Our new coop

[tracy0052]

My husband started a new coop for our girls this weekend. It's 8'x4' and will be made of mostly repurposed wood. This is what we have so far. The base will be for dust bathing and we have the floor in.

 

[Duckopolis]

Nice idea, but is that as far as it will be from the ground?

 

[iwiw60]

I'm thinking the same thing. The space between the floor of the coop to ground level is really low, so much so you will have problems if you have a hen that goes broody and decides to nest under there, or if a chicken is wounded and goes under there and you have to get it out.

 

[6of6chicks]

I'm thinking the same thing. The space between the floor of the coop to ground level is really low, so much so you will have problems if you have a hen that goes broody and decides to nest under there, or if a chicken is wounded and goes under there and you have to get it out.

X2

Plus cleaning will be difficult. With such a low space between the floor of the coop & the ground it's going to be tough to get under there. Even if you put down some sort of bedding it'll be hard to rake it back out.

Also - you'll have to stoop down to see all the way under - making it a good hiding spot. Any number of things might think it's a safe place to hang out (snakes, rats, skunks, etc.). I'd make it higher so you have a clear view of anything crawling around under there (including your chickens).

 

[tracy0052]

I think it appears lower in the pic than it actually is

 

[iwiw60]

I think it appears lower in the pic than it actually is

I enlarged his bottom photo...it doesn't appear to be any more than about 18-20" high. Glad he's got a good back, 'cause I sure don't!

 

[JackE]

I think you'll be OK with the height. You can easily see whats going on under there. And if, for some reason somebody has to go under the coop, that's a job for the kids.

 

[tracy0052]

I think you'll be OK with the height.  You can easily see whats going on under there.  And if, for some reason somebody has to go under the coop, that's a job for the kids.  

Yes that's why we have four kids! Lol they are their 4-H projects too. It's definitely going to be easier to clean than the tiny prefab coop we have now. Today they are all hanging out under the new coop in the shade and I have no trouble reaching them.

 

[tracy0052]

Update pic...hubby sealed the floor and started the walls...and he ended up sectioning off only 1/4 of the bottom for the dust bath and ran chicken wire around the rest. It's all taking longer than he thought but we are having fun. Our 3 year old thinks daddy has built her a stage. Lol