At the same time, you can't assume people will be there to check. I know people with chickens that have jobs where they are away when it gets light and they don't want to open the door before they go to work, or the chickens will be vulnerable at night. This person works from 2 am to 11 am so...
We don't keep water in the coop in the summer. We did last year and the waterer leaked all over the place. We keep one in the coop during the winter because it plugs in and it wouldn't keep it thawed outside when it's really cold. I won't use an auto door. Like the pp mentioned, it's not worth...