How do I level the ground for my coop?

[3KillerBs]

ok so could I dig up a bigger square, take out the dirt, level the area, then lay down hardware cloth bigger than the coop will be then load all the dirt back in, and lastly build the coop on top? How would the apron part work if I did it like this?

You don't need hardware cloth under the coop part itself. It's unnecessary and hard on the birds' feet.

You lay the apron on top of the ground and pin it down with landscape staples. Then you can put mulch on it or just let the grass grow through it.

 

[Shmemums]

You don't need hardware cloth under the coop part itself. It's unnecessary and hard on the birds' feet.

You lay the apron on top of the ground and pin it down with landscape staples. Then you can put mulch on it or just let the grass grow through it.

Oooooh I see now. Thanks!

 

[gtaus]

I need to make this level. It is off by a few inches. How do I do it in the most simple way?

You dig a shallow trench to get down to a level ground surface than put down blocks to create a level foundation for the frame to sit on.

+1. I'd dig a shallow trench to make things level. I don't have a predator apron on my chicken run, but I do lock up my birds every night in a Fort Knox coop. If you have concern about animals that might try to dig into the run, than a predator apron would be a option to consider now before you put down your coop and run.

Depending on the slop of the ground, you might be able to use that to your advantage in that rain water will run off instead of pooling up in the run. Digging a shallow trench for the frame of the coop/run would leave your natural slope for better water run off. The chickens won't care if the chicken run ground is level or not.

Also, you will probably find that the chickens will eat all that beautiful backyard grass down to the dirt in a matter of a few months. At that point, I turned my once grassy but now dirt chicken run into a composting system. I bag up my grass clippings and dump them in my run, along with leaves, wood chips, etc... The chickens will naturally mix and level everything in the run. It makes great compost after some time.

If you want to keep some natural grass in your chicken run, I think now would be the time to build some 2X4 grazing frames and plop them down on a patch of your grass inside the run. That will protect your natural grass inside the run from being pulled out by the roots and will still allow the grass tips to be eaten by the chickens. When I expanded my chicken run into a fresh grassy area, that is what I did and it works great. I still have fresh growing green grass under the frames while the chickens have ripped up and destroyed everything else in the run.

Looks like you have bought a nice setup. Please post some pictures of your coop and run when you finish your build.

 

[Shmemums]

+1. I'd dig a shallow trench to make things level. I don't have a predator apron on my chicken run, but I do lock up my birds every night in a Fort Knox coop. If you have concern about animals that might try to dig into the run, than a predator apron would be a option to consider now before you put down your coop and run.

Depending on the slop of the ground, you might be able to use that to your advantage in that rain water will run off instead of pooling up in the run. Digging a shallow trench for the frame of the coop/run would leave your natural slope for better water run off. The chickens won't care if the chicken run ground is level or not.

Also, you will probably find that the chickens will eat all that beautiful backyard grass down to the dirt in a matter of a few months. At that point, I turned my once grassy but now dirt chicken run into a composting system. I bag up my grass clippings and dump them in my run, along with leaves, wood chips, etc... The chickens will naturally mix and level everything in the run. It makes great compost after some time.

If you want to keep some natural grass in your chicken run, I think now would be the time to build some 2X4 grazing frames and plop them down on a patch of your grass inside the run. That will protect your natural grass inside the run from being pulled out by the roots and will still allow the grass tips to be eaten by the chickens. When I expanded my chicken run into a fresh grassy area, that is what I did and it works great. I still have fresh growing green grass under the frames while the chickens have ripped up and destroyed everything else in the run.

Looks like you have bought a nice setup. Please post some pictures of your coop and run when you finish your build.

Oh that grass is going to die. We have to water relentlessly to get grass to grow here. I hate it! I couldn't care less if the whole lawn died and we didn't waste water on it any more. I'd rather have gravel and a bunch of above ground planters growing food and using that water instead. But the hubby isn't quite on board with that....yet.

 

[gtaus]

Oh that grass is going to die. We have to water relentlessly to get grass to grow here. I hate it! I couldn't care less if the whole lawn died and we didn't waste water on it any more. I'd rather have gravel and a bunch of above ground planters growing food and using that water instead. But the hubby isn't quite on board with that....yet.

I understand. I used to live in California, and I know some places are more desert than others. Watering the grass to get it to grow must be expensive. Although I am the husband in my family, I, too, think I would rather work with nature and let the landscape go back to it's true nature.

I normally have to cut my 3 acres of grass twice a week in the summer where I live. No need to water my lawn. I enjoy the grass, but I would not enjoy it so much if I had to pay $$$ to keep it green.

Anyway, hope you post some pictures of your coop and run when you get it all setup.

 

[Shmemums]

I understand. I used to live in California, and I know some places are more desert than others. Watering the grass to get it to grow must be expensive. Although I am the husband in my family, I, too, think I would rather work with nature and let the landscape go back to it's true nature.

I normally have to cut my 3 acres of grass twice a week in the summer where I live. No need to water my lawn. I enjoy the grass, but I would not enjoy it so much if I had to pay $$$ to keep it green.

Anyway, hope you post some pictures of your coop and run when you get it all setup.

I'll probably post 100000000000 pictures because I'm just so dang excited to be a chicken lady

 

[mowin]

If you're handy, you could leave the ground the way it is and add to the bottom of the coop on the lower side. Basically, make the coop level by adding to the length of the wall. It should only be a couple inches. Coop isn't very wide, so you could possibly just put a 4x4 under that side and it might be close to level.

 

[perkolator]

I'd likely sit that coop on top of pier blocks commonly seen under decks, the ones with the metal bracket cast into it - so you can anchor the structure to something. Then only dig a hole where 4-8 of those will be placed as footers, so they're recessed into the ground and you can easily level them out so the coop structure sits above the actual ground (less wood on ground contact to prevent rotting). Then install a skirt around the perimeter which will close any gaps to the ground.

 

[Shmemums]

I'd likely sit that coop on top of pier blocks commonly seen under decks, the ones with the metal bracket cast into it - so you can anchor the structure to something. Then only dig a hole where 4-8 of those will be placed as footers, so they're recessed into the ground and you can easily level them out so the coop structure sits above the actual ground (less wood on ground contact to prevent rotting). Then install a skirt around the perimeter which will close any gaps to the ground.

Is ground contact that bad with cedar wood? The company that makes it recommends to sitbot right on the ground because cedar resists rot. Also, I live in CA and it hardly ever rains in my area so not a lot of water on the wood

 

[mowin]

Is ground contact that bad with cedar wood? The company that makes it recommends to sitbot right on the ground because cedar resists rot. Also, I live in CA and it hardly ever rains in my area so not a lot of water on the wood

Yes, cedar is rot resistant. However, a patio block underneath to keep it off the ground is cheap insurance.