a question about an automatic door opener - closer

Posted 03/27/12 • Last updated 03/27/12 • 1344 views • 4 comments

Sometime last fall or early winter, I ran across a website that was selling a coop door opener / closer that really caught my attention. I was sure I bookmarked the site but now I can't find the bookmark and cannot relocate the site by searching (BTW - there are LOTS of automatic coop door units on the 'net)!

The automatic door was not one of the slide type (up/down or sideways), but opened on a hinge, just like a house door or gate. The controller could be programmed for open and close time by using a round magnet with a red plastic handle about an inch in diameter. Touch the magnet to the control surface and the door would open, touch it again and the door would close. After a couple of minutes (as I recall) the door would open briefly to allow the stragglers to get in before they were locked out for the night. Times of day were saved and reused until it was reprogrammed. They also had an optional "solar eye" that could be used to select the open and close times based on light levels outside. There was an optional battery with solar panel to power the setup where there was no electrical line available. It was designed by a couple of good 'ol boys from Georgia, as I recall, and they starred in the demonstration videos.

Does anybody know anything about this door controller or where I could find it? I'd really appreciate finding it again.

Thanks you,

- UFF

Comments (4)

ccf2 3/26/12 at 8:08pm

I believe this is the product you are looking for:
http://www.chickendoors.com/
Your recollection of the features it has is very accurate. I have two of them and recommend them. I would suggest acquiring the photo sensor ("solar eye") option otherwise you will likely have to reprogram more frequently. The photo sensor option also can still be manually programmed and reverts to the photo sensor should it ever lose its manually set open and close times.