So do I REALLY need a walk-in coop?

[Ben Lynnsy]

Yeah it's me again, the hesitant, coopless newbie. I do "get it" about chicken math, and my intent is to have 3 or 4, but the math says I could double that, altho I really don't want to. My space is limited and I am working with a 9x9 area that is bounded by a tree on the right, my "barn" on the back and a ramp from the barn on the left. There will be a predator protected run that extends out in front of the coop for another 8 feet. The space is small, and the overhanging of the tree limits me even more. I do not want to trim my tree, but there is a nice niche between 6 o'clock and 11 o'clock where a 4 ft roof would fit. I was thinking a flatter style would allow a bigger horizontal space, and a nice pull-out drawer for cleaning would work. For those few chickens, do I REALLY need a walk-in coop?

 

[sourland]

A walk in coop makes life easier if you have difficult winters.

 

[Jaime918]

You don't need it but it makes everything so much easier, and your back will thank you as well.

 

[alinas2010]

I have 4 and we thought we’d be perfectly fine without a walk-in one. We’re still young and thought crouching over would be no big deal….wrong! We’re only 3 months in and deeply regretting not getting a walk-in one In fact, we’re having one built Because we’re fed up with the crouching one we have currently. Not only does it suck cleaning the non-walk in coop, but if they don’t lay eggs in the nesting boxes, they’ll be harder to get to. Our girls would be totally fine in their current coop, but we hate it.

 

[Kiki]

Yes. You need one. You'll will wish you had one if you don't start with one.

 

[Folly's place]

You will not love a structure that's not walk-in tall.
How about a drawing of your current plans, so we can comment on them? Can you add on to the front of your barn?
Mary

 

[Toothpick]

My first coop wasn’t walk in. But It did have some sort of access to everywhere the chickens went. A side door opened so I could crawl in on my hands & knees to get the food/water bowl and clean anything out. The enclosed roost area was about waist height with a door to open that would allow me to scoop out the poop and replace bedding. And the nest box area had a door that folded down for easily getting the eggs and whatnot.

This was a Tractor Supply pre-fab coop (not recommended). So no, a walk in coop is not REALLY necessary. If you don’t have the space or funds then you can certainly make due without one. Just be prepared to bend and crawl for cleaning & feeding purposes. And make sure you have access to everywhere the chickens go because there will be poop to clean at some point.

A walk in coop only makes things easier on yourself. Your birds don’t care.

 

[Toothpick]

Let me add if you plan on upgrading the coop and adding more chickens at some point you can probably make due for the time being with a smaller not walk in coop. But if you plan on keeping chickens for a long time, like….several years perhaps….then a walk in coop will be worthwhile. Even if it’s just a small 5x5 or whatever. You gotta think that you will be feeding/watering every day. And you will be cleaning the coop at least weekly, if not daily. Do you really want to be crawling around in chicken dust and poo for several years??

 

[Folly's place]

Ben, the dust in coops is amazing, and bad to inhale. By all means do your small coop, and see how it goes. Most of use would much rather have a walk-in structure, having actual experience with chickens and their housing.
Just trying to be helpful, because you asked for opinions.
Mary

 

[Shadrach]

Sure you need a walk in coop. How else are the chickens going to get in.

There are keeping circumstances (very cold climates for example) where the chickens may be confined to the coop for long periods of time. Yes a large walk in coop with as much space as you can afford to build is going to help you and the chickens.
For less hostile climates what you need is to be able to access all the area in the coop. This is important for cleaning and bird access when roosting.

What is important is a walk in run with the coop placed and arranged so that you can if necessary provide food and water without opening the run or coop if you are planning to keep your chickens contained in a coop and run.

Let me show you.
I've just arrived to feed and water the chickens. They've heard me coming and are wedged against the gate of the run. If I don't want to be herding chickens back into the run I have to open the gate, get myself, feed and water into the run without letting any of them out.
If I had a system where I could tip feed into a feeder without opening the run they would congregate around the feeder and I could walk in without trying not to tread on, or catch in the gate any chickens trying to get out.

Elaborate large coops are wonderfull for posting on forums with look what we built comments. The chickens don't care. They need shelter from the elements, protection from predators and somewhere to roost at night and lay eggs during the day.
If you can provide this and keep the coop portable even better. Being able to move a coop to fresh ground is a massive bonus. If you have lots of chickens then two or more simple portable coops may prove to be a better option.