Run underneath coop - how high to raise the coop ?

[GermanChick]

We are going to start on our Coop-Building-Project tomorrow ...YEAH !!!!!!
It is a 8x12 Coop (8x8 the actual coop and the rest storage/brooder-area), the run will be 14x7. To get more run space we would like to raise the coop and use the space underneath. How much space from ground to coop do the chicken need to be comfortable and so they can really use it ????
So excited to finally start building

 

[imthedude]

I left 2 feet of headspace under our coop.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

Quote:
Me too, they love that space and it's easy for me to clean.

 

[Opa]

I would base the height on what will be necessary for you to acess it comfortably. Nothing would be worse then having to crawl on your belly to gain access to a bird.

 

[GermanChick]

Quote:
Good point, haven't thought about that !!!!

 

[Dogfish]

Mine is 4 inches higher than a 5 gallon bucket. That way I can fit in a bucket feeder or a bucket waterer. I am not so fat that I can't wriggle under a 24 " space.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Quote:
This would be a good consideration...it would be a great place to leave a dusting pan or feed and water bucket if you wanted. It would keep it dry and out of the elements.

 

[Opa]

Quote:
I still weigh what I did when I was discharged from the Army 42 years ago so wriggling under a 24" space isn't a problem, but since the ground is likely to be covered with chicken droppings it wouldn't be a place I'd want to wriggle in.

 

[SillyChicken]

mine is 18" off the ground and I just use a 5' piece of bamboo to herd the birds out from under the coop (they spend 80% of their time there) I haven't gotten their access door cut yet, so they have to be herded out of their yard to the coop door... now they all come when I call, it's so cute how responsive they're getting with me.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Hubby just built the frame for our new coop. I had him make it 28" under the henhouse so we can get under there without hurting our old creaky bodies!

We get our babies next week

You can also see the hens easier if they hang out there and no rats can hide either (do NOT want rats, do not want rats!!) and even using 1/2 inch hardware cloth for the entire run and hen house for the same anti rat theory.