Are you planning to build or buy a chicken coop and wondering about the ideal height it should be off the ground? You’re not alone! As a chicken keeper myself, I’ve spent countless hours researching and experimenting with different coop heights to find what works best
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about raising your chicken coop off the ground – from the ideal height to all the amazing benefits this simple design choice provides for both you and your feathered friends.
Should a Chicken Coop Be Raised Off the Ground?
While it’s not mandatory to elevate a chicken coop, there are definitely some compelling reasons to do so. Many experienced chicken keepers (myself included!) strongly recommend raising your coop at least a bit off the ground.
The short answer: Most chicken coops should be raised between 16 inches to 3 feet off the ground, but the exact height depends on several factors we’ll explore below.
The Benefits of Raising Your Chicken Coop
Let’s look at all the reasons why raising your coop makes sense:
1. Predator Protection
One of the main reasons to elevate your coop is to keep predators away from your precious chickens Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, opossums, weasels, rats, skunks, and snakes would all love to have chicken for dinner! An elevated coop makes it harder for burrowing predators to access your flock
2. Rodent Prevention
Mice, rats, and voles absolutely love chicken coops – they provide shelter and potentially food (if you feed your chickens inside). Raising your coop prevents these unwanted guests from nesting underneath and possibly chewing through the floor to access the coop.
As one chicken keeper shared: “Had that problem once. Wooden floor, coop on the ground. Rats moved in underneath, chewed through the floor and stole eggs and ate feed all winter.”
3. Better Ventilation & Moisture Control
Coops raised off the ground have better air circulation underneath, which helps keep the floor dry and regulates temperature. This is especially important if you live in an area with:
- Heavy rainfall
- Seasonal flooding
- Poor-draining clay soil
- High humidity
Drier coops mean less risk of mold, bacterial growth, and wood rot – all of which can threaten your chickens’ health.
4. Weather Protection
A raised coop provides:
- Protection from snow blocking the entrance
- Shade during hot summer days
- Shelter from rain and wind
- Protection from aerial predators like hawks if your run isn’t covered
5. Extra Space for Your Chickens
Your chickens will LOVE having the additional space underneath the coop to explore! It’s like giving them a free extension to their run. My chickens spend hours underneath their raised coop, especially during hot days.
6. Easier Cleaning & Maintenance
Let’s be honest – cleaning the coop isn’t the most fun part of keeping chickens. An elevated coop makes this chore much easier! You can:
- Clean without bending or kneeling (great for those with back or knee problems)
- Simply scrape bedding out the door into a waiting wheelbarrow
- Access the entire coop more easily
7. Convenient Egg Collection
With nesting boxes at waist height, collecting eggs becomes a breeze. No more stooping or crawling!
How High Should Your Chicken Coop Be Off the Ground?
Now for the big question – exactly how high should your coop be? The answer depends on several factors:
For Small to Medium Coops (Non-Walk-In):
- Minimum height: 16 inches
- Common height range: 20 inches to 3 feet
- My recommendation: 20-24 inches works perfectly for most situations
For Large Walk-In Coops:
- Minimum height: 8-10 inches
- Ideal height: About 12 inches (1 foot)
Factors That Influence the Ideal Height:
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Your physical abilities: If you have back or knee problems, you might want the coop higher (waist-level) for easier cleaning and egg collection.
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Size of your coop: Smaller coops can be raised higher more easily than large walk-in structures.
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Local predator pressure: Areas with more burrowing predators might benefit from higher elevation.
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Local weather: Regions with heavy snow or flooding benefit from higher coops.
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Your cleaning method: If you want to position a wheelbarrow underneath for cleaning, make sure there’s enough clearance.
Real Examples from Chicken Keepers
I find it helpful to learn from other chicken keepers’ experiences. Here’s what some have shared:
“We have ours a little over 3 ft off the ground and I love having it that way. Our run is attached to one side of our 8 x 8 coop and we enclosed the whole underneath area with hardware cloth to make the run even larger plus give them shade/protection from rain.”
“I went with 2′ and LOVE it! I measured the wheelbarrow and made sure it was a couple inches higher. I have full-side doors on opposite ends so my idea was to be able to park the wheelbarrow at the door and push the dirty litter out from the other door.”
“Mine’s 20 inches off the ground. They will LOVE that space underneath!”
Special Considerations for Different Coop Types
For Coops Without Floors
If your coop doesn’t have a floor (some don’t!), raising it off the ground becomes even more important to prevent predators from digging their way in.
For Coops with Concrete Floors
While these don’t necessarily need to be raised for moisture concerns, elevation still provides all the other benefits like extra run space and protection from predators.
For Drop-Floor Coops
If you’re building a coop with a hinged floor that opens downward for easy cleaning, you’ll need to raise it 3-4 feet to allow space for the floor to open.
How to Make the Most of the Space Under Your Coop
The space beneath your raised coop can be incredibly useful! Here are some ideas:
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Create a dust bathing area: Put sand underneath for a cool, shady spot where chickens can take dust baths.
