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?

Automatic chicken door size