So I decided to build an underground coop: UPDATE pg 33

[Oblio13]

Added a couple extra posts today, just to be safe. I had some concrete left over from another project, so I used five-gallon buckets as molds (is there anything five-gallon buckets can't do?!) and made footings for them:

The view looking out, between the new posts:

Now the longest span the 4x8 joists make is 6 feet. I figure it should easily hold a foot of dirt and several feet of snow. Tomorrow dirt starts going on the top.

 

[Emzyyy]

 

[WriterofWords]

That is A LOT of work, very nice!

 

[wombat]

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First you build a giant badger ...

 

[irf1983]

Sorry, this may have already been covered, but are you planning on having a garden on top of the roof?

 

[Kismet]

I'm hoping that you are going to put hardware cloth on the hog panels. Weasels will have a field day otherwise.

 

[Oblio13]

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What could I plant that chickens wouldn't destroy?

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It's on the "to do" list.

 

[irf1983]

Not sure, just wondering the reason for dirt on the top. As far as I can tell, the roof doesn't connect at ground level at all, so it will just be bare soil sitting on the roof? I only asked because if you are looking to make more work for yourself (which I'm sure you are), you could make the whole roof like a giant earthbox by building sides and an underneath irrigation system without adding too much weight. Our chickens didn't actually mess with our garden too much, and what they did do was sometimes helpful, especially with the coriander, which we couldn't eat fast enough to keep from flowering. Anyways, the coop looks awesome, I'm very jealous, I'd like to make one too but if I dig down more than a foot I'd just have a small pond.

 

[Anny]

Looking good.

 

[Oblio13]

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It's cheap, unobtrusive, ecologically sound, easy to repair, provides insulation in the winter, evaporative cooling in the summer, and (hopefully) will moderate rooster noise.

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It does on the north and west sides.

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The roof decking is 2" pressure treated, covered with a stick-on waterproof membrane. Next I'll put some cardboard as a protective layer, then probably a black poly layer just as insurance, then 8" or 10" of a lightweight mix of soil/compost/perlite/vermiculite/peat moss.


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Ours eat everything from beans to watermelons, and what they don't eat, they scratch up.