Structural question regarding 2x4's

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

That's where I've ended up. My last design features the load bearing set up but the wire is framed using 2x2's between the 2x4's. Ends up looking pretty nice, can bear weight, and wire should withstand abuse from any predators that I tend to get. Haven't built it yet because my septic system decided to fail and there went that tax refund I was saving for this, lol.

I hope to start construction on the coop ASAP, once the snow and ice stops delaying the skid steer rental. Or I will have 15 chicks, a black cat and 76 lb. Bernadoodle puppy in my home. Which sound like a prospect for a true like comedy or drama all depending on the cat's participation.

 

[Ironclay]

I hope to start construction on the coop ASAP, once the snow and ice stops delaying the skid steer rental. Or I will have 15 chicks, a black cat and 76 lb. Bernadoodle puppy in my home. Which sound like a prospect for a true like comedy or drama all depending on the cat's participation.

I had to evict my incubators and baby chicks. I've got 3 cats and they all love to go touchy touchy on the babies, through any means they can manage.

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

I had to evict my incubators and baby chicks. I've got 3 cats and they all love to go touchy touchy on the babies, through any means they can manage.

 

[Eggcentric NanaJ]

I have already put some of the hardwire cloth to use and made a "cat cover" for the top of the metal raised bed that is getting repurposed for a brooder. Vixen (14 yrs.), my black cat (appley named) was a feral rescue, and I am sure she is going to be very interested in what is going on. I even put clips on the sides to hold the screen down. She can be very resourceful. She even makes Kingston wait his turn to get a drink....

 

[David61]

Its easy to over think coop construction vs house/building construction.
What is your roof type/made of? snow load?
Use 4x4 posts every 8 feet and put your 2x4 anyway you want.

 

[Ironclay]

Its easy to over think coop construction vs house/building construction.
What is your roof type/made of? snow load?
Use 4x4 posts every 8 feet and put your 2x4 anyway you want.

Well, the design limitation is that it needs to be a "no dig" coop. I am building it by myself entirely so every single section has to be something I can lift or drag on my own. I have clay soil and there are parts of my yard I can't break with a shovel, so cannot rely on 4x4 proper posts.

Instead I was considering 4x4's laid down as a foundation and then building on top of that.

Roof was planned to have a 3/12 pitch made from translucent polycarb panels. I would have 2x4 (rafters?) with 1x4's running perpendicular on top.

Snow load is almost non+existent. It's wind shear I am more concerned about.

This is an older version of what I'm doing, but didn't show wall braces and the outside walls are meant to be 6.5 feet high.

 

[3KillerBs]

Roof was planned to have a 3/12 pitch made from translucent polycarb panels. I would have 2x4 (rafters?) with 1x4's running perpendicular on top.

Where, in general, are you located?

In any but the coolest climates, you could end up creating a greenhouse effect that overheats your structure.

Chickens tolerate cold very well, but are much more sensitive to heat.

 

[Ironclay]

I'm in a hot area. The ones I'm looking at let in light but are not the ones you see used on greenhouses. They are the patio kind.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm in a hot area. The ones I'm looking at let in light but are not the ones you see used on greenhouses. They are the patio kind.

Anything that's letting light through is transmitting heat too.

But if you've got plenty of ventilation arranged so that air runs directly under the roof from bottom to top it might not be too bad.

 

[Ironclay]

Yep!

It's a completely open design. The most coverage is east facing, which is where the majority of my heat comes from. The west is already shielded by a tree line.

I will have a semi-enclosed roost area but that's about it.

It's more like a..big gazebo with hardware cloth sides.