Just to set things straight - the original and very clever idea of using water buckets and water pumps absolutely belongs to NYCue - see thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/717940/my-diy-automatic-chicken-pop-door-opener-closer
However, I wanted something in preparation for winter: the ability to operate the hen door opener via internet - primarily in case we are out of town and friends are caring for the chickens, but did not want to make them come over 6 in the morning. Second: there is something really comforting about being able to open the hen door from coop to run without having to get into snow first thing upon waking up (and they get up at 6am still). So, we made an opener which can be operated over the internet and has lights which tell us if the operation was successful, either in the open or closed position.
Here is a picture:
Sorry 'bout the sideway view; the original is correctly situated - of course, the bottles should be moving up and down, not sideways
Rainer
However, I wanted something in preparation for winter: the ability to operate the hen door opener via internet - primarily in case we are out of town and friends are caring for the chickens, but did not want to make them come over 6 in the morning. Second: there is something really comforting about being able to open the hen door from coop to run without having to get into snow first thing upon waking up (and they get up at 6am still). So, we made an opener which can be operated over the internet and has lights which tell us if the operation was successful, either in the open or closed position.
Here is a picture:
Sorry 'bout the sideway view; the original is correctly situated - of course, the bottles should be moving up and down, not sideways
Rainer
