New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[CheekyPekins]

My lovely hubby is building a nearly WIR (it's not quite tall enough to walk into without stooping ) and we're wondering whether the door should open outwards or inwards? Any advice please?

 

Thanks very much

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Inwards, definitely . That way, any wayward hens are ushered back into the run when you go in. Also, hang it so it opens into the middle rather than towards the side (unless it's in the middle of the run in which case it won't matter!)

[Olly]

Mine opens outwards - and I wish it opened inwards. As ANH says then any naughty hens who might try to get out are pushed away, and if you're trying to get them all back into the run they can go straight in - as it is, I always have one on the wrong side of the door who can't work out how to get round it!

[Egluntyne]

Mine opens outwards too.

[CheekyPekins]

Thanks for the replies

I'd been thinking inwards-opening but hubby was thinking outwards... So I decided to consult the Omlet oracles!

[Hayleybug]

mine opens outwards because my run isnt very big and it would have caused a bit of a problem opening inwards! i guess it depends on the size of your run and what you are putting inside it?

[clucker1]

Inwards here, much better for us to trap any keen escapees!

[kinsk]

If you have the option then definitely inwards.

 

My OH was going to have it outwards and completely agreed with me when I said it would be better inwards and less chance of escapees.

 

Also remember to put some sort of latch in the inside so once you are in you can secure it and it doesn't flop open.

[clucker1]

Good point Kinsk. We have a standard bolt on the outside to close the gate as well as a small latch inside. Just make sure the exterior bolt is fox proof....we have a piece of metal which we just slot through the bolt so Mr Fox can't stand on his hind legs and shove the bolt across with his nose. The owner of our local pet shop told me that is what they do! the fox that is, not the owner of the pet shop

[hopingforchickens]

Mine opens outwards but I have a homemade kickboard sort of set up inside the door frame (some garden screening with a piece of wood going across the door frame at low level) which the chickens have to jump over to get out - that keeps them contained long enough for me to get in before they can escape!!! If mine opened inwards I wouldn't have been able to have the set up the way that I have, so I guess it depends on your space/layout...

[Olly]

The other thing I forgot to mention is that I have a 'stable' door - in two halves, this was something Aint "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here recommended and it's been so useful, I can actually reach in and fill the feeder from outside without chickens escaping and without having to get my shoes dirty - very useful when I'm rushing before work.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Ah yes, can't believe I forgot about the stable door .

 

Mine is at the side of my run so I can open the egg port without the girls escaping. It would work as a main door too, though (maybe make the bottom half smaller than the top so it's easier to reach down to feeder level?)

[CheekyPekins]

Wow - thanks for all the replies!

 

We have the option of inwards, so it looks as though inwards it will be... Especially as Moneypenny tries to escape at every opportunity, the cheeky madam! I've floated the idea of a stable door set-up with OH - I got a raised eyebrow but he's now got paper and a pencil out , so that may be an option - I like the idea of filling the feeder without having to get my wellies on

 

I hadn't thought of an inside latch - great plan

 

And can foxes really open a standard bolt? Goodness me... I thought we'd be OK with just a bolt on the door but I'll see what I can find that's a bit more complicated (but not too complicated, otherwise I won't be able get in..)

[Olly]

They have been known to slide bolts back with their noses, having said that, my run just has a bolt on - it's quite high up for a fox to reach, and I always turn the sticky-out bit in so there's nothing to get a grip on.

[zakjon-98]

The stable door is a great idea Have you decided what your thinking of getting yet cheekypekins?

[clucker1]

me again, we can top the water up too without going into the run, using a superglug and watering can. Another thought for you and your OH. By the way, we do just have a bit of metal to put through the bolt so Mr Fox can't get in. It is nothing special, very simple.

[CheekyPekins]

OK, it looks as though I'm allowed an inward-opening stable door My OH reckons it should be easy enough (I'm not sure it will be but hey ho! ) It features a hook and eye latch on the inside and a bolt at the top and bottom (with a bolt to keep the 2 halves together for when I'm using it as a full door, if you see what I mean)

 

I love the idea of being able to hang the feeder and top up the water without my girls legging it in the morning - they free range in the evening when I'm back from work but my Orpington bantam has taken to legging it before the school run and work.... you can imagine the chaos of sorting that out! So I'm definitely sold on the stable door plan...

[Ain't Nobody Here]

This is how mine works ...

 

 

[UKMARCH]

Ours are also outward opening but do have the stable door top as well so I can reach in to top up without opening the bottom but I still sometimes get complacent and have an escapee! We have the catches to stop the door opening while you're inside cleaning but I usually leave it pushed shut my OH has been known on several occasions to close the bolts while I'm inside and not as a joke either much to my annoyance as I have to wait to be freed

[Cheeky Chooky]

Ours open outwards and that's great...I wouldn't want the bottom of the door s"Ooops, word censored!"ing through wood chip and chicken poo every time I went in and out The girls don't attempt to come out 'cos they know they'll get one of my pink garden clogs up their bottoms if they do

[sage]

Both ways

The main outer door open outward and comes across to the side off the house to stop the girls getting round the back of the greenhouse and I also have an inner half stable type door that opens inwards. Works a treat

 

Sage

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine are the exact opposite . Obviously depends entirely on your individual setup .

 

Re the door sweeping through poo and bedding, usually there's a little step-over/kickboard under the door so unless you have your bedding piled high, it's not a problem .

[CheekyPekins]

Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here - thanks for the pics Your set-up looks fab - can I spy a full-height door too? My stable door will be my only point of access to the run, so I unfornately can't have the top door for egg hatch access - maybe in the next WIR... lol

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks . I wish it still looked that good - it's a bit more weathered and lived-in now . Yes, I have a full sized door too. Took a lot of thought designing the layout but it works really well and I wouldn't change anything .

[Purplemaniacs]

Our door opens outwards but is a stable door so I can just open the top half. It must work for us as when we extended the WIR to make a section for introductions we kept to the same door design for the second door

 

Chrissie