Recent content by jballone

My homemade one is still going strong over a year later. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-automatic-chicken-coop-door-with-timer-solar-charger.73103/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-automatic-chicken-coop-door-with-timer-solar-charger.73103/

Make it solar: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ken-coop-door-with-timer-solar-charger.73103/

Make it solar: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-automatic-chicken-coop-door-with-timer-solar-charger.73103/

Mine's been going strong all winter. Even when temps were down to -15f (without wind chill). Here's an article on how to build: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-automatic-chicken-coop-door-with-timer-solar-charger.73103/

I think the light way have contributed to the hen being out later than normal.

My DIY door is going strong. Works in temps down to -15 F. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-automatic-chicken-coop-door-with-timer-solar-charger.73103/

Here's what the lights mean: "Charge" LED (Green) : When lit, it means your battery is charging. When out (like at night when no light shining on solar panel it will be unlit. When the battery is peak charged, the "Charge" LED will flicker meaning it is in a state of float charging. "Load"...

Just realized I had moved the video. Here it is again.

Put the nest box where they are laying (sounds like it's moveable) and slowly move it over many days to it's new location.

I don't believeyou can "short" an electric fence. The current is flowing into the fence already. The circuit is completed when someone or something touched the fence and ground.

FYI: 2 Red battery LED's is pretty normal. If the green "load" light goes out, that means the battery is too low to power the "load"/ doors.

Yes, works great. I take old pine flake out from coop and put it into the run and put fresh pine in the coop.

I was surprised to find that the solar panel was keeping my batt charged on overcast days. My coop is also NOT in an optimal spot and only gets full sun for about 2 hours and the rest of the day it's in the shadow of my garage.