Why are so many coop designs elevated?

[Chicken.Lytle]

My coop is raised because my land gets marshy in monsoon season. In the summer they chill underneath. When the summer sun stops frying flesh on contact, they occupy the chicken run, except for today when they spontaneously free ranged .

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
I was just discussing that on another thread, and I think I have decided to go with one.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5208068#p5208068

 

[Lydia&Andrew]

Quote:
Me too. Here's a pic of mine on concrete blocks. We tend to get standing water in a heavy rain, so it's good for that, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/55921_cooop.jpg

LOVE your coop!

Me too. It's great!

 

[noodleroo]

Quote:
Adorable doesn't describe it! I absolutely love it!

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

The human, taking care of the chickens, doesn't have to bend down so far.

 

[BWKatz]

It depends on where u live. I have granite, red mud overlayed with sand. If u build on granite ur not going to have any critter tunneling in. Another member with aLOT of experience (Darkmatter) uses earth overlayed with bricks for a floor.Have a look at his page.

 

[Kassaundra]

Ours is off the ground for many of the reasons already mentioned, and our coop is the center of a rotating garden which we close off parts and open parts on a rotation basis for the girls to do most of the unpleasant gardening work. So the under the coop part is the gateway for all the garden spots.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

Quote:
This sounds very interesting. Do you have pictures?

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
This sounds very interesting. Do you have pictures?

No, not now I will have closer to spring. It was an idea from the chicken tractor garden concept, but where we live, tornado alley and hail storms a moveable tractor didn't seem to provide enough protection and housing. So we brainstormed the idea of keeping the chicken house stationary and the center of the garden and moving the "run" every 3 wks through the growing season. There are 8 runs 4 are for short term growing and the chickens are in those a total of 3 times, and 4 are long term growing they are only in that once a year. In each garden/run we will plant as a guild (multiple varieties companion type) and chicken forage. We have been working on the plan for a year and can not wait to implement it this year. We will also add fruit trees to the concept. Our goal is as close to raising as much of our food as we can in a back yard in town.

 

[patman75]

Increased run space with minimal wire required to protect the chickens.
Shaddy spot in the sun
Dry spot when it is raining.
No snow under the coop in the winter.
If you are building on an uneven surface. it is easier to just level the coop floor than to level the land.