Newbie coop question

[jprs]

Why are coops built off the ground when they all seem to have solid floors? I know some people don't do this, but I was wondering what the thinking is, as I am getting ready to build.

 

[mamagardener]

I am not sure about the reason..maybe flooding or predators.
I can tell you ours is raised off the ground by about 2 feet, and it gives the girls a place to hang out in the shade on hot days and keep the rain off when it rains. If you have them fenced in it will also give you more floor space for them.

 

[Life is Good!]

I built ours off the ground by 12" - put hardware cloth between the floor joists and the plywood for the floor. Not ANYTHING is going to chew through that floor! Why'd we build it this way? We've got weasels in our neighborhood - our neighbor lost most of his flock, as weasels dug underneath his 12" down hardware cloth (dug into the ground a foot!) at a corner of his coop/run - and came out through the wall at the floor/corner connection. Took him most of a summer to figure out how the weasels were getting into his coop as the hole was less than 2" diameter! (And the weasels were well fed that summer)

Some folks do it because they're not sure of the dirt in the area they're in and their disease load is potentially high (where pathogens don't get frozen each winter). And with the cost of concrete - unless you're building on an existing site - trying to put in a concrete floor for a coop is prohibitively high. Unless of course you've got a concrete mixer laying around your yard.....

Some owners are utilizing EVERY SQUARE INCH of available space for their hens due to the size of their yards or urban/suburban areas. So if the coop is off the ground, the space under the coop can hold food/water/more run space. And some municipalities restrict the size of coops/runs/etc. So some of it is for legalitites.

Some is for ease of cleaning - much easier to clean if you're not bending down all the time (for those with infirmaties or age). And if you build it just right, you can even design it to have the floor just above the height of your wheelbarrow - so all you do is roll up with your wheelbarrow, open the door, scoop the dirty litter into the wheelbarrow, shake in the new litter, close the door, roll off to your compost bin and you're done! No heavy lifting, not much in the way of straining (back or shoulders or knees) and easier to do!

Some owners build this way because their site has a definate lack of shade. At least with a raised coop, there is some shade to be found under the coop itself. Or aesthetics - often these types of coops are made to look like miniature houses or doll-house types.

Hope that answers some of your questions....

 

[acemario]

Where I live, we get about 3 feet of snow build-up in the winter. For this reason, it is better for us to have an elevated coop. Plus, if left to free range, chickens will roost in a high tree or something. Since mine are fenced in, I still wanted them to feel safer by climbing into the coop.

 

[jprs]

Thanks "life is good". You made some good points. I'm debating to do a coop or a tractor. I do have a concrete slab under a lean to off my shop I could partially use for a coop which would definitely prevent predators from digging in, but I hate to waste that space on chickens. I do like the idea of having it high enough for the wheelbarrow, anything to make life easier makes life good!! I live in central Florida so snow is not an issue, but heat is. ventilation, ventilation, ventilation.

 

[CorinneP]

So many different coops for different reasons .. I Just built my new one on the ground with a pressure treated floor . But I know people that have converted old sheds with dirt floors .. ( of course dirt floors can be dug under for predators ) I think it pays to have a good idea what you will be protecting your chicks from in your area, factor your climate .. I know I will end up doing some shoveling to open doors this winter .. But My new coop is very large .. My girlfriend converted an old small barn that had a dirt floor into nothing but a huge home for her Birds .. She has raised Turkeys peacocks and chickens and ducks all in there .. For many years

 

[JackE]

I built mine raised for some of the reasons mentioned above. But the main reason for me, was so mice, rats, or any other kind of pest is NOT provided a nice secure hidden spot to set up housekeeping of their own. I like to be able to see what's going on under my coop.
Jack

 

[gstuartw]

I raised mine 3 feet because of mice and the snow.

 

[Kjf18]

We raised ours 30" for:

1. Ease of cleaning,

2. Extended run underneath (with shade),

3. Smaller overall footprint (we are in the city with limited space),

4. Snow, and

5. Mice.

KJF