Does a coop need to be up off the ground?

[Luvmykiddos]

I'm not an expert on chicken coops by any means, but when we go to build our chicken coop, it'll go without saying that we will insulate the walls AND floors, so there wouldn't be that cold, winter draft. Is there any reason not to insulate? I prefer foam insulation, but that's just our preference. Critters don't seem to like it and it does a great job sealing.

I was always curious why people put their coops up off the ground, but now I know! Thanks to the OP for asking the question!

And congrats on getting the new chicks very soon!! How exciting!

 

[Hopefulloflove]

Thank you everyone for your imput! We have drawn up our plans and it will be raised off the ground 24 inches! We are in NC so it doesn't get horribly cold like it does at our place in Colorado. Thanks you again!

 

[maizy'smom]

Our coop is similar to the example in the photo, except that the space below the living quarters is enclosed. I wanted to have somewhere to store tools and supplies near-by and out of sight. As for insulation, we do intend to insulate the floor of the coop/ceiling of the storage area, as well as the interior walls of the coop and the coop roof. Winters here in SE PA can get cold, and we have no electric run to the coop. It would be nice to have more "run" space, but we do let the girls fre-range while we watch, and living here in the burbs, it is very nice to keep things neat looking. (Well, as much as possible, any way...) I have heard that foam insulation should be sheathed in masonite or plywood when used inside the coop....evidently, chickens love foam insulation. Who knew?

 

[Judy]

I've had several coops over the years, all dirt floor. The only alternative I'd consider is concrete. If I were to build a raised one it would be at lest 24" so a person could crawl under there without too much difficulty.

 

[Fluffychicky]

Is there a way to keep out rats if you build the coop on the ground?

 

[Pitfa55]

Looks good and sturdy.
Like the Idea of your design. Do you have a sketch of overall size and interior design?
Much appreciated.
Thanks
Pete

 

[Blooie]

Our original plans called for a raised coop, for all of the reasons cited in this thread. But then I realized that at my age, and with my old body not doing all the things I need it to do anymore, the thought of keeping my chickens in a place where I could not easily walk in to tend to the things that needed doing was just not feasible. I don't want to have to crawl on my hands and knees to retrieve a sick bird who may be hiding under there. I didn't want to use a rake or something to pull out eggs from under there. (Silly chickens don't always neatly drop eggs in the designated nests.) I hated the idea of snow and ice accumulating under there. And if we ever got out of the chicken raising business, I didn't want all the money we'd put into building to go to waste. If I sold a raised coop/run unit, it would be sold as "used" and I'd never get out of it what we put into it, so it made more sense to build something that could be left right where it is and repurposed.

I use the deep litter method in both coop and my run, so I only need to clean it out every year or so....and it doesn't take very long. No crouching! I just walk in to the coop with a rake, take out most of the nicely composting litter for the garden, (leaving a nice layer of "starter" for the new litter) toss in a few bags full of leaves and yard debris and I'm done for another year or so.

So we came up with a shed type building - easy to care for, easy to ventilate, and I can stay upright! Ideal for us. Everyone has to do what works best for them, of course. A raised coop might work very well for you, and if that's the case then go with it, absolutely! I love our set up and wouldn't change a thing about it. There is a ton of ventilation in there, no insulation, (I live in Northern Wyoming, not far from Yellowstone Park and we know winter here!) and it's light and airy. No rats or mice because of the added protection we built into the coop and run. In winter we cover the run with meshed greenhouse plastic, and it does the job of protecting the chickens from the elements so well that I raise chicks out there in a pen within the run using just a heating pad cave, even when temps are in the teens and twenties. And if the day ever comes where we no longer have chickens, we can clean it out, use the shed as a garden shed and the run as a walk-in greenhouse. Win, win.