Affordable automatic coop door, suggestions?

[ffxhomestead]

Maybe and I completely sympathize with their issues as a small business. I know it was installed correctly since it worked fine for periods of time, but when it failed it failed suddenly and spectacularly (multiple times, in various conditions, for unexplained reasons).

Anyway...I really think the one unit I had was a dud given the other reviews I have seen, hopefully the warranty will cover it. Good luck.

 

[pdirt]

There is a guy in SW WA state making some very good auto chicken doors...$125+shipping I believe. He's not in it for the money but as a hobby. I think we are going to buy one soon. Heard very good reviews about them. Will see if I can find his info about them and will post it here.

 

[Toddrick]

There is a guy in SW WA state making some very good auto chicken doors...$125+shipping I believe. He's not in it for the money but as a hobby. I think we are going to buy one soon. Heard very good reviews about them. Will see if I can find his info about them and will post it here.

It's most likely a drapery motor at that price I bet, which is probably fine, but I wasn't liking the idea of a string and gravity controlling the door. Plus, I really wanted something other than a timer, like the night/day sensor, which is made specifically for chickens.

I think what sold me on the ADOR1 was the second chance opening, because I do have a straggler. From what I've seen, if one or two get locked out they will pace in front of the door nervously, and so the second chance opening will be helpful.

 

[pdirt]

Quote:
I'm still looking for the link. Not sure about the motor, but I know it wasn't powered by a string, but a metal rod. It doesn't have a timer, but rather an adjustable light sensor. They never started out to do a business...made one for themselves and then all their chicken friends wanted one. Several years (and upgrades) later, it sounds like a super deal.

The second chance opening does sound like a neat idea. How does that work? How does it know to give a chicken a second chance? What if the second chance was rather a racoon?

 

[Toddrick]

I'm still looking for the link. Not sure about the motor, but I know it wasn't powered by a string, but a metal rod. It doesn't have a timer, but rather an adjustable light sensor. They never started out to do a business...made one for themselves and then all their chicken friends wanted one. Several years (and upgrades) later, it sounds like a super deal.

The second chance opening does sound like a neat idea. How does that work? How does it know to give a chicken a second chance? What if the second chance was rather a racoon?

I think the second chance setting just opens again about five minutes after the first close. It sounds neat. I really didn't want to spend $200, but I figure buy once cry once. I have to remind myself that the chickens are a hobby, and will always be a net loss (that's only because battery hens are treated horribly and their eggs are ridiculously cheap).

 

[pdirt]

I think the second chance setting just opens again about five minutes after the first close. It sounds neat. I really didn't want to spend $200, but I figure buy once cry once. I have to remind myself that the chickens are a hobby, and will always be a net loss (that's only because battery hens are treated horribly and their eggs are ridiculously cheap).

It's been a while since I did the math, but the couple times I did showed our eggs cost us $11-$12/dozen. Some of that was start-up costs for equipment we hopefully only need to buy once (like you said), but most of the cost is the organic feed we feed them. But I'm like you, not only are grocery store egg chickens treated horribly, they taste terrible. The yolks on our eggs are so dark orange and rich right now, it tastes almost like cheese. We don't spend a lot of money on fancy electronics, toys, etc, but we do eat well and happily pay for real food. A lot of "factory farmed" foods aren't real, in our book, whether they're veggies or animal. Poor taste and nutrition and poisoned with pesticides.

Anyways, do let us know how you like your ADOR1 after you get it installed.

 

[pdirt]

Okay, finally found the link to the $125 chicken door. I think they said it would cost $20 to ship it. It has a home-made craftsman sort of look, not a slick/smooth design, but these seem solidly built. It's an older retired couple who stand behind their product. Great if you're in the Portland, OR area where you can pick one up locally, or call the woman Jane and she can ship you one.

http://portland.craigslist.org/nco/grd/5022247038.html

 

[Toddrick]

Okay, finally found the link to the $125 chicken door. I think they said it would cost $20 to ship it. It has a home-made craftsman sort of look, not a slick/smooth design, but these seem solidly built. It's an older retired couple who stand behind their product. Great if you're in the Portland, OR area where you can pick one up locally, or call the woman Jane and she can ship you one.

http://portland.craigslist.org/nco/grd/5022247038.html

I think that is made from a used car antenna. Nothing wrong with that, I actually like that idea better than the drapery motor, plus it is cheaper, but it does appear to take up a lot more space. There are designs online to make your own for like $30 total.

 

[Toddrick]

Okay, so I got the ADOR1 installed last weekend, and we are loving it. No configuration was necessary, it just works. It has been raining all week but the light sensor has been perfectly accurate. My chickens are calmer than they've ever been, because now they can come and go as they please during the day. I have not needed to enable the second call feature because all the chickens are always in well before it closes (the fact that they are getting more excercise seems to make them sleepier sooner too).

Installation was easy, although I had to build a door frame for the location I needed. I installed the frame so that the door would be recessed, then quickly realized it would work better overhanging the outside so any obstructions, like mulch, could be pushed out the bottom. So I just doubled the thickness of my frame and joilla.

Like I said, there was no configuration. All I had to do was install the battery. I'll try and post some pics, but the weather here is still dreary.

 

[Cluckadoodledo]

I made my own automatic chicken door using the add-a-motor 20 (it's plugged into

AC but it will run on DC)) and a cheap timer. I'm on my second motor as the first one never worked right. This second motor is working great so far. I believe the add-a-motor is overpriced, but it's simple and does the job. I have the door propped open in this photo because I was just completing the installation and getting ready to set the height I wanted my pop door to open.