ADOR1 Automatic Coop Door?

Even on days when it's stormy and very dark, mine is open by 7 am. Only had 1 day when someone was left outside and that was the day they were all spooked by a hawk and she was hiding. No problem, I count heads and went looking for her.
 
I love, love, love the ADOR1. It is the single best investment we made for our coop. It opens flawlessly each morning. The ladies were occasionally impatient for it to open for the first few months, but not any more. It is installed on the outside of the coop (never on the inside!) 4" above the floor (keeps the poop/shavings out of the door groove). Battery lasts 12-18 months. Be sure to change the battery before it runs out - very bad things happen to chickens when the door malfunctions and you don't notice it.

Only bad experience we had: it was a dark and stormy night.... Seriously, on very cloudy/rainy evenings, the door will close earlier than normal, often before the girls go to roost. One chicken was locked out last week, and a fox got her by 10pm (poor Henrietta is in my profile pic). The door was still operating on the factory default sensitivity setting "Program 1." We plan on changing the sensitivity so the door stays open longer and opens earlier. Still, it's good practice to check on them each evening, especially when it is raining!!!
 
2) I used a 14 gallon drum I purchased from Amazon with a nice plastic/sealed lid. On the side of the drum I installed about 10 horizontal chicken nipples - which have not started leaking yet.
I then cut a small hole in the plastic lid and placed a 100W fish tank heater in the drum. (Sealed the whole with more epoxy). This water lasts the chickens at least 3 weeks. Just need to make sure the water level does not drop too low to expose the tank heater. I also add a little bit of bleach/chlorine to the water to prevent it from growing algae. (7-9cc per 14 gallons works fine.)

Great suggestions! I have been using the Ador1 since June of 2015 and love it.
About your heated waterer; is the fish tank heater on a thermostat? Do you have trouble with the nipples freezing?

Thanks!
 
I've had my pullet-shut door for over a year and I really love it. It's super easy to set up and to set the timer.

I also was reticent about the automatice sensor, especially since some of my girls are "night owls" so to speak, and don't go to bed until the last bit of sun is gone. I got the solar panel for it. It's up on the roof and it charges the battery which sits right next to the door and puts out the power. The only problem I had was once when a raccoon, in an attempt to get at my birds, kicked over the battery and the wires disconnected from the door. At 9am there were some very cranky chickens in their roosts! But as long as you keep the battery safe from movement, it works like a charm.

I cannot tell you the peace of mind it's given me. Incidentally, I live quite close to the makers of the pullet-shut and went to pick up my door at their facility. The gentlemen are extremely friendly, willing to help with any problems, and I feel confident that if I ever had a serious issue with the door, that they would work with me to make it right.
Is your pullet-shut door still working? I am looking to purchase one for my second coop. I have a Coop Controls on my other house, this house is smaller and the Coop Controls will not work. I like the solar option and size of this door, but want to know if is going to work longer than a couple of years.
 
Is your pullet-shut door still working? I am looking to purchase one for my second coop. I have a Coop Controls on my other house, this house is smaller and the Coop Controls will not work. I like the solar option and size of this door, but want to know if is going to work longer than a couple of years.
@Feather Mommy you quoted an old post from 2014, member hasn't been here since 2019, so you will not likely get a reply.
Might browse this search, tho I couldn't find anything newer than 2018:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...+shut+door&t=post&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance
 

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