Railway sleepers under coop

[Chicken Smallhorn]

Is it a good idea to have the coop slightly elevated above the surrounding earth to help keep the litter dry?

If so, I was considering sitting my 5' square timber coop on a bed of timber railway sleepers, with deep litter on top. Would that work or should I have the litter on the soil?

 

[Brahma Mamma]

You have the right idea. Our first coop was a converted utility shed and it was already on runners about a foot off the ground. This saves the bottom of the shed from getting rot from damp or wet. The railway timbers are a great idea! I would just make "runners" of the timbers so that air will be able to ventilate below the coop - which will also come up through the coop and help with coop ventilation too! Pictures?

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
Check out my BYC page----I do the exact opposite, and have been for over 15 years. My Coop floor is sub-ground level with deep litter that can build up to 18" without touching wood. (brick foundation, buried)