Pop door size

[mossyroo]

I plan on adding a pop door to my run to allow my chickens to free range in the same pasture as my horses and goats (Nubian x Boer). I am wondering how big I need to make the door for my Austrolorps to feel comfortable using it while keeping it small enough to keep the goats on their side. Anyone have any info on dimensions?

 

[Hokum Coco]

Duplicate

 

[Hokum Coco]

I plan on adding a pop door to my run . Anyone have any info on dimensions?

Barred Rock hen



Delaware Rooster



Golden Comet hen

My pop door is 9"x12" and can accommodate all these birds with no problem. I would suggest raising the door up around 8" from the floor of your coop to avoid your litter from clogging the threshold of the door. Mine is a guillotine style door and it opens and closes with just heavy whipper sniper line no pulleys involved through a small hole drilled through the top of the door..

 

[aart]

Oh goats and chickens, that's a hard one. Nubian and Boers are pretty big and an australorp can probably fit thru a 10x12 door.

I've read that if you use a V shaped opening(oriented just like the letter V) just big enough for the chickens, the goats can't bring their feet to the centerline of their bodies to pass thru a V shaped opening even if their bodies are small enough to get thru. Haven't ever seen it implemented but would love for you to test the theory.

Or you can use an L shaped(from the top) tunnel type pass thru. 10 x 12 tunnel(2 sides and a top) that goes out about a foot then a 90 degree turn and out another foot...the goats can't make the tight turn but the chickens can. Could be made out of solid wood and/or 1x2 mesh.

 

[song of joy]

I'm not sure how small of an opening goats will attempt to use, but my heritage breed hens (barred rock, australorp, buff orpington, Rhode Island Red) use an 11x13" opening. I suspect they'd also be fine with it a little smaller (10x12").

 

[mossyroo]

Oh goats and chickens, that's a hard one. Nubian and Boers are pretty big and an australorp can probably fit thru a 10x12 door.

I've read that if you use a V shaped opening(oriented just like the letter V) just big enough for the chickens, the goats can't bring their feet to the centerline of their bodies to pass thru a V shaped opening even if their bodies are small enough to get thru. Haven't ever seen it implemented but would love for you to test the theory.

Or you can use an L shaped(from the top) tunnel type pass thru. 10 x 12 tunnel(2 sides and a top) that goes out about a foot then a 90 degree turn and out another foot...the goats can't make the tight turn but the chickens can. Could be made out of solid wood and/or 1x2 mesh.

Made mine about 10x12. It is L shaped with about 3" in from goat shed then a 90 degree turn and another 12" to exit. Thelma made it through. Will now try adding V to goat side.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have no idea how small a hole your goat can get through. I once used a nest opening for full sized hens, some Australorps, that was 8” wide and 6” high. That looks small but I’d think it would work for an Australorp rooster too.

That L-shaped tunnel sounds intriguing. With goats around I would not build it out of mesh. I’d want something really strong. A determined goat can be an awesome destructive force. That’s a nanny. Hate to see what a billy could do.