1/2" x 12" x 24" Plexiglass and cold rolled steel probably about the same price....steel would be much stiffer, could probably go thinner with 3/8" thk steel.
ADOR1 Automatic Coop Door?
- Thread starter LaurenLauren2007
- Start date
Was thinking that 1/4" might do it, but I'm pretty sure I have a chunk of 1/2" in the scrap pile. I'll take some pics of what I come up with.
- Oct 14, 2012
- 62
- 5
- 31
I just want to add my experience with the Ador to help those who are considering the purchase.
We ordered it on Monday and received it in AR on Wednesday, so there's no delay in shipping at this time. We could not install it until Friday evening, and between reading the instructions and actually mounting the door on the side of the shed that we use as a coop, it took about 30 minutes (marking and cutting the hole, screwing the door in and testing it). There are three pages of instructions without pictures, but this is well written and it is really easy to do. It covers most questions, and trouble shooting.
By the time we were done, it was dusk and our two early-to-bed girls were pacing in front of the closed door of the shed wondering what to do. We placed them on the new ramp leading to the new door, and they walked in and went to bed. The others had to be attracted to the new door with dried worms or just caught and placed in front of the door. We closed the door manually by pressing the button because we did not want to have to run after the chickens again if they had decided to walk out again.
We woke up the next morning to find the door open and the girls already enjoying their early morning walk around their yard. It was a long work day for us and we did not get home long after dark and we were worried that they would not have known to go through the new door (it is located on the side of the shed, their usual door was in front) and might have gotten locked out of the coop. But total success: the door had closed and the girls were all safely inside and in bed by the time we got home.
So far, it has been 5 days and every day the door opened with the light and closed with the night and all 6 chicken have figured out how to use it. So it is not a final review, we don't know how the door will do day after day, week after week or whether it will work for a long time, which I would hope for with its fairly high price.
I would suggest that anyone who buys it reads the instructions carefully and does not interfere with or modify the system as it works great just as it is. We might add an awning above it, or adjust the timing later, but we wanted to make sure that it worked perfectly before we modified anything. After reading the complaints about the door jamming, we made sure that we did not over tighten the screws and that the door was not being warped during the installation.
It brings us peace of mind in the evenings, allows for late mornings without worries, and we could go away for a weekend without having to ask someone to go just to open and close the coop door, we could trust that the girls would be safe and able to go out and back in safely. So far, we consider it a well-sent $200.
We ordered it on Monday and received it in AR on Wednesday, so there's no delay in shipping at this time. We could not install it until Friday evening, and between reading the instructions and actually mounting the door on the side of the shed that we use as a coop, it took about 30 minutes (marking and cutting the hole, screwing the door in and testing it). There are three pages of instructions without pictures, but this is well written and it is really easy to do. It covers most questions, and trouble shooting.
By the time we were done, it was dusk and our two early-to-bed girls were pacing in front of the closed door of the shed wondering what to do. We placed them on the new ramp leading to the new door, and they walked in and went to bed. The others had to be attracted to the new door with dried worms or just caught and placed in front of the door. We closed the door manually by pressing the button because we did not want to have to run after the chickens again if they had decided to walk out again.
We woke up the next morning to find the door open and the girls already enjoying their early morning walk around their yard. It was a long work day for us and we did not get home long after dark and we were worried that they would not have known to go through the new door (it is located on the side of the shed, their usual door was in front) and might have gotten locked out of the coop. But total success: the door had closed and the girls were all safely inside and in bed by the time we got home.
So far, it has been 5 days and every day the door opened with the light and closed with the night and all 6 chicken have figured out how to use it. So it is not a final review, we don't know how the door will do day after day, week after week or whether it will work for a long time, which I would hope for with its fairly high price.
I would suggest that anyone who buys it reads the instructions carefully and does not interfere with or modify the system as it works great just as it is. We might add an awning above it, or adjust the timing later, but we wanted to make sure that it worked perfectly before we modified anything. After reading the complaints about the door jamming, we made sure that we did not over tighten the screws and that the door was not being warped during the installation.
It brings us peace of mind in the evenings, allows for late mornings without worries, and we could go away for a weekend without having to ask someone to go just to open and close the coop door, we could trust that the girls would be safe and able to go out and back in safely. So far, we consider it a well-sent $200.
Glad to hear it, we got it a few days ago, have to install it (maybe he had a rush for Thanksgiving vacationers!) in the nest day or so! Will keep you posted!
