sn0wwhite's Wichita Coop for the Twin Cities

[aart]

Do you guys worry about frost heave on that shallow foundation in your frigid climate?
Maybe I missed something or it doesn't matter for a chicken coop.

 

[sn0wwhite]

sn0wwhite, do you plan to insulate your coop? I am 2 hours north in Brainerd, so our weather has got to be pretty close. After going back and forth I decided not to, but it should be easy to do later if I change my mind.

No, I thought a lot about insulation, but the risk of them eating it or having mice in the walls wasn't worth it, IMO. But, that's why I did choose to go with the shiplap boards so that I would be certain I didn't have any drafty gaps. I think you caulked, right? I'm not so handy with a caulk gun either. I do plan to put plastic around the outside of the run to keep out snow and to keep it a bit warmer, and I'm going to either do that flower pot to heat the water or buy a heated waterer. Just depends on if I can find a flower pot this late in the season.

Do you guys worry about frost heave on that shallow foundation in your frigid climate?
Maybe I missed something or it doesn't matter for a chicken coop.

Yes, and yes.

I think we do need to worry about frost, and that's why I chose to use construction blocks and not the patio pavers like the baldesarri (sp?) clan did on the original coop. I talked to my dad and his opinion was that for a chicken coop (not a human residence) and because I'm building in my yard which has ground that's been settled for over 20 years, the one course of foundation block should be adequate.

 

[sn0wwhite]

3 more blocks in tonight... for a grand total of 6! It's going slow in that regard. But, I keep hitting tree roots, and had to change the dimensions of the foundation. I was going exactly 5x10, but a closer look at the plans revealed I need the block 5'3" x 10' so I had to go wider by a few inches. Now I have a problem with the Comcast cable lines running right through it, so I need to contact Comcast to see what my options are for moving that or adding length. My expectations with them are rather low.

On the positive side, Daughter started painting and got 2 coats on the tops and sides of the foundation boards, the gangplank and the 2 12 foot roof pieces. Only about another 100 boards to go!

 

[sn0wwhite]

Oh dear... Comcast says 10-15 days before they can move the line. I'm going to have to mull over how to work around that. Might be digging it all up for them.

Happily though, I had 2 pallets from my delivery and as much as I wanted to find use for them, I'm just not that talented so I put them at the end of the driveway with a free sign and they seem to have found a good home!

 

[aart]

Gotcha on the frost issue...if it does move, hopefully it won't be far enough to cause problems....the chicken won't mind.

I wondered about that 'cable', thought I saw something in one of your pics.
Maybe you can work around it until they come to move it? If not, you do have ALOT of painting to do!

 

[sn0wwhite]

I do have a lot of painting to do. Someone needs to make a 2x4 rotisserie to more easily paint all 4 sides.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I decided I really didn't want to wait for Comcast so we basically tore up my backyard. But we uncovered enough cable to get enough slack to get it under and around the blocks. And the blocks are in!

And more painting done but lots more to go.

 

[aart]

Cool!

 

[stormrider1]

Nice, I like the blue.

Sent from my SGH - 317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[blondizsmilz]

Sorry to hear you had to spend so much. We went & looked at the Wichita Coop (we live here too) and then my husband started with stuff he has accumulated in the shed. Luckily we have only spent about $150 and most of that was for the roofing materials. The laminate we used for the coop floor was on clearance for $.49 at Menards. We also checked out Craigslist for free wood. I also wanted to tell you I love the names you picked for your chicks! Too cute! Good luck with your flock! -Susan

PS - I am from Prior Lake: