Raised coops WHY?

[duckinnut]

For most of the reasons here is why I went with a raised coop. Plus in the winter they can go under the coop and dust bath because it does not get wet under it so the ground won't freeze.

Before the tenants moved in.

 

[Keltara]

Thanks everyone, I forgot to mention that the whole run will be covered with a roof so that it stays dry (hopefully), we will be building it so the longest length is attached to the garage. Right now the tractor is built about a foot off the ground so that the chickens can go under it (it is the only protection from the sun/elements and the run is open to the elements but covered on all sides with wire so on days like today where it has been raining on and off it is really muddy out there. We figured by having a covered run we would element most of the mud, plus I could hang the feeder in the run (right now it is in the coop). I can see the advantages of cleaning it. One idea was to lay a concrete pad to make cleaning easier. All thoughts and comments are welcome!

We put a lot of thought into our chicken coop and run. I did a LOT of research on backyard chickens and then finally we began construction. I took all of the great ideas that I had seen on this site and applied it to our coop. I have a solution for your potential mud problem. Cement would not be all that great. The reason, is that you would have to cover it with something, and then THAT "something" would need constant removal, spraying down of the cement, and refilling. I have the perfect, PERFECT alternative though. I did a blog post on "coop management" back in February. There is a TON of helpful information in that post to help you in design yours (mine is raised and I LOVE it that way)! If you are going to choose to do a raised coop, this is my advice to you: Make it raised high enough that not only can the hens easily get underneath, but also so that when you are cleaning it, you don't have to bend over AT ALL! I feel that some raised coops on BYC missed the boat on the convenience of cleaning, by not raising them high enough. The floor of my coop is 25" off the ground and I can tell you that being able to stand tall in the rain and snow while tending to the chickens makes for very happy chicken owners. Also, be sure that your "run" is high enough so that an adult man can sand inside with plenty of head room. The front of my run area is 7' tall, and the rear part of the slant is 9' tall. Not having to bend is wonderful. So anyway, I have a lot of really good suggestions on my blog post on coop design and maintenance. Click here or on the photo below to get there. I guarantee you'll learn some things that you hadn't even thought of!

Sincerely,
Kelly
✿Our Country Chronicles✿

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[real_redhead]

Great page all of your pics are so cute, gave me lots of ideas I can't wait to get started!!

 

[OR4-hmom]

, We have 2 coops at ground level. First one is 10 x 12, second is 8 x 12. I've had to dig all around the coops and bury avairy wire to try and keep the mice and rats out. My egg count went way down and when I went out to the coop one night they had a rat running along the roost over their feet. I don't blame them for not laying one bit. After that, the pop door is closed everynight and I started digging.

 

[mb poultry]

This is our smallest raised coop, and you can see another in the background. The pop door slides with a pull rope, and the side is hinged for easy clean out from outside.

 

[mb poultry]

and this is our larger coop that is on the ground, and beside it is a different style raised coop that you can see also. the raised on here is about 3x7, so a standard sheet of plywood does the roof with overhang. The front is open in the pic for clean out. The large one still needs paint and trim, but its only a year old haha. I will get to it someday!

 

[real_redhead]

I am so glad to get all the advice, the guy (Ben) who is going to build the coop came by to measure tonight. We laid out a 7 x 12 footprint, Coop will be 7 x 3, with a covered run. Raised with 4 nesting boxes (I think I only need 3 - will have no more than 10 chickens) but hubby and Ben think I should have 4. A door on the outside of the coop so I can clean easily - per all the advice on BYC no bending and another small door on the inside of the run to the coop as well. Nesting boxes will stick out like you see on most coops, trying to figure out how to run the roosting poles. I plan on putting one of the rubber mats under it for easy cleaning (hopefully) All I know is that I would like to reduce the amount of shavings that I have, after less than a year my compost bins are full. I think I need to get worms to go in the bins maybe that would make the composting process go faster. Also considering using sand in the coop instead of shavings for ease of cleaning, Just like scooping the litter boxes in the house! I sat Ben down with the BYC coop page and showed him all the coop designs.

 

[Keltara]

I am so glad to get all the advice, the guy (Ben) who is going to build the coop came by to measure tonight. We laid out a 7 x 12 footprint, Coop will be 7 x 3, with a covered run. Raised with 4 nesting boxes (I think I only need 3 - will have no more than 10 chickens) but hubby and Ben think I should have 4. A door on the outside of the coop so I can clean easily - per all the advice on BYC no bending and another small door on the inside of the run to the coop as well. Nesting boxes will stick out like you see on most coops, trying to figure out how to run the roosting poles. I plan on putting one of the rubber mats under it for easy cleaning (hopefully) All I know is that I would like to reduce the amount of shavings that I have, after less than a year my compost bins are full. I think I need to get worms to go in the bins maybe that would make the composting process go faster. Also considering using sand in the coop instead of shavings for ease of cleaning, Just like scooping the litter boxes in the house! I sat Ben down with the BYC coop page and showed him all the coop designs.

Why not eliminate shavings all together and use sand?

 

[kimmypie]

Why not eliminate shavings all together and use sand?

I thought sand wasn't good for areas that get cold in the winter?

 

[Tigertrea]

Great thread. I've been trying to convince my BF that a raised coop would be better for cleaning. I just can't convince him. Someone mentioned cement being hard to clean. He is convinced a cement floored, ground level coop is best for us. I am most concerned about things like mice and rats. I don't want any risk of them getting in. We poison mice in the house so don't want a chance of the chickens killing/eating the mice (impossible to keep out of the house without re-doing our entire basement...and we rent LOL). I really do want a walk-in coop.

Part of the reason he wants to do cement floor is because we can do it for free. I am finding that, after reading his thread, I want to go back to trying to convince him to raise the coop. I had better get working....Chicks due in 3 weeks!