Can you help quickly please?

[Momagain1]

Hubby wants to make the chicken door; like right now!

I'm trying to figure out just how big for him to make the door; research on this site says many different things...

helpful info:


HENS:
2 light Brahma hens
5 bl. australorp hens
4 turkens
5 RIR
5 Sexlinks
5 Barred Rocks
3 easter eggers


and my lonely roo: Turken (AKA: Mr. The King)

So based on those birds; how big would you make them? I checked into the size for the brahma hens; so being a hatchery (as the others are) bred,
they wont get as big as the breeder ones...


TIA!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The Brahmas and the Roo should be the biggest birds you have(and you aren't likely to ever have any bigger).
With that many birds and if you don't have structural limitations I would go with 24" wide and 12-20 high.
I have a flock of 14 including a big welsummer roo with a 14" wide, 12" high door that doesn't pose problems.
Another flock of giants, rocks and orps have a door 16" wide, 20 " high.
If they can squeeze through it isn't a big deal but if you have one that likes to sit on the threshold, 2 bird width will allow them to pass each other.

 

[patandchickens]

Because you are in IL I would not really recommend the 'extra-wide' door described in the previous post, unless you are willing and able to close half of it off for wintertime. It will just allow too much wind in.

Honestly it is not hugely critical, but something like 12w x 14-16"h should be plenty for your needs. It does allow one hen to squinch past another parked in the doorway if she really wants to. You can go smaller than that if you prefer (e.g. if the popdoor is on the w side fo the coop and you're concerned about winter winds), the size of a sheet of notebook paper is about the smallest you'd ever want to do and will be a little on the tight side for them.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat