Foundation Confusion

[Wise Woman]

I have decided my new coop will be an all in one covered coop/run with the coop raised about 2 ft. off the ground. It will be situated in a shady, level area that is 48 ft long with a very large pine on the left side and an equally large cedar on the right side and no drainage issues. The coop/run will be approximately 28 ft long and about 8 ft wide and centered between the two trees and very close to my house. It will run along the front of a 5 ft high block wall that we will be attaching lattice to the top of so we can grow some vines up the wall and that side of the coop will be fully protected from wind, weather and so forth.

Access to the run will be from the front. There will be no side or back doors into the run and the whole run will be covered in hardware cloth and have a solid roof. Not sure if that will be metal or wood just yet.

For the sake of marital harmony, I have decided to bypass my husband and hire someone to build this for me. For my zoning, a building less than 100 sq. ft. does not need a permit. My coop will be no larger than 64 sq. ft. so I am ok there. However, anything put on a permanent foundation requires a permit regardless of size. Needless to say, I do not want to pull a permit for a chicken coop, so I need to know what constitutes a permanent foundation?

I have looked at many coop/run designs and read many foundation threads and I am confused. Some coop/runs look like the wood frame is sitting right on the ground. Others look like they have pavers underneath them or are sitting on gravel. Others have 4 x 4's set in cement in the ground and others have cinder block foundations.

I need to do this for around $1,000 to $1500, including the labor, unless my husband under goes an attitude adjustment within the next few months, in which case I could save on the labor. I may also be able to enlist the help of a son-in-law. I will do all the painting and the rain spouting, but will be paying someone to do all the building and roofing.

My plan is to put down hardware cloth with cobblestone pavers set on top of the hardware cloth and set the framing of the coop/run on top of the pavers. I chose this because it would look nice, I could put matching pavers around the perimeter of the coop to help keep critters from digging in, make a path to the coop with the pavers and hopefully, it would keep the frame of the coop/run from rotting out.

So how big of a coop/run can you make with this method? My run will be deep litter over the hardware cloth so should I go two pavers high or will one be enough? I need this coop to last me the rest of my life and to be an attractive addition to the garden since it will be so close to the house. I appreciate any input on this because I don't want some construction guy coming over and telling me I need a full foundation if I don't. I need to be armed with knowledge. Thank you so much.

 

[rgunn1]

I was planning a 16 x 16 (256 sq ft) coop using concrete deck blocks for the foundation. I'd think they should work for your application.

Like these: http://www.lowes.com/pd_560913-44840-PIERBLOCK_1z0udao__?productId=50119507&pl=1

 

[Wise Woman]

Thanks for the reply. These were actually my first thought, but I can't use them because I need the run to be secure. I wouldn't know how to secure all the spaces between the blocks.

 

[I Love Layers]

Mine has some 12 foot 2 by 4s underneath it

 

[rgunn1]

I don't have time to draw it up, but you could easily extend the floor joists and decking slightly past the deck blocks... kind of like a very small porch all the way around, to which you could attach your hardware cloth or some other type of skirting boards. Any builder worth paying should be able to figure it out.

 

[yellowchicks]

For permanent foundation, you will need to dig down below the frost line (about 3 to 4 ft) to set concrete footings to support the 2x4 framing, or bury the concrete footing blocks.

For a small to mid-size backyard chicken coop, you can build it like a shed set it on top of the concrete pavers or concrete cinder blocks at the supporting joints.

Here is a "lazy way" of doing foundation of the coop without digging in order to protect the nearby tree roots. Make sure your soil is firm, not silty or with high content of clay (prone to settlement).

Lay out 12"x12" pavers at the coop and run support joint locations, probably 16" to 24" on center depending on the coop and run design. Beneath each paver, put down 2" to 4" thick layer of gravel to make a support pad to prevent settlement. Then level all the pavers front to back, side to side before setting the structure on top. This is a very important step, otherwise, your coop will be rocking back and forth.




Space out the pavers so you can add more to form a small patio to stand on in front of the coop it you like. Leave the bottom of the coop and run as natural soil which is better for deep litter method.

 

[Wise Woman]

Ok I spent most of today searching under all sorts of different titles and I think I found the foundation I want!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...coop-construction-wichita-cabin-coop-inspired

This is what I had envisioned but couldn't quit figure out. It will be nice and secure but not "permanent" and a construction guy should be able to do something like this easily and when it is finished, I can put my pavers around the outside to give it a finished look and and another layer of security.

 

[yellowchicks]

Ok I spent most of today searching under all sorts of different times and I think I found the foundation I want!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...coop-construction-wichita-cabin-coop-inspired

This is what I had envisioned but couldn't quit figure out. It will be nice and secure but not "permanent" and a construction guy should be able to do something like this easily and when it is finished, I can put my pavers around the outside to give it a finished look and and another layer of security.

This is one of my favorite coops! It inspired lots of ideas for our own coop design. I love its color schemes, the large "chicken TV" windows for hot weather ventilation, and the large front opening door.

As for the foundation, before you dig the trench for the cinder block foundation, assess the drip line of the nearby trees first so not to damage the roots system. Stake out the drip line and the coop corners first, make adjustment if necessary. I did not go with this shallow foundation system because of the tree roots, but it might work for you.

 

[Wise Woman]

Thanks for the tip. I do not know how I missed this coop in all my research. Mine won't be identical to this, but it is the type of foundation I have been looking for. The only questions now is how did they attach that framing to the cinder blocks? I wanted to know exactly what I want so whoever I hire to do this doesn't come in and tell me I need to do it this way or that way. Which they always seem to do anytime I have one come over for something. I only every had one carpenter come and actually listen to what I want and even give me additional ideas.

It is 48 ft from tree trunk to tree trunk and the coop/run will be in the middle, so we have room to allow for the trees drip lines and adjust the run size if necessary. I don't want to hurt the trees. We will be planting a couple other trees on either side of the run, but they too will be outside the large trees drip line or possibly in front of the coop. Not sure yet. Right now the Japanese maple is in a large pot.

 

[yellowchicks]

The only questions now is how did they attach that framing to the cinder blocks?

I believe this coop just sits on top of the cinder block foundation, set in place by its own weight. If there is a tornado or a mass flood, this coop (and mine too) would have been blown or washed away. However, if you are not expecting these types of sever weather condition in your area, it should be fine. Show the contractor some photos of what you have in mind.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/853220/lightbox/position/107