Drop down chicken door?

[tororider]

I hadn't really thought about the floorspace aspect. Makes sense. I think with that in mind I will make the door out of the side of the coop and then make a ramp for them to get down.

 

[Jayare's Chicks]

I am about half way done with my 2nd coop and this one is a tractor and I am doing the hole in the bottom of the coop for them to get in and out. I will attatch a plank for them to get up into it and for them to get out. I have to figure out how I will attatch it to the bottom side of the tractor so it's not on the ground for when I am moving the tractor around. I am going to attatch the plank walkway to the bottom of the coop with some hinges. This one will not have a door that can be opened or closed so there will always be a hole in the bottom of the coop. I will put some 2x2 boards around the hole cutout so all the straw I will be using in the coop dosen't fall out as easy. I will have 2 swinging doors on the outside back so I can access it to do clean outs and gather the eggs. When I get it finished I will be posting pics of it.

Jayare

 

[spottedtail]

Like bills, I have a guillotine type sliding door operated with rope and a couple pulleys.

What's best about it is that it keeps my shoes clean because I can open/close it from outside the henhouse and yard.

Just make sure the bottom sill is about 6" up from the floor.

Good luck,
spot

 

[Weewanona]

[I will attatch a plank for them to get up into it and for them to get out. I have to figure out how I will attatch it to the bottom side of the tractor so it's not on the ground for when I am moving the tractor around.]

Eye-bolts and chain. Adjust the chain so that the plank is several inches off the ground.

 

[MistyMtnFarmAla]

Could you guys with the guillotine type doors post pictures? I'm designing my coop outside run and need ideas so I can build it. Thanks!!

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a hard time posting pics, so can't do so, but can tell you what we've done, and it worked very well. For a door, we used a large plastic cutting board, cause it was handy, right size, and slides very well in the track. Used J channel for aluminum siding to make the track for it to run up and down in. On the bottom, I recommend that you place a horizontal board, spaced out so the door can slide down behind that board a bit to prevent little predator paws from getting hold of it and pushing it up there. Place a stop about 1" down to keep it from sliding down all the way. I butt the J channel up to this board on either side. A hole in the top of the door, some wire to attach your string, a couple of pulleys, and you're done. I still have not done the pulleys or string on my door yet. I'm the ultimate procrastinator.

 

[MistyMtnFarmAla]

Thank you! I was going to have some thick plexiglass cut but the cutting board is a great idea!
I also decided I want a timer with a motor so I don't have to get up with the chickens to let them out!

 

[lazy gardener]

That's still on my wish list, but more for seeing to it that the door is shut after dark, than to open it in the morning.