For a walk in coop, how would you put the door swing?

[chickens really]

Good pic. Is door on right a dutch door(top half opens separate from bottom)?

My coop doors are dutch and open out,
but coop is inside a large shed with a door that opens in,
best of both worlds.

That door on the right is no longer a door it is now just the window and a solid wall. The one one the left that is open is the one that opens top and bottom. It's fully insulated.

 

[aart]

That door on the right is no longer a door it is now just the window and a solid wall. The one one the left that is open is the one that opens top and bottom. It's fully insulated.

Ah, OK! Had to copy pic and really zoom in the see the left door is a dutch door.

 

[chickens really]

Ah, OK! Had to copy pic and really zoom in the see the left door is a dutch door.

Yes...A Dutch door on the left..Screen door opens in..

 

[Nardo]

They both swing in which was just a product of me using recycled materials to build. I would rather one of them swing out for added room inside and to make it easier to move around once in. But it is not a deal breaker either way.

 

[Nardo]

But I like the one side swinging in because it's part of a 1/2 door and it works better to swing that way. I can open the top or bottom or both.

 

[chickens really]

But I like the one side swinging in because it's part of a 1/2 door and it works better to swing that way. I can open the top or bottom or both.

Not sure how my husband has it but either one can swing out..

 

[we3ernes]

Double doors is a nice idea!

Some things to consider are how large you want the doors on the coop and run entry ways. For the run, I definitely wanted the wheelbarrow through, makes life easier

(Coop door is "normal" LOL I'm not dragging a wheelbarrow up 3 steps)

I’m a big believer in making doors wider than you think. Having said that how wide would you make your for your wheelbarrow? I measured our wheelbarrow and it is 22.5” wide. I had been thinking 36” wide for the door, but perhaps that is overkill?

 

[Chullicken]

Think you're really over thinking a doors. Sure you'll have bedding material but the base of the jam should compensate for that height anyway in design whether its the coop or run. I've built several coops and I don't believe either one is 'more secure' than the other, its how you build and design it.

Coop door swings out for ease of cleaning, I'll never have a door that swings into a coop, just requires to much space internally. When I do need to open it I ensure they're all out of it and keeping busy in the run. A well constructed door is the really the important issue here. You should have some sort of animal proof locking mechanism on it to begin with, regardless of its swing direction. Even more than one Just makes sense.

 

[Chullicken]

I’m a big believer in making doors wider than you think. Having said that how wide would you make your for your wheelbarrow? I measured our wheelbarrow and it is 22.5” wide. I had been thinking 36” wide for the door, but perhaps that is overkill?

Its not over kill in my most humble opinion, the issue I find is the wider the door the more weight that just hangs out there. Very wide doors takes a certain kind of building thought which I haven't acquired as of this reply. So I tend to make my doors a little more narrow length wise than I really would like, just a skill thing. Need really hefty hinges for what I build and very deep set lag bolts so it doesn't drop. My new coop is 8' long..I really wanted the whole side to open up and my family just laughed at me. Of course I under engineered it and it drooped two inches!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Bears and cougars.

If there's a scary fanged critter coming after me, and it's blocking my path to the house, I'm going to dive inside the chicken coop. The door opens outward and is blocked from swinging inward by a wood jam I added. I also have a latch inside the coop to keep it closed while I'm working in there.

Bears can knock down the entire structure, but if that's my only option, that's where I'm going. And I had the displeasure of crawling inside the chicken coop through the little chicken door this summer, so I know I fit through there (for now).

Worst case scenario, I use the chickens as decoys while I hurtle myself in through the people door, lock it, and then fake out the bear by squeezing my rump roast through the Smurf door and on out into the chicken run.

(This comment was fueled by Pepsi and chocolate chips. I never ever drink soft drinks; tonight is an exception. I always snack on chocolate chips!)