Foundation Question:

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

I am planning on renting a Skid Steer next weekend or the following if the ground is still too wet to level a 16'x25' area for the coop and run on the side on my property at the end of the garden. I will be using road construction fabric with a GeoGrid 3" filled with gravel and coarse sand over the fabric. On top of this the plan is to use cinder blocks to outline the 9'x14' permitter of the Hen House and Storage Area, then 2"x6"x16' runners for the base of the coop. My Question is: Should I put hardwire on top of the GeoGrid before starting the cinder block base foundation of the coop and run area? OR Is this over doing it? The grid will extend 12" all around past the outside of both the coop and run. When the Coop is finished, I will back fill over the GeoGrid with pebbles to make a walkway all around the outside of the building and run. This part will be about 24"-30" wide depending on how close I am to the Maple Tree. I will use hardware cloth under the walkway. I don't want to waste the hardware cloth under the building, but keeping the Ladies safe is the most important part of my choosing to build my own Coop. We have skunk, possum, raccoons, coyotes by land and hawks, eagles, falcon, and owls by air. So, I want Fort Knox for them. I appreciate any input and advise you can give me. Thank you in advance!!

 

[DobieLover]

I would just install an apron instead. I believe what you plan is to also have HC buried under the run, which IMO, is not a good idea as chickens DIG. If/when they hit the HC, it can injure their feet.

 

[saysfaa]

I made plans like that. The builder of the coop said everyone else sets the skids on the grass - the skids are ground contact treated 2x6s. After talking to builders I trust (close family friends with nothing to gain from any decision about it), I agreed digging enough to level the ground was enough. But still wanted it overkill.

I ended up digging out the topsoil, partly to save it for the garden - we have extremely good topsoil there. And partly to overkill the foundation - I leveled the footprint of the coop down 8" - the height of the cement blocks. It is actually down about 10" in the nw corner and 3" in the se corner because the land slopes.

Then laid cheap landscape paper to line it. Then packed wet sand to fill it to to within two inches of the top of the cement blocks. Tamping the sand in. We used straight lumber and levels to get it level in all directions.

We had free, clean sand that we didn't even have to haul.

If I had it to do again, I would set it on the grass.

 

[saysfaa]

As for the hardware cloth - an apron is far better.

We've had a resident skunk for at least a year; we often smell him and sometimes see him. A pair of coyotes that raised a litter less than 100' away last spring. I've seen raccoons less than 200' away and there are dead ones on the sides of the roads all around. I've seen mink, dogs, and both the neighbor's cats and feral cats. I haven't seen opossums close but they are in the area too.

I'm confident aprons keep them all out.

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

I would just install an apron instead. I believe what you plan is to also have HC buried under the run, which IMO, is not a good idea as chickens DIG. If/when they hit the HC, it can injure their feet.

Good point, if the HC isn't there and they dig they will only hit the gravel/sand and very thick plastic of the GeoGrid material. I don't think that any predator will come in from below through this either. Before I put up one of the sides of the run, I am going to put about 4" of course river sand.
I am going to put HC as an apron around the Run and Coop, covering it with pebbles and river rock.
Thank you for your input!

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

As for the hardware cloth - an apron is far better.

We've had a resident skunk for at least a year; we often smell him and sometimes see him. A pair of coyotes that raised a litter less than 100' away last spring. I've seen raccoons less than 200' away and there are dead ones on the sides of the roads all around. I've seen mink, dogs, and both the neighbor's cats and feral cats. I haven't seen opossums close but they are in the area too.

I'm confident aprons keep them all out.

I had a female possum on my deck last week moving very slow, so she probably had babies. Not aggressive but looking for food.
Agree that the apron is the way to go!
Thank you for your input!

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

I made plans like that. The builder of the coop said everyone else sets the skids on the grass - the skids are ground contact treated 2x6s. After talking to builders I trust (close family friends with nothing to gain from any decision about it), I agreed digging enough to level the ground was enough. But still wanted it overkill.

I ended up digging out the topsoil, partly to save it for the garden - we have extremely good topsoil there. And partly to overkill the foundation - I leveled the footprint of the coop down 8" - the height of the cement blocks. It is actually down about 10" in the nw corner and 3" in the se corner because the land slopes.

Then laid cheap landscape paper to line it. Then packed wet sand to fill it to to within two inches of the top of the cement blocks. Tamping the sand in. We used straight lumber and levels to get it level in all directions.

We had free, clean sand that we didn't even have to haul.

If I had it to do again, I would set it on the grass.

The area is where my composting has been for 30 years, so the soil is premium. No reason to just cover it up and I am dealing with a slope too. The coop will be higher than the run so the roof line on the run will be lower as well, about the same as what you experienced. Mine will be about 8" to 12" lower. I was going to hire a couple of high school kids to help dig it out and decided it would be too much work. They will have plenty to do on the project with me. This is the only place that I have that will accommodate the coop without taking down a tree. I really like that it will be so close to the garden. I plan to make a chicken mote at some point.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[3KillerBs]

Good point, if the HC isn't there and they dig they will only hit the gravel/sand and very thick plastic of the GeoGrid material.

You may want gravel under the perimeter foundation if the soil needs the improved drainage just there in order to prevent frost heave but you do not want gravel under a chicken run.

The poop will infiltrate down into the gravel, build up on top of the fabric, and turn the entire thing into a cesspit when any water gets in.

If you're concerned about mud then coarse wood chips, the sort you get from a tree-trimming service, are best.

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

You may want gravel under the perimeter foundation if the soil needs the improved drainage just there in order to prevent frost heave but you do not want gravel under a chicken run.

The poop will infiltrate down into the gravel, build up on top of the fabric, and turn the entire thing into a cesspit when any water gets in.

If you're concerned about mud then coarse wood chips, the sort you get from a tree-trimming service, are best.

Great catch...THANK YOU. I would have had POO Palace for a run, no puns intended.
The area is fairly soft. I think what I will do is make a 3' border around the run with the fabric and GeoGrid and gravel. It would give me 2' outside the run for a solid walkway and a 1' for under the walls for support. The Skid Steer should pack it down some. I haven't used one before, but I am a quick learner.
The run (14'x12') will be completely covered, but in Oregon it can rain sideways so it will get wet. I had planned on using river sand. I was thinking it would be a giant kitty litter box this way. If I used coarse wood chips, wouldn't it be harder to keep clean? Chip Drop is bringing a full load of chips sometime this week. We share the drop between 3 neighbors. A couple times a year. I use it on pathways. Should I be concerned about not knowing what type of wood is being dropped or does it matter where it is outside? We could get hemlock, pine, oak, cedar, birch, dog wood, maple, myrtle, .... I don't want to get the Girls sick.
I am so glad that I Joined this group. What a mess this would have been.....

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

As for the hardware cloth - an apron is far better.

We've had a resident skunk for at least a year; we often smell him and sometimes see him. A pair of coyotes that raised a litter less than 100' away last spring. I've seen raccoons less than 200' away and there are dead ones on the sides of the roads all around. I've seen mink, dogs, and both the neighbor's cats and feral cats. I haven't seen opossums close but they are in the area too.

I'm confident aprons keep them all out.

Make since and will help the pocketbook. Thanks