I've always built off-the-ground coops, I much prefer them that way; HOWEVER, you need to live in the right climate for an open bottom coop or else it becomes more work... and NJ is not warm enough.
Open bottom promotes ventilation and makes the entire area under the coop the litter box. I just rake the sand once a week and viola, done. I also don't have to bend over to get eggs or do anything else since the coop is 3' up already. It's the way I will always do them as long as I live in the right climate.
Open bottom promotes ventilation and makes the entire area under the coop the litter box. I just rake the sand once a week and viola, done. I also don't have to bend over to get eggs or do anything else since the coop is 3' up already. It's the way I will always do them as long as I live in the right climate.