Build Phase 1 - Foundation & Coop Frame
First thing first, I need to purchase the wood!
I had to make a couple trips, but here is a majority of the wood purchased day 1!
Most of the treated lumber was still pretty wet, so I staggered them and placed a shop fan in front of it to move air through for quick drying.
While waiting on the weather to cooperate and clear up for prepping the space for the foundation, I start building the coop walls.
The weather finally cleared up, so I was able to start cutting the sod. The size of the foundation is 30'x14'.
A majority of the work was completed in the evening. Many long nights working until 2:30AM!
Staked and ran line to make sure the ground is leveled.
Covered up with a tarp to prevent it becoming a muddy mess during rain until The farmer and I could set the foundation wood and pack the gravel.
Truck came to deliver 6 tons of clean 304 Limestone!
Finished setting the 6x6's. I forgot to take a picture, but the ends of the 6x6's are cut so they interlock together on the top and bottom. These are locked together with 6" lag bolts. We also hammered rebar spikes 5' into the ground. This is to make sure they are sturdy and locked together.
I added some braces on the sides where the 6x6's interlock together.
To prevent weeds from growing up into the coop and run, I laid Geo-Textile fabric down. It's strong enough to not rip, but also allows water to filter through to the ground.
Compacting the rocks to make them tight and level for building the coop and run.
Now it's time to put the base of the coop. The two 2x4's sticking out is to tie the base of the coop and run together. The goal was to make it one whole sturdy structure.
Wooohoo, the coop has 4 framed walls!
It felt so good to step back and see a framed structure standing! This was all new to me.
On to build Phase 2 - Run Frame!
I had to make a couple trips, but here is a majority of the wood purchased day 1!
Most of the treated lumber was still pretty wet, so I staggered them and placed a shop fan in front of it to move air through for quick drying.
While waiting on the weather to cooperate and clear up for prepping the space for the foundation, I start building the coop walls.
The weather finally cleared up, so I was able to start cutting the sod. The size of the foundation is 30'x14'.
A majority of the work was completed in the evening. Many long nights working until 2:30AM!
Staked and ran line to make sure the ground is leveled.
Covered up with a tarp to prevent it becoming a muddy mess during rain until The farmer and I could set the foundation wood and pack the gravel.
Truck came to deliver 6 tons of clean 304 Limestone!
Finished setting the 6x6's. I forgot to take a picture, but the ends of the 6x6's are cut so they interlock together on the top and bottom. These are locked together with 6" lag bolts. We also hammered rebar spikes 5' into the ground. This is to make sure they are sturdy and locked together.
I added some braces on the sides where the 6x6's interlock together.
To prevent weeds from growing up into the coop and run, I laid Geo-Textile fabric down. It's strong enough to not rip, but also allows water to filter through to the ground.
Compacting the rocks to make them tight and level for building the coop and run.
Now it's time to put the base of the coop. The two 2x4's sticking out is to tie the base of the coop and run together. The goal was to make it one whole sturdy structure.
Wooohoo, the coop has 4 framed walls!
It felt so good to step back and see a framed structure standing! This was all new to me.
On to build Phase 2 - Run Frame!
- Next page: BUILD Phase 2 - Run Frame
- Previous page: Design
