Silkie door size?

[KiminPA]

Hello. I'm making an isolation type area in my coop so that my silkies (when they get here) will have their own little haven from the full-size ladies. I want to make a door that they can get thru but the other hens can't. Our coop door is 11x15 and two of them bust out at a time... would 4x6 be ok? Or is that going to be too small for the silkies?

 

[Hokum Coco]

Quote:

 

[KiminPA]

[COLOR=FF0000]Well I will be following your thread (it is a bit of good information when adding to a flock). All I can tell you is 9"x12" can accommodate a full size Sussex Rooster.[/COLOR] [COLOR=FF0000]When cutting the opening it is better too small than large. It is a simplier matter to enlarge it.[/COLOR]

It'll be a while until I know if it works. I'll take a picture of the set-up and let you know. We put the door in yesterday and I'll be able to tell if the big girls get in the area bc it's completely empty and they'll make a huge mess of course lol. We ended up making it 4 1/2 x 6.

 

[KiminPA]

The isolation cages have slide doors. There are two under the roost. So we made a piece to stick in that is a door, it comes out so you can just slide it shut or get in for easy cleaning. So far the big girls can't fit in this door... it remains to be seen if the silkies will fit. We can definitely make multiple sizes to use at different stages. I'm using these for integrating new babies and for a getaway for the silkies once they are grown.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s a good question and I don’t have a good answer. I’ve had full sized hens use a 6” high and 8” wide opening to a nest. The 6” high certainly isn’t too small for the bantam Silkies or the big chickens. It’s the width you have to fine tune. Good luck with it.