I have to rebuild

[ridgefire]

My outdoor run is ruined. Not that they used anyways, there is 50+ inches of snow in it. But the snow just slid off the roof and crushed the fence. I wanted to rebuild anyways but the wife wouldn't let me last year. This time I am going to use 4x4's for the posts instead of those wimpy metal t-posts. that way I can build a roof over part of the run.

Any advice on setting 4x4 posts in solid shale. It was a huge pain to just get the t-posts driven in the ground.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Tractor auger!

 

[BlueLagoonRabbitry]

Well we dug hols for the post them cemented them in.

 

[ridgefire]

I dont even thing an auger is going to dig a hole. I have 6 inches of dirt then solid shale. It took 3 months and 4 pick axes to dig a 2 foot deep trench from the house to the barn for water and power. And that was only 80 feet long and 8-10 inches wide.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Dig down as far as ya can an drop in a ziploc of diesel fuel an poo.

 

[Momo]

We used 4x4 posts and set them on cement deck footings, then dug the hardware cloth into the ground. And we built a truss roof over top of the run and covered it with used metal roofing. It's great - always dry despite our significant snowfall. You probably can't dig the wire in like we did, but you could make an apron on the ground and cover it with large stones or pavers or what have you.

 

[chookchick]

rebelscobywsnb--I love the way you think! so pragmatic.....

Try building a "framework" instead of sinking posts. Would work better with a shorter run--like 3' sloping up to 6'. Use 2 by 6 on the bottom and 2 by 4s up top to hold it together, then the wire can run down the sides and out 2' to make a skirting. If you give it a good slope and put corrugated roofing on top, you should be able to keep the snow from building up. I use tarps, but we don't get a lot of snow here. The door can go above the 2 by 6 so that skirting can be attached below it. Hope this makes sense!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Had to look up pragmatic.

I could have said to rent a jackhammer but blowing stuff up is so much more fun.

 

[sillybirds]

Quote:
I just dug a bunch holes to set 4X4 posts in concrete for our run. I found a Hilti tool I rented from Home Depot invaluable in digging in our very rocky soil. I still wasn't easy, but it made it go a LOT smoother. I think it was a tool like this, kind of like a small jack hammer. They have little shovel tips and pointed tips too that go on it.

http://www.us.hilti.com/data/images/prodlarge/ca00442.jpg

 

[bluie]

I had a lot of roots in my run area and I put down concrete blocks, stuck the 4 x 4 in, filled empty spaces with cement. It is very strong, but is braced on top and is only 7'wide. If yours is wider the 4 x 4's might tilt in at the top.