How do I level the ground for my coop?

[Shmemums]

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

Do you think a 3.5 inch wide paver would be good as a base since the wood is 1.75 inches wide? Or is wider better?

 

[mowin]

Do you think a 3.5 inch wide paver would be good as a base since the wood is 1.75 inches wide? Or is wider better?

That would work fine. As will pressure treated ground contact.

 

[gtaus]

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

Everyone love pictures.

 

[Shmemums]

Everyone love pictures.

Here's one I took today. All of the chickies on the bar at once...finally!

 

[raingarden]

Photos can be deceiving, but it looks like there is a shallow swale running parallel to the building/house and perpendicular to the fence. When (if) it rains, does water coming off the roof drain into the swale and then run off under the fence? If so, you might not want to mess around with it too much.

A coop that stays dry makes life much easier. You want to put it somewhere that water will not collect.

 

[gtaus]

Do you think a 3.5 inch wide paver would be good as a base since the wood is 1.75 inches wide? Or is wider better?

If you are concerned about your cedar wood rotting with contact to the ground, you might be able to dig your shallow trenches to make everything level, but then put down some sacrificial treated wood for the direct ground contact and then place your coop/run on top of the treated wood. The treated wood should last years by itself, but it might add even more additional years to your cedar wood sitting on top of the treated wood.

Treated wood can last up to 40 years in the right conditions, but even in bad conditions it should last 10-15 years. If you don't get much rain where you live, I would think treated wood would last a very long time, and cedar wood might last you a lifetime.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here's one I took today. All of the chickies on the bar at once...finally!

They're adorable. What breed?

 

[Shmemums]

They're adorable. What breed?

Brahmas! Going to be big ol' floofies!

 

[3KillerBs]

Brahmas! Going to be big ol' floofies!

I thought they might be. You can see from my avatar that I love Brahmas -- though practical considerations say that I can only keep 1-2 as flock ornaments and have to focus on the more practical breeds for my needs.