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Weather protection: Block 2-3 sides with wood or wrap with clear heavy-duty plastic tarps during winter to create a protected area.
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Hang feeders and waterers: Keeps them in the shade and protected from rain.
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Storage space: Enclose the area for storing chicken supplies.
DIY Tips for Raising an Existing Coop
If your coop is already built but sitting on the ground, don’t worry! You can still elevate it:
- Empty the coop completely.
- Get help to lift each corner while placing concrete blocks underneath.
- Make sure it’s level and stable before allowing chickens back in.
Bottom Line: Is It Worth Raising Your Coop?
In my experience, absolutely YES! The benefits far outweigh any extra effort in the building process. Your chickens will be healthier, your coop will last longer, and your back will thank you during cleaning time.
While the exact height depends on your specific situation, aiming for at least 16-24 inches for smaller coops and 8-12 inches for larger walk-in structures will provide most of the benefits we’ve discussed.
Remember, a dry, predator-resistant, easy-to-clean coop makes for happy chickens AND a happy chicken keeper!
Do you have your coop raised off the ground? What height did you choose and how’s it working for you? Leave a comment below – I’d love to hear about your experiences!
P.S. Looking for more chicken keeping tips? Check out my other articles on coop design, predator prevention, and keeping your flock healthy all year round!
Where to find a tall enough chicken coop for 5-6 Chickens
If you want a chicken coop similar to the one that I’ve featured in this article, you will probably not be able to find a new one for sale easily. The chicken coops sold on Amazon or at Walmart are too small and poorly made. Most of the coops sold at farm supply stores aren’t great either.
For example, the little wooden chicken coop in the photo below (pictured to the right of the red coop) is one you can buy from Amazon, supposedly large enough for several chickens. The person I bought it from used it for 7 hens—poor ladies!
Think about it for a minute—the red coop above (the same one as in my earlier photos) is only big enough for 5-6 chickens. How many hens could you humanely put in the little cheap coop? Not 7. Not 5. Maybe 1. I’d argue 0.
There is no place to roost in these cheap coops, ventilation is inadequate, and the coops aren’t weather- or predator-proof. For more about these coops, see my article Why you should NEVER buy a chicken coop from Amazon or Walmart.
The one place I’ve found that makes super high-quality chicken coops delivered to your door (and placed in your yard, if you opt for it) is Rita Marie’s Chicken Coops. I purchased my newest coop from this company and I love it—you can see my review here.
Otherwise, you may need to build your own. You could also try to buy a high-quality used coop that somebody else built themselves—check out your local Craigslist. I’ve found coops this way before with mixed results.
Why a chicken coop must be at least 5 tall
My first chicken coops were all walk-in chicken coops. They were so spacey, I never really thought about how much vertical area chickens needed in a coop.
But later on, I needed a chicken coop to house only 5-6 chickens. I wanted the coop to be as small as possible, while still being large enough that all of my chickens’ physical and psychological needs were met.
You can see the coop my husband and I ended up building in the photo below. And you can see the interior of the coop in the annotated photo up above.
You can see this coop has a sloping roof. The actual coop itself (not including the legs) is about ~3.5 feet tall on its shortest end.
In the sections below, I break down exactly how I’ve determined 3.5 feet as a minimum height.
And please, do keep in mind, this is a minimum height. I cover this more below, but my chickens are free range and they only use the coop for roosting and laying eggs. They don’t need as much space in their coop as chickens who live in an enclosed run.
If your chickens will be spending a lot of time in your coop or if they have a very small run, you’ll want to increase the size of your coop. Your chickens will always appreciate more space. For more information on chicken coop size, check out my article, How big should your chicken coop be?
You want your roosting bars to be high enough that chickens can walk underneath them. In the coop above, the roosting bars are 20 inches high. This is the bare minimum height I would suggest for roosting bars.
If your roosting bars are any shorter than this, your chickens won’t be able to use the floor space, and you will need to build a larger coop.
You will want about 4 square feet of space per chicken, assuming your chickens have a nice-sized run. If your chickens don’t have a nice-sized run, they will need more floor space, at least 5 square feet/chicken, but the more, the better. If your roosting bars are too low, then you’ve lost that floor space.
If your nesting boxes are higher than your roosting bars, your chickens will sleep on them or even inside of them. They like to roost on the highest spot they can access.
In the coop I’ve shown above, the nesting boxes are at floor level. They are built off the side of the coop – you can see them better in the photo at the bottom of this article.
This is crucial, especially if you live in a place that gets cold winters or any inclement weather. You need your coop to be tall enough that chickens are not exposed to drafts when they’re up on their roosting bars at night. In the coop pictured above, the ventilation was installed on the lowest and highest sides of the coop, just under the roof.
On the lowest side of the coop, the ventilation begins at 18” above the roosting bars. Again, this is the bare minimum amount of height you want to consider for your chickens. If your ventilation is any lower, your chickens will likely be exposed to drafts.
