Minimum Coop Entrance Size for Silkies

[O.C.Chick]

Hello All,

Does anyone have advice regarding the minimum size a door should be so that a silkie could easily enter/exit a coop or a nesting area? Would 8" x 10" be too small? I am designing it so that the entire front panel is on hinges for easy access and cleaning, but I am trying to figure out the smallest dimensions that the actual chicken door can be while still allowing a silkie to comfortably go in and out.

Thanks for any feedback you might have!!!

Alys

 

[WestKnollAmy]

If they are only Silkies and it is 10 high and 8 wide, I think they could make it fine. Some of mine might find that a squeeze but some of the pullets I have been buying lately are grown and so small they could go right through without a hitch. So it depends on the size of your stock.
The door on my coop is 12x12 and they clamber through that without a problem.

 

[Bacchus]

8"wide and 10"high sounds good. Like Nadine said, it depends on the size of your chickens. I have all regular size chickens, and my very large meat bird goes through a 9"wide and 10.5"high opening just fine. Good luck & have fun!

 

[O.C.Chick]

Thanks for your help! I think I'll make it 8" w x 12" high just to be on the safe side!

 

[vermontgal]

My coop door is 7w x 9h and that works fine for my heavy breeds. It is that size because the coop door is a missing pane in a historical window from my 1850s house.

Seems to work OK! The gals are big, but they are mostly feathers.