How high is your coop?

[DangerChickenHouse]

Mine is almost 2 feet off of the ground. Is that too high? I'm in the process of building it, so adjustments can be made. Thoughts?

edited to say: I don't have chickens yet. I'm so new to this. I read a plan that had it's chicken ladder to the coop set at 36 degrees. What if that makes it a long walk to the coop?

 

[duckinnut]

Two foot high is fine,my coop is 8x8 with a slant roof 7.5ft at the high end and 6 at the low. Being that high of the ground serves a couple of purposes with mine. First I enclosed 3 sides with hardware cloth towards the run so it gives you more run sq.footage and second as a cool spot out of the sun not to mention they love to dust bath underneath it.

As far as the angle of the ramp,mine is probably in the range of about 45 degrees,the total length of the ramp is 3.5-4ft.The only one that starts at the beginning is the rooster because he is just big and no so adept at jumping up. But all the girls sort of jump up at the half way point.i wouldnt be to concerned with the angle to much as long as its not 60 degrees. 45 ball park should be fine.

Also

 

[Ridgerunner]

My full-sized dual purpose breed chickens have no trouble flying/jumping up to roosts that are 4 feet high. Two feet high should be no problem. If you want, instead of a ramp, you can build steps or just one intermediate landing. It does not have to be a ramp.

I think the 2 feet is a good height. You can feed under there if you wish and keep the feed dry, but the big advantage is that it gives you access if you need to get at something under there. Maybe a hen starts laying under there. Maybe you need to get to a sick or injured hen. And it is high enough that mice or rats cannot build a nest under there.

 

[KDK1]

Mine is 2 feet off the ground. That gives them plenty of shaded area and it's high enough that other varmints won't take up residence under it. My ramp is about 5 or 6ft long and like duckinnut says, the bottom half is rarely used, especially when exiting the coop.

 

[bryan99705]

Your height is great...may even want to wrap the legs with flashing to keep mice from crawling up the legs if you have mouse problem

 

[DangerChickenHouse]

Thanks guys! Your posts were a HUGE help!!!! I feel good about my design now. Here is my plan:
The coop will be about 3 x 3 and sit 2 feet off the ground. It will have a 5 x 5 run off of it. I'm excited!!!

So, 3 x3 coop + 2 feet of feeding area below it + 5 x5 of running space off the front of the coop.....how many chickens will be comfortable? We are hoping at least three. What do you think? Is four too many?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Yours is fine. One of my coops is 2 feet off of the ground as well. The extra spaces serves many purposes.

 

[DangerChickenHouse]

Thanks for posting pics! It helped me put it into perspective. Two feet isn't that high huh?

 

[garthmyers]

mine is 2 feet off the ground also. it gives plenty of room for them to get under it and in the shade and also allowed me to hang their waterers and feeders under the coop.

 

[iBoodle]

Mine is really just a rabbit hutch, and is about 3 feet off the ground. Right now I am drawing pictures of what I want my dad to add to it, starting with a run!