The reason the chicken pop hole door isn’t at floor level is because most chicken coops need bedding. The height of the chicken coop door from the ground outside doesn’t matter, as long as chickens have a ramp to access doors that are 18-24+ inches high. How high should a chicken pop hole door be? A chicken pop hole door should be 6-12 inches above the level of the chicken coop floor, so that the bedding doesn’t block the doorway or spill outside. However, one huge benefit to having a smaller chicken door is that it can keep out larger predators, such as dogs, wolves, and wildcats.Ĭhicken coop doors: Height off the ground This would allow you to have increased air flow in the summer months with the curtains removed, but help keep the chill out in the colder months with curtains closed.
#Automatic chicken coop door design how to
You will need to make sure your chickens learn how to go through the curtains-starting with the curtains open and then gradually closing them seems to work. If you do have a larger chicken door and you live in a cold climate, you can hang curtains or plastic strips (think: dog door material) over the pop door. Your chicken coop and bedding need to stay dry if your chickens are to remain happy and healthy. A large door may also allow rain or snow into the coop, which is a huge problem. However, if you live in a place that gets cold winters, you want to reduce drafts as much as possible. If you live in a hot climate, your chickens will welcome this increased air flow. For more information on whether you should elevate your coop or not, check out my article, Does your chicken coop need to be off the ground? Large chicken doors are good in hot climates, bad in cold climatesĪ large chicken door will increase the ventilation in your coop, but it’ll also allow drafts in your coop. However, if your chicken coop is elevated off the ground, your chickens will most likely take shelter underneath the coop, rather than try to get into the chicken door all at once. However, Damerow warns that a perching bird can be a problem if chickens need to get into the coop very quickly. The chickens will wait for the perching bird to move, or, more likely, they’ll shove their way past her anyway. When a chicken is occupying that perch, none of the others can get in or out.” She notes that, “Chickens love to sit on the pop-hole ledge, surveying the outside world. This point comes from Gail Damerow’s book, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, a favorite of mine. If aerial predators are a threat, consider a larger chicken door I think this is a natural action for them. They also squeeze into tight spaces very quickly when they think they’re in danger. My chickens are always squeezing into tight places when they’re foraging anyway. It’s a tighter squeeze for my roosters than it is for my hens, but they don’t seem to mind. However, some of my chicken coops have pop holes that are only 10 inches x 10 inches, and my standard size roosters have no problems getting in and out of the doors. You may want to keep this in mind when choosing your chicken door height. Roosters tend to be larger than hens, sometimes significantly so. Roosters may prefer a larger chicken door If you do ever leave your people-sized door open, make sure you have it securely held.įor more information on pop door ramps, check out my article, Chicken coop ramps: Your ultimate guide. If a chicken were in the doorway, this would certainly injure, if not kill, her. One last thing, my chicken coop people-sized doors tend to catch the wind and slam shut. Wet coops can also lead to cold chickens and frostbite. Wet organic bedding (such as straw or pine shavings) is a breeding ground for pathogens. Not only does a wide-open door let cold air in, it also allows rain, snow, and wind inside.įor your chickens to be healthy, they need their coop to be draft-free and dry. Leaving a large door open during the day is a particularly bad idea during cold months or inclement weather. The chicken coop needs to be protected from predatorsĬhickens want privacy in the coop, particularly if they are laying eggs The chicken coop needs to be protected from the elements
Why can’t the chickens just leave and enter the coop through this door? Some beginners wonder why they can’t just leave the large coop door open during the day. Why can’t chickens just use the people-sized door?
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