Chicken door size

[Tracyree]

My old coop is being renovated and it just occurred to me that we kept silkies before and will now have standard size chickens. I imagine we'll need to make the chicken doors larger? What size is best? Right now I'd guess they are about 8"x10"

 

[7L Farm]

My pop door is around 22 inches tall & 12 inches wide. I have LF chickens & my rooster is a big boy. Guess the door size depends on your breed. Just keep the rooster in mind when building the door.

 

[patman75]

Mine is 14X22, Fits in between the studs on the wall.

 

[Tracyree]

Thanks. Just measured and it's 9 x 10... Probably not big enough.

 

[debid]

I went 10x13 because that was suggested in my chicken keeping manual. Yes, a tall roo would have to duck to go in but they can and will do that. This book did suggest going a couple of inches bigger if you will have any very large breeds (Brahmas, Jersey Giants...)

FWIW, I'd also make sure you could use an automated door opener/closer with whatever size hole you cut just in case you decide to add one later.

 

[bryan99705]

My RIR happily step thru a 6X6 opening when they want to go somewhere. Your door size probably is more important to ventilation and drafts than to the birds.

 

[Tool]

I believe mine are 18x18. It seemed at first it might be alittle big, but I did not think about the birds having to duck to go in and out. Thanks.