What size hole in the floor for ladder to under coop run access?

[ImportTheBest]

My biggest ladies will probably be Black Australorps. What size should I make the hole in the floor for the access to the ladder leading down into the run?
The coop is 6ft x 3ft and the run is below it.

The ladder will most likely go from one side of the 6ft long coop to the other to ensure the bantams can get up there easily as well.

 

[ImportTheBest]

Pretty please? I am trying desperately to get my coop done asap and I am very much a newb, so your help would be greatly appreciated! Just a simple width and length measurement!

 

[chickenbythesea]

our door isn't in the bottom but on the side and we made it 1ft square.. it works for our standard size chickens... hope this helps

 

[Time-Out]

Your hole is going to need to be a lot longer than wide and a lot bigger than you imagined. You need to cut it out (10 inches wide would be fine and 12 inches long for starters), then put your ramp underneath and see how much longer you need to make it to give them head room up the ramp.

 

[ImportTheBest]

Thanks! I took a peek outside at it with your suggestions, and I think I need to build a 2 stage ramp. I have 3 2x4 supports in the coop frame floor, which means I have not quite enough space for the longer cut without it looking like the hens will hit their heads on the supports every time they go up or down.

So I'll build the ramp going from the front to the back post and then down to the left along most of the length of the run. Still easy enough for me to clean but better clearance for them going up and down.

Thanks so much for the replies and help figuring this out a bit more!

 

[Time-Out]

Don't forget, they can duck their heads, so you don't need to take into account their full height. Plus, you might find that such a long ramp takes up loads of room and that you can have an inital 1' 'step' up onto the ramp. That would take up much less floor space and even the fattest hen can jump 12"