Coop Q

[RavenWood]

Why are most chicken coops built off the ground? I used an old shed for my hen house, but it needs to be rebuilt soon so I've been looking at coop designs, and I just can't figure out why everyone builds 'em above ground.

 

[Darklingstorm]

I live in the south and built my coop 2' off the ground.
Reason #1 is for the circulation of air all the way around the coop to help it keep cooler in hot months.
#2 is for predators like skunks, rats, snakes, dogs, etc..this height keep them from digging up under the coop to access it there and makes it harder for them to reach any openings.
#3 for my benefit in cleaning out. Being around waist high for me means, I don't have to bend over to clean.
#4 concrete is expensive and to me a wooden floor sitting on the ground will not last long and concrete is too expensive for me buy.

 

[RavenWood]

Thanks for the info. I live in n. BC Canada so it doesn't get terribly warm here ... at least not for long. We do have predators since we live in the forest - bears, coyotes, fox, neighbourhood dogs, but we've been here for 20 yrs now with chickens every now and then (and goats & horses) and have yet to have a problem with anything getting in.

My hen house is just wood on a frame sitting on the ground (that's the way it was when I moved in). No idea how long it's been there, but it's only now just showing signs of issues so that was 20-30 yrs. Not bad. Pressure treated would work better without question. Concrete even better ... the building is 10x12 so doesn't really matter how high it sits, it's big enough to be work cleaning it. I actually like it sitting on the ground - since we live in the forest it's hard to dig down to bury fencing and the fact that the building goes right to the ground is probably a deterrent to predators in and of itself.

I'll have to do a bit of contemplating about whether I want the new one up or down.

Thanks again

 

[Kjf18]

We built ours 30" off the ground for two reasons:

1. It puts the floor roughly at waist height, making cleaning easier.

2. We have limited space for the coop and run. The space under the coop became part of our run.

KJF

 

[JackE]

The main reason my coop is raised, above ALL else, was to prevent mice, rats or any other vermin/pest from having a nice hidden place to set up housekeeping of the own.
Jack

 

[RavenWood]

Thanks for the responses. That makes sense on both accounts. I am not at a loss for space so I think I will just build the new one on the ground as well, but with pressure treated lumber and larger supporting timbers. I initially thought my hens and ducks could share the space, but the ducks are much too messy and getting water everywhere in the hen house, so I'll have to build them their own house.

 

[silkieloverz123]

Not sure the one we are going to build is not going to be off the ground so im not sure, but maybe so its harder to keep out predators?