Suspended chicken coop- why not?

[enrgizerbunny]

Health of the bird is primary and standing on wire will create foot issues including bumblefoot.

Beyond that, chicken poop will not fall through 1/4 inch wire. It won't fall through 1/2 inch wire. Chicken poop can be rather solid and droppings from full size birds can be substantial in size. You're going to have chicken poop embedded, dried, and caked in that wire in no time flat. 

There's a reason you've not found much about this online. While good in theory, it isn't practical.  

Well that sinks the reasoning behind the idea. Thanks!

 

[ChickenMammX4]

IMO, not a good idea. Chickens need to be on the ground to scratch and forage for bugs, worms, seeds etc, Their feet aren't made for them to be suspended on a wire floor.

Their poop isn't like a rabbits, it's big and gooey (sorry if TMI:/). It will not be dropping through onto the ground below but sticking to the wire like stalactites and piling up on the floor. It will be a mess!

Chickens need a lot of ventilation, fresh air & sunshine. Musty and damp areas are detrimental to their health.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Chickens need a lot of ventilation, fresh air & sunshine. Musty and damp areas are detrimental to their health.

Certainly, the underside of my shed is 3.5feet above the ground and not enclosed. It's built on 4x6 stilts because of the hill. Like I mentioned earlier I've now got roofing material so I'll be building a coop with an enclosed run directly beneath it.

Another reason for putting it under the shed was because I'm confident that I'm not SUPPOSED to have chickens and it'd be really low key. Then again I'm probably not SUPPOSED to dig a 1500 gallon koi pond in my front yard without a fence around it, but that didn't stop me. It'll be located on the back or side of the shed where it's out of sight from the road and one of my neighbors. The shed also offers electrical hook up for heaters, lights, etc in the coop.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Quote: Out of sight is one thing, how about out of ear shot? Chickens can be LOUD. Particularly when they lay an egg or get into a scuff up with one another. Roosters are not the only ones who make noise. Are you prepared for your neighbors to hear them?

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Out of sight is one thing, how about out of ear shot?  Chickens can be LOUD.  Particularly when they lay an egg or get into a scuff up with one another.  Roosters are not the only ones who make noise.  Are you prepared for your neighbors to hear them?

That's not a big deal. The duck one street over is much louder.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Finished my coop today! It measures 32x48x29 and it is 32 inches off the ground. Two nesting boxes, two doors for access and cleaning.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Picked up 3 golden comets today! They're settling in right now.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Added cinder blocks for extra predator protection.

 

[TLWR]

The coop and under the coop is their only space? That's 10 square feet of ground and and maybe 7 square feet in the coop after accounting for the hole in the floor for them to get in and the nest boxes. That will be very tight living quarters for 3 adult large birds.

If you do have predators, chicken wire isn't going to stop them, that is easily ripped by many animals that eat chickens.

 

[enola]

Is that your dog?

He is waaaaay too interested in your chickens!