space under coop

[Hopper]

ours is off the ground (see avatar) and the chickens love hanging out under there during the heat of the day, plus I put the waterer under there so it is always out of the sun. easy to clean out with a rake once a week. so no problems with them hiding stuff underneath.... but i am no expert, just did what a lot of others seemed to and it is working so far. THis winter I plan to put straw bales all the way around the coop and load the inside with loose straw for them so. I think it will make a nice place for them, but hoping not too nice and they start laying under there? we shall see!

 

[cottagechick]

I thought about putting it off the ground also because everyone else did. I knew they would like to hang out under there. But two things made me hesitate. The thought of trying to get them out of there if they decided to hunker down there and a couple of people around here kind of looked at me like I was stupid for even suggesting it be raised about the ground because they thought critters would live down there. I think they have plenty of space and as I am in Willamette Valley in Oregon I doubt they are in danger of being too hot. I don't think it got to 90 once this year. It is only 72 as we speak. There is a shed on one side of them and a tall hedge on the other. A tree is planted at the end of the run. I think I've got shade covered. I suppose if they need more space I will deal with it.

 

[53convert]

I have found out first hand it is a place for the coons to hide and wait for the early morning attacks when the birds come out at first light.

Has happned to my birds twice now.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Mine is 24 inches off the ground and I consider it EXTRA run without having to add more posts/cost. It's sheltered from rain, snow, sun... I think it's a fabulous idea! Just enclose it all in with your run so nothing can get under except your chickens and you just added nice covered square footage to your run.

If you do raise it, make sure it's tall enough you can crawl under there. I'm planning on putting a door on one side (as well as in the run) so that I have good access under there.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Is it not enclosed? If it's a problem, I would suggest you fix it by enclosing the bottom area into the run and making sure you use some really strong wire. If predators are digging under it- and you've already enclosed it, there are some really great pictures on this board of people's aprons that they have layed down to prevent digging! I'll try to find the link for you! It should be a really easy fix for you!

I hope you get your problem solved quickly so that you don't lose any more birds! That is really sad when it can be fixed so easily! Good thing this board has so many invaluable ideas on here!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Oh, I found the link for you!! So excited!!!

This is the BEST picture I've seen yet to show exactly what to do to keep the predators from digging under your run! It is post #7, just scroll down a little bit. I swear, these people on here have the best ideas ever!! Good luck, and I sure hope that helps you out!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5772535

Isn't that just fabulous?!! I'm going to do exactly what this picture shows for mine!

 

[Zonoma]

Quote:

What flockwatcher said. I'm so, so, sorry I didn't give myself an access point. Now my pullets are about to start laying and I'm terrified that their going to start laying UNDER the coop. I have to block it off until they discover the nesting boxes.

 

[suzyQlou]

Mine's raised, but the chickens don't have access to it. I raised it for my own selfish reasons. I don't have to bend to clean it, and I can store things underneath it.

Because the girls don't have access under the coop, I can move the coop and run separately. Both are heavier than I had planned. I did have to add some extra shade to the run, though. They really did need shade this summer!

 

[LN2008]

I'm doing it so the girls have shade in the summer and a bit of insulation from snow in the winter. Also, it helps me have better access to the coop itself since I'm almost 6 ft tall and trying to clean it would be annoying. So, that's my reasoning for it.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have an open/air raised coop that is 2 feet off of the ground. The chickens chill out under there when they want to get out of the sun. It acts as "shade" for them. It's also a safety measure because predators can't get in the coop with it being 2 feet off of the ground.

ETA: They can also go under there to get out of the rain if they don't want to go in the chicken house or their chicken stalls.