What is the benefit of a raised coop

[chickerdoodle]

It also eliminates hiding places for rats. I am doing it for the ease of cleaning and a shady extension of the run

 

[Chicksdigit]

The Siding on my large coop is Aluminum and is buried 2 feet deep all the way around. It has a dirt floor and even with this abnormally wet spring we have had I have had no problems with a dirt floor....... I also have a smaller coop (8' x8') that has a wood floor and is much harder to clean I find the exact opposite wood floor is wetter and harder to clean and dirt/sand allows the moisture to dissapate it is much easier to clean just a bit of raking and new straw/hay and everything is good.
But to each his own and what works for me may not be an option where you live, the soil here is really absorbent.

 

[math ace]

My current coop is on the ground, but when I build the next one - -- I think I am going to try the raised floor.

I think it might be a little cheaper because I won't have to use full sheets of wood for the sides and I get extra graound space for the cost of half height wire.
The added shade under the coop will be great for our HOT HOT Loooonnnggg Florida Summers and I know Texas can relate to that.
Having a place outside to get out of the rain during the rainy season may not be such a bad idea. It would also serve a place to keep their water outside and still out of the sun.

SNOW in FLORIDA is not much of an issue, but I think that is why there are soooo many of the coop designs with the coop raised.

 

[goldenchic]

my coop is raised about 18 inches off the floor which was fine when they were babies, but my rooster has to really stoop to get under it, we will be making it higher this weekend and also making the run bigger as they need more room now they r growing, one advantage of having the coop off the floor as people have said it gives them shade, but i put the food under the coop which keeps it nice & dry

 

[Monk]

Quote:
BINGO!!!

 

[ranger4327]

i have a raised coop, approximately 30 inches off the ground. it is approximately 6 x 6 feet, small, but keeps my 6-8 birds comfortable. i cannot get inside it, it is accessed thru a large door on one of its sides. it has a smaller door inside the run for the birds to enter and exit. the only problem i see with mine is the inability to actually get inside the coop, wich with the plans i used, is by design.

when i access the coop from the large acess door, it is sometimes difficult to deal with an agressive rooster, since he is almost at eye level. mine became agressive with age and it was no fun tending to the coop and birds with him around. my wife refused to after he atttempted to attack her recently. he has sinced been rehomed. That is my one complaint with it, other than that. i like it alot and the other pros that people have listed, i agree with....

good luck

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
Vinyl flooring on the wood floor makes it slick and easy to clean for a small flock (only 5 hens in a 5x4 henhouse). When the floor is off the ground and you have a door behind the Poo area under their roost you just scoop or gently push the waste and dirty shavings into the bucket below. Sand in the run--scoop like a litter box!