Let Them Under the Run or Not

[SandyK]

I'm wondering what the pros and cons of leaving the bottom of the coop open for the chickens to go under the coop would be??? Of course we would secure it all around so nothing could get in the run. Any help would be appreciated, we have the option of doing it both ways now.

 

[montanasandy]

I don't know how you would secure the bottom of the coop and run to keep out just about any predator by doing that. It seems like that would be an open invitation to a chicken dinner.... It might be better to secure the bottom and leave the door open for awhile for your chickens to free range and then secure them back in for the night..

 

[patandchickens]

As long as the under-coop area is predatorproof and digproofed, the only problem with letting chickens under there is that if your coop is large and the space is low you can find yourself someday needing to commando-crawl under there through Chicken Yuck to retrieve a mislaid egg, sick chicken, or whatever. Many people let the chickens access only part (e.g. half) of the underneath area of largeish coops, for this reason (so they don't have to slither TOO far under there in those circumstances)

Otherwise it is nice shade and rain-shelter for the chickens

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[montanasandy]

Quote:
Oh, I reread your post. Are you just thinking about a raised coop, is that what you mean. Something like this:

 

[GermanChick]

My chickens love their space underneath the coop. They are free ranging all day but most of the time they just hang out underneath there in the shade.

 

[SandyK]

Thanks all.

Very good idea Pat. It's been so terribly hot here for the last few weeks, I was thinking it would be much cooler under there. It would actually be secured just like the run will be. Wire buried down underneath and covered. We are planning for a 8'x16' covered roof run for shade, an additional part will not have the roof over it. The ability to go under the coop a little bit would give them that cool dirt to rest in too.

 

[elmo]

I have a small coop that's raised about two feet with chicken access to the underneath. I hate it. I can't easily reach under for clean ups, and it isn't very easy to rake under there, either. The chicks have figured out I can't round them up easily from under there, so that's where they run. I won't be designing another this way.