why elevated coops?

[artsyrobin]

you are right on that point- to get to ours if i have to, its hands and knees.... haven't had to yet- but if it was redone i'd try to have it high enough for that, as it is, its 3 1/2 feet...

 

[bethsplace]

ours was a 4x4 rabbit cage before we turned it into our coop is why its elevated.I like it that way when we added a second coop to it we made it the same. it gives them shade rain protection a place to keep the feeder dry

 

[lishah2000]

Mine are all raised for a lot of reasons. Flooding being number one, security (nothing can dig in) and shade/shelter.

My first chicks were not even 4 months old when we had bad flooding that covered almost all of our property. It still came up close to the coop floor (it was 18 inches deep in the run). I was so glad I built it off the ground.

 

[cobrien]

Mine's elevated because -

I have 1" hardware cloth as the floor, poops fall through, it stays much cleaner than with a solid floor. The bottom part is solid on 3 sides and open on the side that faces the run. I don't have a problem getting chickens from underneath, if I need to catch them I chase them out and corner them elsewhere. If it were a concern you could add a door to keep them out once you chase them out of there.

It is very easy to harvest the poop for my garden from underneath.

coops sitting flush to the ground are much more prone to rat and mice infestations. I've had both, but not any more with my new elevated coop. No one wants these critters around but living in the city I am even more concerned about neighbors getting a perception that my chickens attract rats and mice.

As stated by others, it is also more ergonomic for me, warmer for the chickens and they like to be up high to sleep.

 

[Maryallison]

I've had coops both ways and I'd say a small elevated coop or a very large coop (large enough for people to get in and move around) seems to work.

 

[Barred Rocker]

Quote:
I'd never try to catch a chicken in daylight anyway. It stresses them out terribly and would frustrate the heck out of me. I always catch mine well after dark when you can just lift them off the roost without any hassle whatsoever then if they're to be transported the next day I put them in an enclosed cage and they're no worse for wear. I strongly believe the elevated coops are more secure (at least mine are) with only one way for something to get in or out and I can shut that off whenever I need to. It provides a dry space for them to stay while still able to be outside when it rains or snows and I think is much more sanitary and makes it less susceptble for lice or mites. I don't have anything against coops on the ground, everyone has their preference. For me it just works better.

 

[Bedste]

I have a larger chicken yard and the girls can get under the house for shelter.... the ramp goes up the middle underneath ... i have a sliding door so when it is locked no mice either..... I started keeping their food and water in there also because of the mice..... I am doing the layer methode so the the coop floor is warm .....

 

[AtholCoop]

Mrs. K :

Perhaps it is do to where we live, but I have never seen elevated chicken houses until I went onto this site. By elevated I mean that there is space underneath the house, it does not sit flush with the ground. Why do people build them that way? Doesn't the floor of the coop get a lot colder with that opening? Just wondering. mk

One words starts with a "S", and ends in "now"

One less thing I gotta dig out every time it snows. Once a week maybe dig out the drifts in front of the doors, otherwise day to day I just walk/pack down the snow and let it pile up.


Also it's heaps easier to clean when I can just scrape/rake the bedding out into a wheelbarrow.​

 

[gsim]

I did elevated coop due to slope of 5:1 in entire area of coop and run. I would have done it anyway because it is dryer and is a great place to store feed in plastic bins. Also it is a good place for a dust bath that is out of the weather. My chooks like to hang out down there even tho they have a 2,000 sq ft run with three shade trees. I did close off the cramped part of it for fear of them laying eggs down there and also to keep vermin from taking up residence there. They can access about 40% of it still, where it is from 24" to 36" tall.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
I'd never try to catch a chicken in daylight anyway. It stresses them out terribly and would frustrate the heck out of me. I always catch mine well after dark when you can just lift them off the roost without any hassle whatsoever then if they're to be transported the next day I put them in an enclosed cage and they're no worse for wear. I strongly believe the elevated coops are more secure (at least mine are) with only one way for something to get in or out and I can shut that off whenever I need to. It provides a dry space for them to stay while still able to be outside when it rains or snows and I think is much more sanitary and makes it less susceptble for lice or mites. I don't have anything against coops on the ground, everyone has their preference. For me it just works better.

Mine is eleveted too due to all the reasons that Barred Rocker mentioned + the snow thing that AtholCoop mentioned. Gives my girls a place to stay dry or cool, depending on the season, and makes the coop much easier to clean especially with the poop chutes I have cut in the floor (covered with locking hatches). I also collect the eggs from bumpouts outside and this puts the nests at just above waist level so I don't have to bend over (I've has spinal fusion so this is a BIG deal for me). Space is a problem for me so this extends their run area as well. As far as catching them, I never chase them around outside! Take Barred Rocker's suggestion, please! Too much work to chase the silly things! If you must though, a broom makes a great hearding stick.