Winter chicken pop door ideas

[McCluckles]

We're almost finished our chicken coop, but I need a good idea for a pop door.
Our pop door is inside the chicken run, which is only 4 feet high, so its very awkward to get in.
The door doesn't need to be predator proof because the run is very secure, but we need to be able to open it from the outside.
The design also needs to be rugged enough to be able to work in ice and snow, and not let wind in.

We have considered a guillotine style door, but are afraid that the snow would freeze it up.
A plain swing up door would let the chickens out but not in, and they could freeze in the winter.
We considered a plain swing door (hinged at the top) with a locking bar that could slide down across the door, but we were worried about that freezing up as well.

Any ideas?

 

[ECBW]

Guillotine door mounted on the outside wall of the coop with stopper (i use 2 screws) at the bottom. No bottom track to accumulate snow and ice. The door can be roped to be operable remotely. The door will not be air tight, but enough to really cut down on wind.

 

[ColoradoChicky]

I've been considering the snow and pop door as well. Considering building on a small box to the outside pop door like a covered pop door porch with two sides and roof. This way when the snow tries to blow in its stopped by the chicken "mud room".

 

[McCluckles]

Ok, well the door is built and people say no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.
The run frame was attached a few inches too low for a guillotine door, so we went with a wooden flap door with a rubber flap door inside.
The idea is to leave the wooden door open most of the time, and when the weather gets bad to close it.
It will act as a roof and a door for the rubber flap door, which we made out of a car mat. Thanks for the idea Chicken Outlaw!



The wooden bit is a chock to hold the door shut if and when we need it locked.

 

[McCluckles]

Thanks for the suggestion!
We had thought of that, but were worried about the wind.
Thinking about it more, a little lip on one side would majorly cut down the wind.
Thanks ECBW!

 

[jetdog]

A guillotine style door mounted on the inside with a rope running through the wall to tie off won't freeze. A small roof and sides on the outside will keep anything from blowing in.

 

[McCluckles]

Thanks Jetdog!
I forgot to mention in the first post that the way we built the coop, you can't put a guillotine door on the inside.
Sorry! I feel like I'm shooting down everyone's ideas.
The roof and sides is a very good idea, though.
I think we'll end up with a combo of a whole bunch of things in the end

 

[McCluckles]

I just have one concern with something like that.
Wouldn't the chickens in coming in and out track stuff over the bottom slot?
The chicken mud room idea would certainly cover the issue of getting ice and snow in, though.

 

[ColoradoChicky]

Hadn't thought of that. They might stand there. I have sand in the run and coop but poo might have to chiseled out of there. Good thinking

 

[McCluckles]

Actually I wasn't thinking specifically of poo, but we would be using straw, and they could track that in there.
Would a guillotine door with a lip on the bottom and a mud-room work?
I guess we may just have to find out the hard way!