So, I have two Ador1 doors installed. One was installed in July, and one was installed about 6 weeks ago. Two different coops. I haven't had a single issue with the Ador, I do have some issues with my chickens but that is a different problem.
I have two young ones that don't like to go into their coop, no fault of the Ador, just the personalities of the chickens. I find them in the tree, perched on the fence or the top of the roof.....anything but actually going into the coop for the night. They are certainly ready to come out in the morning though, and everyday the Ador opens to let them all out and closes a little bit after the sun goes down. I have absolutely no complaints.
MoonShadows
The Jam Man
Well, it's been 4 days since I changed the battery...a new Duracell this time. The door opened without problems the first 3 days, but today was going to be the test. With temps in the low 20's if I was going to have a problem, today was the day since cold days are usually the days it either only opens half way or doesn't open at all. I am happy to say, today the door opened all the way! So after all I did, it seems (I hope, I hope, I hope...
) that the problem may vary well have been the battery and not the wood or metal contracting/expanding or the mechanism itself. The previous battery I bought brand new at Lowes only 5 1/2 months ago. It was an Ever Ready. Funny thing though, when I replaced it, I could hear something moving inside it when I shook it. Never had that happen before. Perhaps the battery was just defective and couldn't muster the power to open the door on cold days.
And, I hope I did not just put the whammy on all this by reporting this new and welcomed door behavior.
I'll just keep watching and see.
And, I hope I did not just put the whammy on all this by reporting this new and welcomed door behavior.
I'll just keep watching and see.
Well, that's good news....only time will tell long term....best of luck!Well, it's been 4 days since I changed the battery...a new Duracell this time. The door opened without problems the first 3 days, but today was going to be the test. With temps in the low 20's if I was going to have a problem, today was the day since cold days are usually the days it either only opens half way or doesn't open at all. I am happy to say, today the door opened all the way! So after all I did, it seems (I hope, I hope, I hope...) that the problem may vary well have been the battery and not the wood or metal contracting/expanding or the mechanism itself. The previous battery I bought brand new at Lowes only 5 1/2 months ago. It was an Ever Ready. Funny thing though, when I replaced it, I could hear something moving inside it when I shook it. Never had that happen before. Perhaps the battery was just defective and couldn't muster the power to open the door on cold days.
And, I hope I did not just put the whammy on all this by reporting this new and welcomed door behavior.
I'll just keep watching and see.
- Oct 14, 2012
- 62
- 5
- 31
This morning was around 26 degrees and no problem with the door. So maybe the cold does not affect it too much... and so far so good, it has been working like a champ.
It is actually quite incredible that the girls figured out how to use it on the first day and have not missed coming in at the right time. Such a relief to know that they are locking in while it is dark and we are still at work.
It is actually quite incredible that the girls figured out how to use it on the first day and have not missed coming in at the right time. Such a relief to know that they are locking in while it is dark and we are still at work.
MoonShadows
The Jam Man
Well, it's been 4 days since I changed the battery...a new Duracell this time. The door opened without problems the first 3 days, but today was going to be the test. With temps in the low 20's if I was going to have a problem, today was the day since cold days are usually the days it either only opens half way or doesn't open at all. I am happy to say, today the door opened all the way! So after all I did, it seems (I hope, I hope, I hope...) that the problem may vary well have been the battery and not the wood or metal contracting/expanding or the mechanism itself. The previous battery I bought brand new at Lowes only 5 1/2 months ago. It was an Ever Ready. Funny thing though, when I replaced it, I could hear something moving inside it when I shook it. Never had that happen before. Perhaps the battery was just defective and couldn't muster the power to open the door on cold days.
And, I hope I did not just put the whammy on all this by reporting this new and welcomed door behavior.
I'll just keep watching and see.
7 days now and the door has opened and closed without flaw, and this morning it was about 14 degrees when it opened.
This morning it was 36 degrees, and this is the first time the door did not fully open. Went part way up, then stopped. I pushed the button and it closed, pushed again and it opened fully. I cycled it again to make sure it was now operating, and it did fine. It has been installed since Sept and has worked flawlessly. Will keep an eye on it, I usually have to open it manually (I am out there anyway) as they are down and ready to go well before it senses the light and opens. They also go to roost quite early, early enough for me to clean the coop and run so it is clean in the am, so closing is no problem. Sometimes it has hesitated about mid way up but then goes on ahead and opens, it does seem to labor more on the up cycle, the down cycle is a breeze.
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