Question about placing coop over septic area

[salunra]

This is probably a question I should forward to my builder, but I figured I might ask here too....

We have a large (nearly half acre) area of property that is pretty much unusable because of the septic system leach beds. Would it be okay to place a 8X10 chicken coop there, if it were built sled style rather than posts buried in the ground?

I really want to do SOMETHING usable with that space. A coop and big run for my hens would be a fantastic use.

Thanks!
Tiffany

 

[Lollipop]

Sure it will. Probably be the best place for it. As long as it can be moved, you could put it over your septic tank. You would only have to move it to clean out the tank. No reason why the weight of your coop would cause a problem.......Pop

 

[salunra]

Awesome. The plans we are looking at are sled style, so while not "easy" to move, it would be possible to move.

Of course, now that I am thinking more, I could probably also put it just to the side of the septic area and just close off that area as a big run. That would keep the hens more secure than free range and out of my garden and still give them a lot of room to play in.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
That sounds like an even better idea. If you don`t overpopulate and you have a large run, ya might even get grass to grow there.........Pop

 

[salunra]

There is about a half acre there, and right now it is a basically a prairie as it hasnt even been mown for the past two years. About how many hens do you think would do well there?

 

[birdicus7]

If you check out my page our coop sits right on top of my leech bed. If I have to replace it later, I'll pick it up and move it. I spent 20 years in construction and the last 10 of them building turn key houses....why waste the space? Just don't put it over your tanks or access riser.

 

[salunra]

Awesome! That is just what I wanted to hear!

My husband is an awesome carpenter, but doesn't know much about house construction. So I know he can build any coop I want, but will have no idea about thing like septic systems.

 

[birdicus7]

In a nut shell you have a system of piping buried about 3-4 feet below grade with drainage holes. It's covered with mat and stone then back filled. You must have proper drainage for the system to be there or you would have a sand mound built above grade. If the area is firm and not swampy your system is doing it's job. If it's swampy you might want to do some checking into your system and it's age. If you have it pumped every 1-2 years and add some rid-x each month you'll be fine.

 

[patandchickens]

If your leach field is in good shape and is *deep*, then you could do it carefully and have a good chance of avoiding problems.

If the field is starting to fail anyhow, though, or is an older shallow version, I sure wouldn't do it myself. The cost of renovating or replacing a leachfield tends to start around $5,000 and can go up *real* fast from there, depending on your situation.

Remember that chickens devegetate and dig... two things you do not really want happening on your leachfield.

Also if the coop will be moveable, make sure it is located such that whatever you're moving it *with* (tractor, truck) does not have to drive over the leachfield to do the moving! As that is another good way to find yourself $10k in the hole for a new system.

But honestly if you can put the thing somewhere else, IMO it would be smarter. Maybe even fence the leachfield in so that the chickens can range in there when supervised (while sitll having an actual run connected to their coop). Septic systems are just awfully *expensive* things to go playing "how far can I push my luck" with, and it is often not real easy to know how exactly yours is constructed (unless it is recent) or what kind of shape it's in.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat