Raised coop

[Jerseyjack]

I have an 8x8 shed that I plan to convert over to a hen house. I don't know squat about coops except what I've picked up looking at pictures. My 14 birds are now 3+ weeks and I need to find some time to get it done quick. What I would like to do is raise the shed approx. 32" off the ground, supported by 6x6's at the corners. I'm not sure, but was thinking 4 nesting boxes. I bought a 100' roll of 1"x2"x6' wire to enclose the run and overhead.

Assuming I raise the coop, I would also like to make an access/exit through the floor of the shed, with a ramp to the ground. Can I expect the birds to use the coop at night and "let themselves in and out whenever they want" or are there disadvantages to allowing the birds to enter/exit, 24-7 vs opening a door for them each morning?

I spent the day prepping the coop area and gathering most of the materials needed to raise the shed. After I raise the shed, build nesting boxes and perches, I will confine the birds to the inside until i complete the run. I figure to bury the fencing about 6" below grade to keep out the coons and other varmints. Looks like rain is in the forecast, so I doubt anything will happen until at least Sunday, so any feedback would be appreciated.

Once I figure out how to post pics here, I'll snap a few of my progress as I go, Thanks

 

[guard278th]

Depending on the floor frame I might consider 2 more posts but its just my opinion

 

[lady feathers]

You can leave the floor door of your coop open 24/7 if you are confident that your run isn't going to let any predators in. Some things to consider are weather, having a hole in the bottom of the coop floor isn't going to necessarily let out a ton of heat but it still will lose some, and it could potentialy create a draft maybe?.... also not sure why you want to go so high off of the ground with your run below.... I would consider the stability of an 8x8 that is 11 ft tall in a high wind (again ot sure what your weather is like but here we have horrible windstorms because we are in the middle of open corn and bean fields!

Also, if you decide to go with the floor door be sure to place boards along the edges of the opening to help keep your bedding from getting shoved out the door and into the run! Good luck and have fun creating your coop!

In addition since your birds are young I would leave them with only access to the coop not the run for a few days to a week to make sure they knwo that is where they need to be at bedtime not on the floor of the run.... they should associate going into the coop at bedtime and put themselves away, you may have a few straglers the first few days but if you put them back in with the rest they should pick up pretty quick!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Personally I think raised coops work better on a smaller scale. At 32" you'll be crawling around and awkward if you have to go under the coop for any reason (injured bird, etc) and a chicken run is the last place I want to be on my hands and knees. Then there's also the stability in the wind issue to consider if your shed is a standard height and not short. You may need to add more supports and you may need to sink those supports well into the ground.

As to leaving the door open 24/7, there are advantages and disadvantages to that. The birds certainly like the opportunity to come and go at will. But it does leave you more vulnerable to predators. If you have weasels or mink in your area they will easily slip through 1x2" wire and an open coop is easy access. Another advantage to going out and opening the door each morning is that it gives you an opportunity to take a quick look around for any signs of illness or repairs that may need to be made on the coop/run.