how much height they need to get through an opening

[captionerlady]

My opening into the coop is in the floor. I want to build a little three-sided box over top of the opening to make sure they don't fall through when hopping off the roost, to keep the bedding in, as well as to give them as much floor space as possible.

My question is how high/tall of an opening do they need to comfortably get in and out of the opening? Hope that makes sense.
Thanks,

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there.

When I had that type of entry, we just did a lip to hold in the bedding. I never had issues with a hen falling through it. And they didn't care at all about the floor space... though that was in a mild weather location, so not much time was spent inside back then.

I would say at least 12x 12... but maybe larger depending on what type of birds you're getting. My current issue is when someone occupies that opening and no one can get in or out... so maybe 12 in tall and 18 in wide might allow another to pass.

Good luck!