Chicken tunnel height minimums?

[Ryooki]

For those of you’ve made chunnels, what is the minimum height for chickens to pass through? I’m planning a tunnel from my current run to a new coop / run. It will be a permanent installation with a bridge that goes over for a garden cart and kids to run over occasional so I’d like it to be as short as possible.

they’ll pass through an opening made of 2x4s on the uphill side and then the tunnel will immediately get about 3 inches bigger. If the minimum is 12 inches tall as I’ve read, can I make the opening 9-10 inches tall? The tunnel will be about 20 inches wide.

 

[igorsMistress]

Yes that will work. Keep in mind some chickens get taller than a foot so consider your breeds when you make a final decision on height. We'll be working on chunnels to provide shaded walkways here from area to area. I hope you post pics when you're done!

 

[aart]

can I make the opening 9-10 inches tall? The tunnel will be about 20 inches wide.

That sounds fine.
Can't wait to see pics!

 

[drinkoj]

Going to piggy back on this thread as I have a simlar question. I am going to be tunneling a coop house to a kennel run (10x10) and wanting to know how long should the incline extend from coop to run, as I've seen comments saying some walking boards? were to steep. Does it really need to be 20" wide? Finally, can I just build an inclosed tunnel with scrap plywood instead of using hardware cloth?

 

[Ryooki]

The chickens have been walking up and down this spot in my yard already so I’m not worried about the slope. My tunnel will probably be defined by the bridge or ramp going over it, which is why I estimate 20 inches wide. Lol. I’m wondering if I can make the opening smaller than 9-10 inches. Would they willingly crawl through a 7 or 8 inch opening?

 

[igorsMistress]

The chickens have been walking up and down this spot in my yard already so I’m not worried about the slope. My tunnel will probably be defined by the bridge or ramp going over it, which is why I estimate 20 inches wide. Lol. I’m wondering if I can make the opening smaller than 9-10 inches. Would they willingly crawl through a 7 or 8 inch opening?

In some cases that small can be a problem. Consider that they can get spooked in the chunnel and run. Plus, some chickens are either tall, wide, or both. The width is perfect in my opinion, birds can pass because you know that someone is going to sit right in the middle and hold up traffic.

 

[3KillerBs]

Keep in mind some chickens get taller than a foot so consider your breeds when you make a final decision on height.

My light Brahma rooster was over 2 feet tall. His ladies were noticeably smaller, but bigger than the other hens. (All of them hatchery birds).

 

[Ryooki]

Thanks for the advice! Looking at out layout again, I’m going to do the space a little differently so the opening into the run will be a full 12 inches. I’ll make the tunnel section a little deeper than 12 inches, probably by dodging down the chicken tunnel into the ground.

 

[aart]

probably by dodging down the chicken tunnel into the ground.

Is this a permanent tunnel?
Don't from a 'ditch' that could gather water.

 

[Ryooki]

Yes, permeant. Thx for your advice. It’s on a sloped hill with good drainage. Lowering the floor 1-3 inches in the uphill part of it won’t cause it to pool water.