Door design

[davidjkcho]

I am about to finish my first coop. Floor and left side panel are ready to be installed.
I want to put a large door to 4'x4' front side for chicken access and cleaning but I can't come up with a good design.
Any suggestions?

 

[Morning_Star]

This is a repost but I used an aluminum storm door. They are often given away on Craigslist like this on in my hood right now.
https://vancouver.craigslist.org/bnc/zip/d/burnaby-storm-door-parts-32-80/7517299088.html

You can easily modify the height and width (without glass) with a grinder by unbolting the corners. It also comes with a super strong hinge and won't rot or retain moisture.

You can also use the built in slotted guides to use as a door for your chickens like mine. (I moved the glass from the top to bottom)

 

[3KillerBs]

For our elevated coop, DH just made a sturdy frame to hold the siding material:

Yours is going to be a little bigger, so diagonal bracing would be in order.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I like 3 killers idea for your raised coop. Nice job on overhangs by the way. Coop looks great so far.

 

[Rise722]

I would make a simple Z door, with hardware cloth in between.

 

[davidjkcho]

Thanks for suggestions. Here is what I am thinking.
1. Divide the front in half and cover one half with plywood (maybe add a window there using HC).
2. Make a door with the whole second half and use it for cleaning, and add a small sliding door for chickens at the bottom of the door.

 

[Happy hen lover]

Thanks for suggestions. Here is what I am thinking.
1. Divide the front in half and cover one half with plywood (maybe add a window there using HC).
2. Make a door with the whole second half and use it for cleaning, and add a small sliding door for chickens at the bottom of the door.

I like that idea, more ventilation, small sliding door? don't you have a pop door/chicken door already? Sorry I'm confused by that one.
Be aware the bedding will fall out when you open those doors. Just fyi

 

[davidjkcho]

I like that idea, more ventilation, small sliding door? don't you have a pop door/chicken door already? Sorry I'm confused by that one.
Be aware the bedding will fall out when you open those doors. Just fyi

I don't have a pop door yet.
The whole left side becomes a door and I want to add a small sliding door at the bottom. I am considering converting the right side to a door instead of fixing it to the frame so I can open both sides for maintenance.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I don't have a pop door yet.
The whole left side becomes a door and I want to add a small sliding door at the bottom. I am considering converting the right side to a door instead of fixing it to the frame so I can open both sides for maintenance.
View attachment 3238522

I would do that I don't think you'll be sorry. Remember they will "track" their bedding into the sliding door track though. Great design so far.

 

[davidjkcho]

Finished the front with two big doors. It'd be easy to clean and make some adjustment inside.
I added a small sliding door for chicken access and a window for more ventilation.
The coop is in gray and I am going to paint external plywood walls with some greenish paint I have.
Purple color on the nesting box was a mix of the gray paint I was using with 12 year old red paint that was used on the fence by previous owner.