Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[notabitail]

I've a coop question. I may be having to move my coops soon. We have these coops built out of rectangular frames. They are not buried. They look like this:

I realized @TOMTE 's run looks similar. Something like that.

I'm going to be in a area with predators like coyotes and the such. My idea is to bury the frame two feet into the ground, wood and all. My Dad's concern with doing so is that the wood and wire will rot. Would this be a viable way to do it or will it rot/go bad/work badly?

The coop is built out of these frames on all side, connected together. We have two coops like this.

 

[rural mouse]

I've a coop question. I may be having to move my coops soon. We have these coops built out of rectangular frames. They are not buried. They look like this:
View attachment 4189403
I realized @TOMTE 's run looks similar. Something like that.

I'm going to be in a area with predators like coyotes and the such. My idea is to bury the frame two feet into the ground, wood and all. My Dad's concern with doing so is that the wood and wire will rot. Would this be a viable way to do it or will it rot/go bad/work badly?

The coop is built out of these frames on all side, connected together. We have two coops like this.

In dry ground, while the wood will eventually rot, as long as it stays dry, should hold for a few years. However, rainy seasons, hoses, leaky buckets....will accelerate that process. A hardware cloth apron spread around it will prevent digging into the coop. How to anchor it....I'm not sure on.

 

[featherhead007]

Oh that would be my dream, someone to mow the grass….. and do the weed—wacker, and the push mower!

Actually the grass is crispy, heat and no rain has pretty much dried up all the grass. The chooks are whining because no grass to nibble on.

All our grass fields are dry and brown. Even my yard has went kaput! Not to worry with first rain, it’ll all come back. Until then, the dealer up the road has grass at $250 an oz.

 

[notabitail]

In dry ground, while the wood will eventually rot, as long as it stays dry, should hold for a few years. However, rainy seasons, hoses, leaky buckets....will accelerate that process. A hardware cloth apron spread around it will prevent digging into the coop. How to anchor it....I'm not sure on.

I'd preferably not want perma-anchoring right now since I think we may move it in a couple years or so. Though if I could maybe stick some metal tubes to anchor it I think that'd work.

 

[featherhead007]

I've a coop question. I may be having to move my coops soon. We have these coops built out of rectangular frames. They are not buried. They look like this:
View attachment 4189403
I realized @TOMTE 's run looks similar. Something like that.

I'm going to be in a area with predators like coyotes and the such. My idea is to bury the frame two feet into the ground, wood and all. My Dad's concern with doing so is that the wood and wire will rot. Would this be a viable way to do it or will it rot/go bad/work badly?

The coop is built out of these frames on all side, connected together. We have two coops like this.

Paint the wood with roofing compound where it comes in contact with the ground.

 

[notabitail]

Paint the wood with roofing compound where it comes in contact with the ground.

That will help it not rot, correct? If that won't harm the chickens (they dig) then I'd consider doing that.

 

[RoyalChick]

4 hours of fiddling to get the door inplave and swings. Still had to jurry rig a latch. DoneView attachment 4189208View attachment 4189209

Now for a shower and a popsicle where I can see what they think now. They cussed me out....A TON while working on the install. Kiddos to DS for helping and getting the latch figured out@

Well done! Popsicle well-earned.

 

[Ponypoor]

In dry ground, while the wood will eventually rot, as long as it stays dry, should hold for a few years. However, rainy seasons, hoses, leaky buckets....will accelerate that process. A hardware cloth apron spread around it will prevent digging into the coop. How to anchor it....I'm not sure on.

I'll get back to you on this tomorrow, time I was sleeping! Didn't realize it was so late.

 

[RoyalChick]

I'd preferably not want perma-anchoring right now since I think we may move it in a couple years or so. Though if I could maybe stick some metal tubes to anchor it I think that'd work.

You can get landscape staples that are 12” I think. Maybe 10. Much longer than the usual staples. That should work.
The way the apron works is not that much about it being anchored, but mainly because digging predators start at the base of the wall they are trying to dig under.

 

[Marie2020]

He’s definitely cute!View attachment 4189259View attachment 4189260

Now I wish I was young again