Is a elevated coop better or on the ground?

[zachmath12345]

I was wondering if a elevated coop was better?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Depending on your climate and the overall size of the coop, it may be a tossup.
I have one built onto a concrete slab. That eliminates hiding places for predators and vermin.
The rest are elevated to chicken height or a bit higher.
That gives them a place to cool off in hot weather. It's usually the coolest place around. If the coop is relatively large, it's also a dry place for dust baths even when all the surrounding area is either too wet or frozen solid in winter.

 

[zachmath12345]

thanks but if it was elevated and you hade a hever chicken it would give them a wookout ?

It would be about 6ft long 5ft tall 5ft wide.

 

[pfewless]

Good question, one I am pondering. I am putting in a 6x9x7 foot tall sloped to 6 foot at the back of the coop. Its metal on top and all sides. I will have a window on both sides and 4 nesting boxes at the back. This sits in a fenced 20x26 area. I plan to have rope light on a timer and am still trying to decide where to put the roosting sticks as well as the easy fill feeder and nipple watering system. Seasonally it will sport 2 screen covered grow boxes for grass and sprouts in the fenced area as well as hanging bags of greens. This will house 10-12 hens and 1 Rooster. Some for laying some for meat. Any advice is more than welcome. Please tell me the flaws in my plan as well as if I need to raise my coop.

 

[vehve]

In a smaller coop, it's easier to clean it when it's raised. You can also use the space under it as a covered area in the run. In a larger walk in coop, you'll enjoy the added room to work with when doing maintenance. Also, a raised coop will cool down quicker than one sitting on the ground in winter, and it will be hotter in the summer.

 

[tcstoehr]

I made the mistake of using a plywood floor raised only a few inches off the ground. Rodent heaven.

 

[zachmath12345]

What about puting the walk way under it leading in to the coop?

But thanks for all the advise.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I made the mistake of using a plywood floor raised only a few inches off the ground. Rodent heaven.

Yeah, it needs to be on the ground or high enough for chickens to easily get under it.

 

[autumnhearth]

Our girls love to hang out under their coop in the heat, rain and I'm sure in the upcoming snow. It is raised about 2 ft off the ground and is surrounded on three sides by hardware cloth, the fourth side opens into their run. Instant extra space, cover and shade.

 

[zachmath12345]

I was 4 to 5 feet of the ground