A chicken run is an enclosed outdoor space that allows your flock to forage safely while protecting them from predators. Constructing this enclosure on uneven or sloped ground presents unique challenges that go beyond a simple square frame. Primary concerns include ensuring long-term structural stability, preventing predator intrusion through ground gaps, and managing water runoff that can quickly create unsanitary conditions. Addressing the slope proactively is necessary for the health of your flock and the longevity of the structure.
Site Evaluation and Ground Preparation
The initial step involves assessing the severity of the terrain’s grade to inform the construction strategy. You can measure the slope by using a string line stretched level between two stakes, then measuring the vertical drop over a set horizontal distance. This measurement determines the difference in post length needed for a level frame or the height of retaining walls for a tiered design.
Before building begins, the area must be cleared of all major debris and vegetation, including roots and large rocks. Vegetation removal is important because decaying organic matter can cause the run’s foundation to settle unevenly over time. Once the ground is clear, you must decide whether to build a completely level frame or adapt the structure to follow the natural grade.
A fully level frame simplifies the construction of walls and the roof, but it requires significant work to level the perimeter posts or fill the resulting gaps beneath the structure. Alternatively, a stepped or terraced approach follows the land’s contour. This approach is less labor-intensive initially but complicates the roof line and requires internal retaining walls to manage soil and bedding.
Structural Solutions for Sloped Terrain
To achieve a stable, level run, the primary method involves using extra-long support posts on the downhill side. These posts must be set deep into the ground, often below the frost line, and secured with concrete or compacted gravel for maximum stability. The tops of all posts are then cut to the same height using a line level, establishing a level top frame for the roof and walls.
The space created by the slope beneath the level frame must be closed to prevent predator access. This space can be filled using a “pony wall,” which is a short retaining wall constructed from pressure-treated lumber or concrete blocks. The pony wall serves as the bottom perimeter of the run, keeping the structure square and stable while providing a solid base for attaching the predator-proof mesh.
For steeper slopes, a terraced design is often more practical, breaking the run into two or more flat sections connected by short ramps. Each terrace acts as a mini-run, using short retaining walls to hold back the soil and create a level floor. This approach inherently manages soil erosion and bedding migration but makes roof construction more complex, as it will likely need to be stepped or angled to cover the transitions.
Predator-Proofing the Uneven Perimeter
Uneven ground inevitably leaves gaps between the bottom of the run structure and the soil, creating easy entry points for digging predators like raccoons and foxes. The most effective defense is the installation of a hardware cloth apron, a horizontal skirt of mesh laid flat on the ground extending outward from the run’s base. This apron should extend a minimum of 12 to 24 inches away from the perimeter.
On a slope, this apron should follow the contour of the ground and be secured firmly with heavy-duty landscape staples or buried under a layer of soil or gravel. When a digging animal encounters the horizontal wire mesh, its instinct is to back away rather than continue digging through the barrier. This method is more reliable than simply burying a vertical fence line, which can be circumvented.
The largest gaps created by the slope must be addressed with physical barriers, known as skirting, to ensure the predator apron is effective. Skirting materials, such as buried stone, heavy-gauge wood, or concrete blocks, should be placed to close the space between the run’s frame and the ground. This measure ensures that the wire mesh remains flush with the soil, preventing small predators like weasels and rats from squeezing underneath the barrier.
Water Management and Run Flooring
Sloped ground dramatically increases the risk of water runoff, which can wash away bedding, cause soil erosion, and lead to perpetually muddy conditions that harbor harmful bacteria. To combat this, the run’s flooring material must be highly porous and well-draining. Wood chips are a popular choice due to their ability to compost slowly and allow water to percolate through. A layer of chunky wood chips, at least two to three inches deep, provides a soft, forgiving surface that remains relatively dry.
Erosion control within the run is necessary, especially in a terraced design or on a long, gentle slope. If the run is long, internal cross-braces or shallow berms can be installed perpendicularly to the slope to catch and slow the migration of bedding material caused by chicken scratching and rainwater. This method helps to maintain a consistent depth of litter across the run area.
External water diversion is needed to prevent large volumes of water from flowing into the run from uphill. Small, shallow swales or ditches placed a few feet above the run can redirect heavy rainfall around the enclosure. Adding guttering to the roof of the coop or run is important to control runoff, ensuring that concentrated streams of water do not land directly on the run floor and cause localized flooding or erosion.