it all down. That was a ton of work. I got one section done today and got the base rocks in the second section. I also used the crusher run to make a pathway that will compress down and make a good walking path that will stay dry. The ladies do have a wonderful view.
The coop and run sits on top of a hill with a creek running at the bottom. It overlooks a valley. There is a church and a home across the street, but fairly quiet neighbors.
I plan on building a walkway around the entire area so I can access the nest box and get behind the coop in case I need to. I figure it's best to give myself room that I may rarely need as opposed to having no room and needing to get behind the coop to do work in the future. The walkways are going to be the same method. I am taking rocks from the surrounding area and placing them where I will have the walkway. Then they will be covered with crusher run and tamped down.
So that's where I am on day 2 and 3. I will be working again tomorrow to dig out some of the area of the right side of the base and bring more base rocks in for the walkways. Then it's dropping the crusher run. I found a couple little creatures during my work today. I believe this is a rat snake and the other thing is a newt or salamander of some sort.
Back at it tomorrow.
