Digging out a run

[EmmaDonovan]

Need to dig out about 16 cubic yards of dirt and then put it back. I am not a construction person so I'm not sure how best to do this. It's level ground, no landscaping, no plants/rocks/gravel, just desert dirt, and no objects to dig around. It's not compacted as I can dig down at least a foot with a shovel fairly easily but it's too big a job for a shovel. Do I... rent a mini excavator? Hire someone (who)? I will call the city before digging. What else do I need to know?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

16 cubic feet?! Whew, that’s a LOT.

I have to admit, I’d find someone with a Bobcat. Since you’re not in a rural area, maybe start your search with an independent landscaper (as contrasted with a lawn maintenance company.)

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Did I calculate that wrong? It's 24'x9' and 2' deep. I haven't had any sleep so maybe that's wrong. I used this site:

https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/conversions/common/square-feet-cubic-yards.php

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Did I calculate that wrong? It's 24'x9' and 2' deep. I haven't had any sleep so maybe that's wrong. I used this site:

https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/conversions/common/square-feet-cubic-yards.php

No, you’re exactly right, I didn’t even think to second-guess your math.

My lazy self was just reacting to the thought of having to move that much soil, even lighter-weight desert soil. Whew!

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I'm not looking forward to it. I'm worried it's going to be expensive. Too bad I can't make the darn squirrels pay for it since they're the reason for it.

 

[DobieLover]

Need to dig out about 16 cubic yards of dirt and then put it back.

Too bad I can't make the darn squirrels pay for it since they're the reason for it.

What?

 

[EmmaDonovan]

There aren't many trees in the desert so our squirrels live underground. We're infested with them. They make burrows everywhere. They tunnel into our run and steal feed and eggs. Snakes also use the squirrel tunnels to get into the run and eat eggs and chickens. They're costing us a fortune. We need to put hardware cloth under the run so they can't get into it. To do that, we have to dig out the run.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Need to dig out about 16 cubic yards of dirt and then put it back. I am not a construction person so I'm not sure how best to do this. It's level ground, no landscaping, no plants/rocks/gravel, just desert dirt, and no objects to dig around. It's not compacted as I can dig down at least a foot with a shovel fairly easily but it's too big a job for a shovel. Do I... rent a mini excavator? Hire someone (who)? I will call the city before digging. What else do I need to know?

How deep is your caliche layer? Deeper than you need to dig? Once you hit it, you might as well start blasting, it's like concrete. If you can get away with not hitting that, just buy/rent a tiller and break it up in layers. Till down, scoop out, till own, scoop out, until you get the depth you need. Then line it and backfill. You can even do it in sections if you need to.

 

[Ted Brown]

Do you use horizontal aprons outside the run edges?

 

[McChooky]

Its just as easy to raise the soil level as to dig deep.Same difference and it'll stay dry.Your hardware cloth might last longer. 16 gauge 1/2" galvanized steel will last the longest.Higher gauge or 1/4" is weaker