Panic doors? Advice wanted!

[gmjarvi]

Is there such a thing as a panic door that a full-sized chicken could get through, but a predator (such as fox, small coyote) couldn't? If you have designed something like this, would you mind sharing your ideas with me?

I am designing a new coop and run set up, and will start free ranging my laying flock this spring, and I have to admit I'm nervous about depredation. I realize this is just one of the risks of free ranging, but I'd like to reduce the risk to my flock if at all possible.

 

[K0k0shka]

If a chicken can get through it, a fox or coyote can get through it as well.

 

[gmjarvi]

If a chicken can get through it, a fox or coyote can get through it as well.

This is what I've been figuring, but was hoping someone had figured out a miracle door

 

[K0k0shka]

This is what I've been figuring, but was hoping someone had figured out a miracle door

If anybody ever did, they’d be rich

 

[Rooapalooza]

Not really, but if you put your door up around 4 feet without anything climbable around it, it will help. Chickens can easily fly that high, except for silkies. The higher up the better for ground predators. I've twice had something get my silkies/low-perching hens when it busted into the coop, but all my high-roosting chickens were untouched, so their roost height definitely makes a difference.

The other thing you could do is get a small dog door that can lock both ways and keep it locked going in, but not locked going out, so the chickens can get out in the morning or if they are smart enough, run in case of attack. Of course, almost all chickens are blind at night and will sit on their perch waiting for their turn to die if something gets in to the coop. I think even in the event of a fire at night they won't leave, but it would be nice to have the peace of mind to know they could. I've been considering doing this for my own coop but am waiting until I can find a cheap used dog door on craigslist/at goodwill or a yardsale. I've seen videos of chickens using dog doors, so I know it can be done.

 

[Cooba]

Is there such a thing as a panic door that a full-sized chicken could get through, but a predator (such as fox, small coyote) couldn't? If you have designed something like this, would you mind sharing your ideas with me?

I am designing a new coop and run set up, and will start free ranging my laying flock this spring, and I have to admit I'm nervous about depredation. I realize this is just one of the risks of free ranging, but I'd like to reduce the risk to my flock if at all possible.

Don’t do it coyotes went thru and got about a dozen of my neighbours hens. They’re penned up now and he lets them loose when he’s around. How about an electric fence. They're about 164'x48"s high. put it outside an enclosed run for when you are home to let Them loose. Safer option.

 

[gmjarvi]

Don’t do it coyotes went thru and got about a dozen of my neighbours hens. They’re penned up now and he lets them loose when he’s around. How about an electric fence. They're about 164'x48"s high. put it outside an enclosed run for when you are home to let Them loose. Safer option.

I'm a stay at home mom and we spend a lot of times outdoors in the spring, summer, and fall months. I'm designing the coop and run to have plenty of room for my flock to be happy when they can't roam freely (winter and when I'm not home). I really think the benefits of free ranging are important for the health and happiness of the birds ❤

Edit to add: we do have an electric fence around the current coop that is live in the spring, summer, and fall.

 

[gmjarvi]

If anybody ever did, they’d be rich

Too true!

 

[gmjarvi]

Not really, but if you put your door up around 4 feet without anything climbable around it, it will help. Chickens can easily fly that high, except for silkies. The higher up the better for ground predators. I've twice had something get my silkies/low-perching hens when it busted into the coop, but all my high-roosting chickens were untouched, so their roost height definitely makes a difference.

The other thing you could do is get a small dog door that can lock both ways and keep it locked going in, but not locked going out, so the chickens can get out in the morning or if they are smart enough, run in case of attack. Of course, almost all chickens are blind at night and will sit on their perch waiting for their turn to die if something gets in to the coop. I think even in the event of a fire at night they won't leave, but it would be nice to have the peace of mind to know they could. I've been considering doing this for my own coop but am waiting until I can find a cheap used dog door on craigslist/at goodwill or a yardsale. I've seen videos of chickens using dog doors, so I know it can be done.

I had wondered about a dog door but wasn't confident that a chicken would be smart enough to use it! I know chickens aren't known for their intelligence, but we probably do underestimate them. Gonna some further digging on this idea for sure, I actually have a dog door laying around that I could repurpose.

 

[Cooba]

I'm a stay at home mom and we spend a lot of times outdoors in the spring, summer, and fall months. I'm designing the coop and run to have plenty of room for my flock to be happy when they can't roam freely (winter and when I'm not home). I really think the benefits of free ranging are important for the health and happiness of the birds ❤

Edit to add: we do have an electric fence around the current coop that is live in the spring, summer, and fall.

Hi there......what I mean is when you let them out of their run you can still have them in the electrical fence area. I used to rotate my horses thru different paddocks so that theyd have lots of fresh grass to eat. So this way you can rotate the chickens too. I don’t have mine yet but this is what I plan to do. 164' gives them a lot of area to wonder. Just move the fence around and you still have some safety.