Coop door size?

[rmansker]

Hello everyone, I've been lurking awhile reading up on everything and now that I have finally started my coop, the one question I have is how big should the chicken's door to the coop be? Most plans I've seen and the plan I'm basing my coop off of ( the triangular tractor from Organic Gardening magazine) never seem to mention door size. I need to really know what the minimum size can be for regular chickens ( I'm getting a couple of Barred Plymouth Rocks and a couple of Rhode Island Reds). I don't want to cut to large of a door since the coop space is small to begin with ( it's cut in the floor with a ramp leading up).

Thanks!

 

[thechickman04]

welcome...your thing says your from atlanta georgia....im from cumming if you know where that is.....the door size really doesnt matter all that much just make sure they can fit through easy

 

[Churkenduse]

Mine is about 10" wide and about 12" high and that is plenty.

 

[patandchickens]

If it's cut in the floor then the size will be different than the 'normal' type cut in the wall. Width would be the same -- I'd say 8" as a minimum, more would be more comfortable, esp. if you want big things like Orps -- but the length will have to be greater to allow for head clearance as the chicken walks down the ramp, you know? And the exact size will depend on the slope of the ramp so I don't think there can be one standard answer.

I would suggest you build a reasonable approximation and then take a chicken-sized object and actually 'walk it through' as a mock-up of a chicken using the floor hole and ramp. Does it seem to have reasonable head clearance? They *will* duck their heads a bit when necessary. Figure it out that way, is probably best.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[rmansker]

If it's cut in the floor then the size will be different than the 'normal' type cut in the wall. Width would be the same -- I'd say 8" as a minimum, more would be more comfortable, esp. if you want big things like Orps -- but the length will have to be greater to allow for head clearance as the chicken walks down the ramp, you know? And the exact size will depend on the slope of the ramp so I don't think there can be one standard answer.

Yeah, I figure the sizes would be different for a floor opening. I may still deviate from the plan a put a door on the inside facing wall and have the ramp down from there, I should have enough room for the ramp that way as well.

welcome...your thing says your from atlanta georgia....im from cumming if you know where that is

Yep, grew up a stones throw from Cumming over in Norcross. I now live in Dekalb county so I have to keep chickens on the sly unfortunately- you have to have 2 acres here to legally keep livestock. But I checked with the neighbors and they are alright with it, and I'll be sure to pass a few eggs along every so often to keep them okay with it.

Thanks for the help, I'm sure I'll have more questions next week when the chicks arrive!​

 

[Gonzo the Great]

Mine is the size of a 12 piece bucket...