Walk in coop vs Non walk in

[catterbug]

I am in the process of building a coop for 8 chickens. I keep going back and forth as to whether I should be able to walk into it. What are the benefits of having a tall walk in coop? Better ventilation? We are planning on building it to be 12x12 with a small storage area on the side with of course the run that comes off of it. So I am thinking maybe to save money I should walk in to the storage area and then have the coop slope down from there so that I won't be able to really walk into it. Thoughts????

 

[Chicken Chat]

Personally, I like a walk in coop, preferable one I don't have to stoop over. During winter and rainy, nasty weather, I like to be able to get in there with the chickens to fill the feeder, waterer, collect eggs, clean, and especially, to check on each of my chickens. That's just me though, however I can understand saving money and just making in chicken sized. I just spent way more than I planned on my new 4x8 coop.

 

[joletabey]

I have a 4 x 8 that I cannot walk into, and it is an absolute BUGGER to clean- PLEASE do your self a favor and make one you can walk into. If I had a sick hen I would be in trouble, as there is a section of the coop that I cannot reach without a long handled spoon unless I crawl into the coop. I repeat - it's VERY hard to clean. I am making a second 4 x 8 coop that is a slant roof, and the tall end is on an 8 foot side and is several inches taller than my head, so I can at least start out upright.

 

[barredrockgrl]

I have a different perspective. If you only have a few chickens, you should easily be able to build a coop you can reach all parts of. Just make it high enough to bend into and construct the back door with a big enough opening. I can reach back and front of my coop (4x4), and since the nesting boxes are off to the side I can reach in to the top of them and gather eggs, though I do keep a stepladder out there because I'm a shrimp. Obviously your preferences are your own, but if you put in enough clean out doors a 12x12 shouldn't be impossible.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

For a little 4x4, it's pretty easy to reach into it. For a 12x12, I would make it a walk in. I think that's just too big to deal with, reaching in. Unless you have REALLY long arms.

 

[Mahonri]

I love my 8X10 walk-in coop... but it would cool down better if it were smaller. The AC makes it livable for them right now.

 

[Jeeper1540]

walk in. so much easier to do things like clean, take care of chickens, etc. ours is about 6-8 feet tall

 

[Dora'smom]

Walk-in. That's what we have now, and the next one (10 x 12) will be, also. It's so much easier to clean, or reach an egg that got laid in the wrong place, etc.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

I hated my walk in...tore it down and (DH) made a 16x4 that is 2 feet-ish off the ground. Very easy to clean, no stooping..

 

[Heathercp]

Walk in. Definitely walk in. We use deep litter, so cleaning the coop isn't really something I have to contend with. I stand in my coop and rake up the shavings every now and then. That's it for cleaning.

I love the fact that if there's something going on with one of my birds, there's plenty of room for me and my husband to be in the coop without having to hunch over. When the time comes for me to remove the shavings, I'll just shovel them into the wheelbarrow and drive them away to the compost heap.

When we had the first broody, we had plenty of room to put her broody box on the floor of the coop. And there was even room for broody box number two. Our coop is only 7'x8', so I can only imagine how comfortable it's going to be for you to have a 12'x12' walk in.

If you ever decide to give up on chickens - or have to sell your house and move (heaven forbid) - you'll have a usable shed on the property, not "just" a chicken coop. I also think it's easier to get the ventilation right with a walk in coop because you've got more room to get ventilation up high above the roosts without risking drafts that could make the birds uncomfortable.

Good luck.