Raised coop vs on the ground

[whitejerabias]

So in perusing coops I noticed a a couple different floor styles: A poured cement floor, raised a few inches on cinder blocks and raised a foot or so off the ground with a ramp down to the run.

So what are the pro/cons of each floor?

 

[bobbi-j]

Ours is about 1 1/2' off the ground so critters like rats can't move in and live underneath. Had that problem once. Wooden floor, coop on the ground. Rats moved in underneath, chewed through the floor and stole eggs and ate feed all winter. I couldn't figure out why the feed consumption went up and egg production went down until I cleaned the coop in the spring. The little buggers were popping their heads up in the holes watching me! I looked down one of the holes and it was just crawling with rats under there. *shudder* So, we put out lots of bait stations. We had cats at the time, but they never caught or ate rats so I didn't worry about secondary poisoning. I'm sure a concrete floor would be effective in keeping burrowing critters out, too.

 

[Afterburner]

Mine is nearly three feet off the ground. This allows me to grab the eggs without stooping. It also allows me to hang the feeder from the coop floor. This also provides additional protection from predators which can slip into a ground base coop. Also, hanging the feeder outside the main coop will keep out rats and other rodents intend on eating your hens' feed. Finally, an above level coop will prevent the cold ground from messing with the coop's interior temperature. You'll find the coop is a much more even temperature and will not be affected by the cold ground.

 

[karlamaria]

I have one on the ground, wood floor and I hate cleaning it. No it's not hard but I also wanted a raised coop, so having one built and the cleaning will be easy. The whole back will open, egg nests on the front so I can just reach in. I will let you know when I get it in a few weeks

 

[joan1708]

Put it up high if you can. It would make it easier to clean and "work" with. Its also cool to see the chicks going up the ramp! Mine is only 1 foot off the ground because it has to stay hidden behind a stockade fence and under big holly bushes. It would also be nice to be able to stand in the run but again for me that would make it visible from the neighbors upstairs windows. Even though I have their blessing on this project I want to be as incognito as possible.

 

[whitejerabias]

But can you still do deep litter cleaning method with the raised coops?

 

[gryeyes]

But can you still do deep litter cleaning method with the raised coops?

Yup. I did. Only cleaned out the coop twice a year. The litter was about six inches deep. I started with two inches and just kept adding more when necessary. Granted, that's one style of "deep litter" management; the most effective method is to have a dirt floor and never clean out the litter, ever.

 

[whitejerabias]

See, that is always what I imagined, but then you have problems like the aforementioned rat-through-the-bedding, right? Is there any way to safely have a dirt floor?

 

[jeepguy982001]

mines raised about 2 1/2 feet but i hardware clothed it so i adds 24 ft2 to my run and it provides some shade or protection from the rain.

 

[cboriskin]

My coop is raised 3' from the ground. I wanted it high so it would be easier to collect eggs and clean. I also have to have an enclosed run (I'm in the city that requires it), so it gives the hens more run space. I also am able to hang their outside feeder under the floor so it's out of the rain and/or sun. I'm able to remove it every evening so mice and rats don't get to it. I kind of do a deep litter method. It's not very deep, but I do clean the big droppings daily and I use poop boards. Once a week I add a thin layer of shavings and DE. Haven't had any problems with smell at all.