Finally finished the duck and chick coops and runs. Still to do, get the grass back growing although it's been so dry that most of the grass in my yard is dead.
Steps:
1. Dig down and level 1 ft below grade on the downhill side. I did it all with the bucket with a bit of assist by the rear blade. I dug down and extra foot to allow hardware cloth to be buried that deep. We also put arena sand in the space except for under the chicken coop.
That was fairly easy, but I underestimated how much dirt I needed to keep to fill around the coop. That was not all bad because wife wanted better dirt to go under the chicken coop for dirt baths. I filled back in with Arena sand which I used the tractor for, of course.
2. Layout and add pier blocks to support 4x4 posts. I did use 4x6s on the chicken run end so that I could notch both directions.
3. Build the frame which was 2x4s installed in the notched 4x4s and 4x6s.
4. Add the plates and joists attached with hurricane ties after notching from purlins.
5. Add the steel roof on the chicken coop.
6. The sides and the roof of the duck coop have pvc coated hardware cloth stapled with narrow crown staples and reinforced with washers and screws.
That's and over simplification, but here's a pic. Chicken coop with run is 10x30. Duck coop is 6 1/2x4 with run 6 1/2 x 16. Duck run roof is hardware cloth but metal could be added in the future if needed if supports are added and raised on the uphill side. From what I understand that should not be required. The duck coop has a metal roof. We have 16 bantams and 2 ducks.
Steps:
1. Dig down and level 1 ft below grade on the downhill side. I did it all with the bucket with a bit of assist by the rear blade. I dug down and extra foot to allow hardware cloth to be buried that deep. We also put arena sand in the space except for under the chicken coop.
That was fairly easy, but I underestimated how much dirt I needed to keep to fill around the coop. That was not all bad because wife wanted better dirt to go under the chicken coop for dirt baths. I filled back in with Arena sand which I used the tractor for, of course.
2. Layout and add pier blocks to support 4x4 posts. I did use 4x6s on the chicken run end so that I could notch both directions.
3. Build the frame which was 2x4s installed in the notched 4x4s and 4x6s.
4. Add the plates and joists attached with hurricane ties after notching from purlins.
5. Add the steel roof on the chicken coop.
6. The sides and the roof of the duck coop have pvc coated hardware cloth stapled with narrow crown staples and reinforced with washers and screws.
That's and over simplification, but here's a pic. Chicken coop with run is 10x30. Duck coop is 6 1/2x4 with run 6 1/2 x 16. Duck run roof is hardware cloth but metal could be added in the future if needed if supports are added and raised on the uphill side. From what I understand that should not be required. The duck coop has a metal roof. We have 16 bantams and 2 ducks.
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