Coop Options

[MommasHerd]

So we are first time backyard chicken go-ers and my husband is a 'DIY before educating yourself' type of guy. He built a very nice coop, complete with a roof with shingles that match our house. Issue we are having is I want is raised off of the ground on to a table of some sorts, with a hole cut in the middle for them to go down and out to the run. He wants to raise it on to blocks above a cement slab and attach the run off the side. His thought process is that we would just be able to spray off the slab with a hose for easy cleaning. This does not seem sanitary or OK for our girls.

If we were to raise it on to the table I would I want install a drop window to clean out the coop. Help. Which way should we go?

 

[Demosthine]

Personally, I would forego both options and set the coop directly on the ground. Dig out the floor area to about a foot deep and utilize the Deep Litter Method. It has significant benefits, including keeping the smell down and preventing coccidiosis. You don't have to worry about weekly cleaning or anything, so it drastically simplifies your daily chores.

 

[chfite]

Mine are raised 24 inches off the ground so that I don't have to bend to clean and maintain them. I have the nest boxes outside with the coop installed so that it is part of the periphery of the run. I don't have to go inside the run to get to the coop.

I have the long side of the coop, 8 feet, divided so that 2/3 of it is doors to open for cleaning from outside the run.

The run is soil covered with 6 inches of sand so that water drains, and the chickens can turn the sand in the normal course of digging thereby turning the poop under to decompose. The sand lends itself to raking, if you are so inclined.

I have the pop door in the side with a ramp to the ground. The chickens generally jump up to or down from the entry.

I don't see any benefit from the cost and maintenance needed for concrete.

Chris

 

[aart]

Trap door in floor of coop can use up valuable floor space and be difficult to lock up securely at night.

Concrete is expensive.

Spraying poop with water just moves it over and wets it making it more attractive to flies and other insects...it will also smell awful.

Need more info.
How big is coop?
How many chickens?
What is your location?
Can you post of pic of the coop and where it will be located?

 

[MommasHerd]

The coop itself is 4'x8' and about 5' tall ...I will try to upload a picture of what we have so far in just a couple of minutes. We have 5 girls

 

[MommasHerd]

Trap door in floor of coop can use up valuable floor space and be difficult to lock up securely at night.

Concrete is expensive.

Spraying poop with water just moves it over and wets it making it more attractive to flies and other insects...it will also smell awful.

Need more info.
How big is coop?
How many chickens?
What is your location?
Can you post of pic of the coop and where it will be located?

 

[MommasHerd]

 

[MommasHerd]

This is obv. not finished. There is a window behind the open door and the opposite side also has a window. Once we have the exact plan of what to do next, the window on the opposite side would possibly have a walkway to their run. Ideas?

 

[Kernel Cluck]

I have a few questions. 1.) where are you? 2.) Can you stand up in the coop the way it is? .. If you are in a cold climate, I would leave it on the ground. You can utilize the natural warmth from the ground and the deep litter method. If you cannot stand up, then I would raise it off the ground for ease of access. Lastly, based on the size, I would put the pop door on the side to take advantage of what floor space you do have. Welcome to BYC

 

[MommasHerd]

We are

I have a few questions. 1.) where are you? 2.) Can you stand up in the coop the way it is? .. If you are in a cold climate, I would leave it on the ground. You can utilize the natural warmth from the ground and the deep litter method. If you cannot stand up, then I would raise it off the ground for ease of access. Lastly, based on the size, I would put the pop door on the side to take advantage of what floor space you do have. Welcome to BYC

We are in Nebraska. It can get pretty hot and humid in the summer as well as frigid cold in the winter.