Full height coop, or raised with run extended underneath?

[easterbun]

I am planning on building a replacement for the coop/run that was on our property when we bought it, where we've fought COUNTLESS predator problems over the years.. so many that I now feel like the worst chicken owner ever. The run was built with 2x4 welded wire, which we later covered in chicken wire, and for a time the top was covered in netting, mostly due to hawks, but that degraded over time, and any determined predator could still get into it - we live in TX and it's warm most of the time, so the coop itself (which I didn't build) was completely open on one side with basically no way to secure the chickens inside - we did eventually wall in that side, but the rest of the coop and run had so many other issues that it made little difference. The list is endless with the issues it had, and when our last flock had dwindled to just a few, I then built a more secure chicken tractor which solved most of the issues we faced, but it has me convinced that I need to make a huge change from the old coop with our new flock moving forward.

I'm planning on a 6x10 coop (with larger attached run) but I'm questioning if it would be better to keep the bottom raised off the ground like I see in so many designs, or if it's worth it to just make it more like a full walk-in shed at that size for easier access/cleaning? I'd still be able to get inside it with it off the ground, I just wouldn't be able to stand up completely except for in the very center of the roof line (it actually has more vertical space than the loft in our barn does, and I'm up there pretty frequently so the height inside should be fine). Storage for food and supplies isn't an issue as this will be built adjacent to the barn - I didn't plan on storing anything in the coop itself besides chickens

If I do raise the coop off the ground, is there an ideal height off the ground? Right now in the plans I am working on, it's high enough off the ground so that if I had to get under there and do anything I still could. Do you still count the ground area under the coop as run space if you do that, or not? I was planning on under the coop to be where the water bar (with horizontal chicken waterers) would be, and possibly food (still undecided on that, trying to figure out what kind of feeder I want to go with) so it would definitely be usable. Keep in mind this is also for bantams, so height requirements for other breeds might not apply.

This is a rough draft drawing of what I've come up with so far - the total area is 10x20, coop area is 6x10, not shown is the plywood floor for the coop (which will be at the height of those horizontal boards that run around the entire structure) or any exterior sheathing except on the nest boxes since that's what I made those out of. HC will be attached to the exterior and the edges covered with trim boards that I haven't modeled yet (the 6x12 chicken tractor that I built as our prior flock got smaller did not have wood trim over the HC, and that was actually how we lost our rooster).

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you have it off the ground, the only restriction really is being at a height that it's still human accessible in some fashion, and that it's still high enough for chickens (and you) to access the underside. I think 18-24" is the recommended height (I have a walk in, what do I know ). Since you have bantams it's less about the chickens fitting down there, and more about a human trying to get to a chicken hiding in a back corner...

Yes the space down there would count as run space.

 

[easterbun]

Cool. right now my plans have it 28" off the ground, which I think will be easily accessible by most humans

 

[aart]

Cool. right now my plans have it 28" off the ground, which I think will be easily accessible by most humans

If you are nimble..and don't mind crawling in poop

or if it's worth it to just make it more like a full walk-in shed at that size for easier access/cleaning?

That would be my choice, not just access for cleaning, but access to the birds on the roost at night as that's when I like to do exams(easier to 'catch' them then).

Nice model, what program are you using?

 

[RumneyRoost]

Up to you, pros and cons to both.
My girls are confined to their run when we’re at work or away for the weekend. I opted to build a raised coop with the run extended underneath to maximize space for them.
I put their food and water underneath, extra protection from rain and snow. They also have a roost under there.
My coop is 36” off the ground, so I can crouch under to catch birds without crawling. I get up in the coop every second day to clean the poop board. I can’t stand fully in there. There’s a roost that I can sit on though which makes it easier to check birds at night.
In the morning I just check each one as they come out on the ramp.

 

[easterbun]

access to the birds on the roost at night as that's when I like to do exams(easier to 'catch' them then).

Nice model, what program are you using?

That's a fair point - but if I did it full height I lose 60 sq.ft. of run space. I want to get started on this within the next week or so, so I'll need to make up my mind soon!

I'm using Fusion360 - decided it was finally time to learn how to really use it while I'm furloughed during lockdown, and I'm still only just scratching the surface with it... but I can at least make it do the things I want it to do for now.

My girls are confined to their run when we’re at work or away for the weekend. I opted to build a raised coop with the run extended underneath to maximize space for them.

It will be similar for us - it's just not safe to let them free range unsupervised - I want to make sure they have more than adequate space in the run area when confined, so I'm leaning towards the elevated coop to take advantage of that space underneath.

 

[RumneyRoost]

The space underneath makes a big difference. My girls spend very little time in the coop unless it’s blowing snow. They much prefer outside.
If you decide to do a full size coop you could potentially add extra roosts or a low loft so the birds have more “floor space”.

 

[aart]

That's a fair point - but if I did it full height I lose 60 sq.ft. of run space. I want to get started on this within the next week or so, so I'll need to make up my mind soon!

Or raise it and still make it walk in height.
The shed I built my coop in was already raised....but that might not fit your plans.

so I can crouch under to catch birds without crawling.

My knees won't do that anymore.

 

[Chrifister]

I have read from articles here and there online that raised coops are better for rodent control? Most coops I have seen up close have been old converted sheds that had problems with rats.

The only experience I have is the chicken tractor I built last year with a raised coop on one end. As far as I know, we have not had an issue with rodents. However, that doesn't mean it is because the coop is raised. It is possible the coop is too new to have a rodent problem?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have read from articles here and there online that raised coops are better for rodent control? Most coops I have seen up close have been old converted sheds that had problems with rats.

Yes I believe raising it can help with rodents (as they can't just tunnel under the wall and instantly pop inside, which is what I find happening in my shed). Raising it will also help with ground moisture and rot if you live in a wet environment.

That said, mine is only raised about 6". It was less about rodents and definitely more about keeping it off our water saturated soil. Also makes it more "portable," if we ever needed to move it, as the entire unit sits on skids which sit on concrete blocks.