How to anchor supports for elevated coop in cold climate

[MelodyGraulich]

I am building an elevated coop in Northern Utah and looking for advice about how to anchor the supports in ground that will heave in the winter. I built a deck before and had to dig very deep holes and fill them with concrete, which I would prefer to avoid this time around. The coop will be much lighter and bear only much lighter chicken weight traffic. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Dogfish]

Pier blocks.

 

[Dogfish]

double tap

 

[Bossroo]

Quote:
Follow your own advice and bite the bullet. Unless, of coarse, you want to do it all over again.

 

[AtholCoop]

Quote:
You're not gonna like my answer. If you have soil heaving problems the only solution is to get down below the frost line which around our house is about 2'. I've done it with and without concrete, and frankly concrete is cheap insurance. All the labor is in digging the holes.

 

[patandchickens]

Yup, you really only have two choices: dig down below the frostline (hint: doing this at the right time of year can make a big difference, as moister soil and subsoil are FAR easier to dig than late-summer bone-dry stuff!), or build a structure that is small enough and well-braced enough that it can tolerate some degree of uneven heaving. If this is a small reach-in type coop you're talking about, the latter should do well enough.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[MelodyGraulich]

Okay, thanks northern guys, you have convinced me. (And I've liked PatandChickens other posts.) Digging this time of year is (relatively) easy. What I hate is mixing the concrete.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Don't concrete your posts in - it really doesn't do much good except to provide a little extra ballast against storm winds, it is WAY more work and more expense, it accellerates rotting-through of the posts, and it makes it horribly difficult to remove, reset, or replace the posts. Just p/t or cedar posts sunk into the ground is perfectly fine. Or, as I say, for a small enough coop just let it ride *on* the ground, if you need anchoring vs wind you can use those ground-anchors you twist into the ground like for swingsets or sheds.

Good luck, have ufn,

Pat

 

[wildorchid053]

rent and auger from home depot for the day and drill your coop and run holes all at once. makes it easier..we went down about 3 1/2 '

 

[1newchickontheblock]

Quote:
Don't concrete your posts in - it really doesn't do much good except to provide a little extra ballast against storm winds, it is WAY more work and more expense, it accellerates rotting-through of the posts, and it makes it horribly difficult to remove, reset, or replace the posts. Just p/t or cedar posts sunk into the ground is perfectly fine. Or, as I say, for a small enough coop just let it ride *on* the ground, if you need anchoring vs wind you can use those ground-anchors you twist into the ground like for swingsets or sheds.

Good luck, have ufn,

Pat

Pat,
would you consider a 4 x 8 small enough? I plan on raising it ~2 feet off the ground. Or should I ground it on cinder blocks? Any suggestions would be appreciated! (posting here as it's a similar concern

)

ETA: I'm in New England - MA