If your chickens do get exposed to drafts, they will, at the very best, be living a very miserable, low-quality life. At worst, they may get frostbite and even die. Your smartest chickens will learn to sleep in the nesting boxes, and then you’re going to have a lot of poop in your nesting boxes.
You’ll notice that over the left roosting bar in the photo above, I have hung an overhead heater. This helps warm the chickens during the cold months, and prevents their combs from getting frostbite. This type of overhead heater, made for chicken coops, is a Sweeter Heater—I ordered mine from Amazon and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
These heaters come in many different sizes, so they work in small and large coops. I use them in all of my coops, and I highly recommend them.
You want to make sure your coop is tall enough that you can add enough ventilation near the ceiling for your chickens. In the coop pictured above, I have 5-inch high ventilation running all the way across the top of the shortest and tallest walls in the coop.
Chicken coop ventilation is a very difficult topic for the first-time chicken owner. I had such a hard time trying to figure out how much ventilation my first coop needed. I really couldn’t find a trustworthy source to give me straight numbers.
There’s a reason for this. The amount of ventilation you need will be specific to your management style, the number of chickens you have, how large your coop is, and the area where you live. There is no easy number.
If you live in a humid place, you may need more ventilation. If you have a lot of chickens in your coop, you’ll need more ventilation. If you have a very spacious coop with very high ceilings, you can get away with less ventilation than if the ceilings were low.
Even the type of bedding you use can make a huge difference in how much ventilation you need. If you use sand bedding, and especially if you scoop the droppings out weekly (or better yet, daily), you can get away with less ventilation.
Because sand is inorganic, a lot less ammonia and other odorous gases are produced in the coop. For more on using sand, see my article, Using sand for chicken coop bedding.
If you’re using organic bedding and you replace it weekly, you can get away with less ventilation than somebody who replaces it monthly. If you’re using the deep litter method, you’re going to need a whole lot of ventilation.
Many websites give the number of at least 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken. In most of my coops, I have less than that. The only time I ever had a problem with not enough ventilation was when I tried the deep bedding method with pine shavings in my large, walk-in coop.
Other sites say you should have at least 1 square foot of ventilation per 10 square feet of floor area. This tends to be considerably less ventilation than the 1 square foot per chicken estimate.
My best suggestion is that if you have a smaller coop, like the one I’ve shown you here, try to have a 4-6 inch strip of ventilation across a couple of the walls, like I’ve done. And remember, if you think you’re going to need more than that, make sure to build a coop with higher walls so that the ventilation doesn’t get too close to your chickens’ heads when they’re roosting.
How High Off The Ground Should My Chicken Coop Be? – Survival Skills for Everyone
FAQ
How far off the ground should a chicken coop be?
Most sources suggest 1 foot off the ground as the ideal, but 8-10 inches is probably enough. I know of a chicken keeper who had his coop only 4 inches off the ground. He had rats nesting underneath that then chewed through the floor. But what about 5 inches or 6 inches off the ground? Honestly, I’m not sure what the cut-off is.
Should a chicken coop be off the ground?
Because the floor of an elevated chicken coop stays much drier, your chicken coop floor will last longer. One of the biggest advantages to having a chicken coop off the ground is that the chickens can occupy the space underneath the coop, thereby extending the size of your run. Your chickens will thank you for this.
How high should a chicken coop be?
Most coops are designed at a set height with a ramp leading up to the coop entrance. However, if you’re building your own coop or you have the ability to set your own height, it’s up to you how high you build your coop off of the ground. I’d recommend at least 16 inches if you want to be able to easily get underneath the coop for any reason.
Should I elevate my chicken coop?
In some cases, you may not need to elevate your chicken coop: Some chicken owners keep their coop inside another structure like a barn, pole barn, garage, or shed, and simply want them contained.
Can you build a chicken coop on the ground?
It is generally not recommended to build a chicken coop directly on the ground. Raising it a few inches above the ground helps prevent dampness, pests, and predators from reaching the flock. 2. Can I go higher than 18 inches? Yes, you can.
What is an elevated chicken coop?
An elevated chicken coop is a coop that is a couple feet off the ground. This design makes it easier to clean and provides more convenient access to nesting boxes and performing routine check ups on the flock.
How high off the ground should a chicken coop door be?
A good chicken coop door is 10 inches wide x 10-13 inches high. The door should be at least 6 inches off the ground, and should swing outwards away from the coop. Some models of automatic doors work well. Manual doors need to have latches and locks that are absolutely secure against predators.
How high should nesting boxes be off the ground for chickens?
Should you raise your chicken coop off the ground?
While not strictly required, raising a chicken coop off the ground offers significant benefits, including predator protection from burrowing animals and improved airflow that prevents moisture buildup. Raised coops also provide additional vertical space for chickens to move, shelter under, and can be a convenient way to hang food and water. A minimum height of 12-20 inches (30-50cm) is often recommended for predator deterrence, but the ideal height can vary depending on your specific location and needs.