What is the smallest door a chicken can/will go through?

[nbelval]

Our coop it in the same building as out goat shed. We have an entrance for the chickens to free roam and also an entrance into an enclosed pen that will have out goats in it. I need the chicken door to be as small as possible to discourage our Nigerian dwarf goats from getting into the chicken coop and eating their feed or causing general mischief.
Chicken breeds are buff Orpington and Wyandotte size.
Thanks!

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have a large Deleware Rooster that gets through a 10 x 12 inch door no problem.

 

[4 the Birds]

Our coop it in the same building as out goat shed. We have an entrance for the chickens to free roam and also an entrance into an enclosed pen that will have out goats in it. I need the chicken door to be as small as possible to discourage our Nigerian dwarf goats from getting into the chicken coop and eating their feed or causing general mischief.
Chicken breeds are buff Orpington and Wyandotte size.
Thanks!

Ha.... We had the same problem. Our full size goats (Alpine Nubian mixes) would shoot through the run door opening even as I made it smaller and smaller. After I downsized it to 9" x 11", I decided to take a different approach. I added a goat block in front of the door! The chickens now come and go and the goats don't get into the run. Goats are VERY agile!

Build a structure outside of your chicken door and you are good to go!


Hope this Helps!

 

[nbelval]

Hmm. I like the idea. Just trying to figure out how to implement it. The chicken door will be cut into the human interior door.
Trying to think how to explain it...
There is one main entrance into the shed which opens into the goat side. Immediately on the right is the door to enter the chicken coop. That is where we want to put the door. We can't put anything in front of the door since we would trip on it upon entering the building. Also the other side of the door wouldn't work well.
Hopefully someone else will have the magic answer but I'll keep trying to figure something else out until then.
Thanks for the info though! I do love the idea you had. Just don't know if it would work in out setup.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Couple thoughts/ideas.

Maybe something like the idea posted above but not permanent, something that you can move out of the way for you to come and go. Not sure if this is a situation where you can use it for a little while then get rid of it once the goats stop trying to get through.

What about something hanging down in the chicken opening that might deter the goats. Maybe flaps like you see in a loading dock area or light chains or pieces of rope hanging down. Although not sure how the chickens will react to this

 

[SD Bird Lady]

What if you make it on the inside. Sort of like an L shape so that a goat would have to turn too sharp to make it in while a chicken being smaller can make the corner. I know goats are VERY agile so I am making no garuntees.

 

[nbelval]

I'm thinking anything that would deter a goat would most likely be too heavy or "scary" for a chicken to move through. (The flap idea).
I can't put anything on the inside either because of the layout.
I'm thinking the non permanent blockade idea might be the way to go. That never even crossed my mind that it didn't have to be permanent!! LOL
Thanks for the ideas everyone. I will probably try a little of everything suggested and see how it goes!

 

[nbelval]

This shows the "chicken door" in the interior of the building (it's not finished yet), so you can get the idea of what I was trying to explain. I appreciate the help everyone!