Pics/how to on supports for raised coops - trying to decide!

[shopchicks]

Next weekend is the coop build!

I am planning on a raised coop because I like the idea of having the covered area where they can be outside but still have shade and protection from rain. Also, it saves on materials vs. a walk-in coop.

If you have a raised coop, can you share how you went about building the base, and why? I like the idea of the concrete piers to seat the 4x4's in, but it seems like they'd be in the way of the wire unless I sink them into the ground, in which case, I'm not sure if they really have an advantage over 4x4's in post holes with concrete.

Any other tips are welcome - the coop will be 4x8' , and I plan to have it raised about 2'6". I'm assuming I'll need 6 posts for the base - one every 4 feet?

Thanks in advance!

 

[shopchicks]

Bump... need to go get materials Monday night!

 

[Zahboo]

I'm not good at picturing it, is the raised floor going to be supporting human weight or just chickens? Is it like a playhouse coop?

 

[KenLamWV]

I suggest putting the posts in the ground with a hole about 18 to 24 inches in the ground. Fill with concrete to about 6 to 10 inches from the top. That way if you want to bury your fencing undergound six inches or so (to prevent animals trying to dig under fence) you will not have to contend with the concrete. You can then fasten the fencing straight to the 4x4s and it would look more symetrical. Once the concrete has hardened, you can cut the posts to the level you want afterward instead of worrying whether you have enough sticking out of the ground to work with. Just make sure you give your self access to the run underneath so if you have to get in there for some reason, you won't be tearing down the fence later on.

 

[hueghy]

Ya I would imagine for a 4x8 coop a post in each corner and a post in the middle on both sides would work well. I would start by building the floor without the 4x4s first and when you have a good floor built turn it over and screw in your posts and cut two 2x4s on a 45 degree angle going from the post to the bottom of the floor to make it strong...kind of hard to explain in writing with no pics...If you really find yourself in a bind I built my coop similar and live in Nampa if you really need something to look at

 

[shopchicks]

Thanks! I like the idea of building the floor and then flipping it over. I'd also thought of cutting off the 4x4's after they were anchored - glad I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

I am probably over-thinking things, but I have a 10% off Home Depot coupon, so I want to get everything I need in one shot and have it ready when my dad gets here as he's going to help me build it. He used to be a contractor/handyman and builds boats too, so once he's here I should have no shortage of expertise, I just want to make the best use of the time he's here.

Hueghy, thanks for the photo, I like the way you've braced the legs. And thanks for the offer of taking a look at the coop, very nice of you!

Zahboo, I am planning to make something similar to this coop bsruther just completed, where there is room under the coop, so that it is a more protected part of the run:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=339553

 

[columbiacritter]

I put mine on a platform.

 

[DaveD]

I direct-buried treated 4x4s, then screwed 2x4s across and the insides and outsides, then used a sawzall to trim the posts down to size.
I put 2x4s across at 16 inches and puta pieceof plywood across.

 

[M To The Maxx]

Look at my BYC page. Let me know what you think.

 

[elmo]

We put our 4"by 4" corner posts on those concrete pavers, then attached baseboards to the posts and used the wire apron to finesse the difference. Picture on our BYC page.