When I built my coop I decided to elevate it off the ground; rational was twofold - gain more run space and deter pests from easy access to the coop.
I researched and decided on 3 feet of elevation, the contours of my location resulted in 3-4 feet underneath the coop, mostly to facilitate easy access for me.
After four years these are benefits I did not think of:
I researched and decided on 3 feet of elevation, the contours of my location resulted in 3-4 feet underneath the coop, mostly to facilitate easy access for me.
After four years these are benefits I did not think of:
- Each fall I gather huge amounts of fallen leaves to add to the run. I spread them throughout but make sure to "fill" under the coop area with 2-3 feet of leaves. My flock goes nuts for days on end as they dig through to find bugs to feast on.
- The obvious advantage of more compost material to the run over top of the base mulch and shavings I used to start. More than four years later I have not touched the run to deal with issues of mud or droppings, don't think that I will ever need to do anything other than add compostable materials.
- I started with various containers for dust baths. These days the flock makes their own baths by digging around the run perimeter; some along the south side of the main run area but under the coop is the favourite spot with holes dotting all around the under coop area.
- Today, after a cool summer, we are at 32C/90F. No birds in the main covered run, everyone under the coop enjoying the cooler temperatures and multitude of dust baths.
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