lindseyawest
Chirping
You all have been so incredibly helpful as I've been building my first coop for my first flock of chickens. I'm hoping to get Buff Orp, Australorp, and Barred Rock for my flock. I know these are big girls. I've tried searching the forums a bit and have read some mixed answers, so I thought I'd ask here about door size:
I want to do a guillotine style door (is that the correct term? sounds a little morbid) and eventually (like within a month or two) utilize an automatic coop door opener with my door. I'm going to cut the door opening a couple inches higher than the coop floor so the door can drop down inside the coop and raccoons won't be able to lift the door at night.
My question, though, is how small can I get away with the door opening being? I've read 10x12, 12x12, 10x16, etc. I've never had chickens before, so I don't really have a frame of reference. My main concern is making sure it's tall enough for the hens to get into the coop, but not so tall that the coop isn't tall enough for the door to slide up (if that makes sense).
Thanks in advance! Can't wait to show you all the pictures soon!
I want to do a guillotine style door (is that the correct term? sounds a little morbid) and eventually (like within a month or two) utilize an automatic coop door opener with my door. I'm going to cut the door opening a couple inches higher than the coop floor so the door can drop down inside the coop and raccoons won't be able to lift the door at night.
My question, though, is how small can I get away with the door opening being? I've read 10x12, 12x12, 10x16, etc. I've never had chickens before, so I don't really have a frame of reference. My main concern is making sure it's tall enough for the hens to get into the coop, but not so tall that the coop isn't tall enough for the door to slide up (if that makes sense).
Thanks in advance! Can't wait to show you all the pictures soon!