Auto door people - question that just occurred to me

[HensInTheForest]

QQ here as I think out loud.

Auto doors seem fabulous don’t get me wrong.

Not an early riser here I naturally wake at 830am don’t talk to me until 930am after coffee and alone time.

So many say how great the auto doors are they don’t have to let them out in the am at the crack of Dawn.
But then so many say hey I leave them in the coop until they lay, which can be anytime up til noon.

So then what’s the big deal? Nighttime not the question.

My attached run is covered no chance of dirty or wet feet for dirty eggs and nesting boxes from going in and out.

What do you do and what time is your door set to open in am for food access?

 

[perkolator]

For ours, the auto door would open up and let them do their thing - some chickens would be in the nest boxes and not go outside yet, others would go out and simply return to the coop to lay, then go back out. Pretty simple really. We have food/water inside the secure structure, so no issues with them getting fed before door would open. We have a T50 Run Chicken door and you can set the opening time to delay anytime after sunrise, but it closes just after sunset.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

All very helpful thanks!!

Our run is secure and roofed so food will be there year round. It will be interesting to see how they do the first winter in the run area.

Waiting to see if or how much snow blows in from the sides the run is in a protected spot in the rear of our pole barn building acting as a wind block. Will be extending roof out on this side to match the overhang on other side.

I ordered the Omlet auto door back in June not Installed yet.

Thanks for all the comments super helpful!View attachment 3217242

I have a similar covered run but pitched to 3:12 so snow should slide right off. I have seen some people cover the open sides with tarp, plastic or whatever to protect against snow. I plan to cover just the prevailing wind side, leaving the other open for ventilation. I have about 4 feet of run coming off the coop that is enclosed with siding all around and that is where the hanging feeders, waterers are located. My pop door remains open 24/7 with the run being fully predator proof.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I have mine open at 8am, I usually get out there by 9 to feed them. I have it close at 9pm in the summer but just set it back 15 mins and will each week, as it's getting darker earlier. They're in the coop roosting by 830pm right now. I also have a contained run that is predator proof which is what they open their door into.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Both of my coops have the Pullet Shut doors. Not sure I could live life without them again. Solar powered, sensor opens them up at sun up and closes them at sun down. They free range in an acre and put themselves to bed. Feeding happens mid day. So they forage for grass and bugs before feedings. 98% of the eggs are laid in the nest boxes with an occasional egg under the roosts.

Every once in a while the emus will pull one of the wires, so the connections need to be checked every now and again. But overall, very happy to have auto doors.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

My birds all free range, I don’t even have a run set up at all, so auto doors are great to let them out first thing in the morning. I usually have it set to the dawn daylight sensor.

I had a rat in my coop so right now I have the food locked up overnight and I take it out first thing in the morning. If I didn’t have a bunch of chicks I’d look into a Grandpa feeder and go back to sleeping in on the weekends.

 

[Tretinker]

Mine like to be out and about earlier than I wake up Their food is capped off at night on the outside of the coop to prevent vermin but they still have food inside their coop. So when they come out they can get water and have a play and a scratch before I get up.
If needed though if we left the food uncapped they could be left for a week without to many worries.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

Whats grampa feeder do?

It has a big lever that the chickens press to access the food. Rats and mice are too small to open it.
Grandpa’s feeder

 

[HensInTheForest]

All very helpful thanks!!

Our run is secure and roofed so food will be there year round. It will be interesting to see how they do the first winter in the run area.

Waiting to see if or how much snow blows in from the sides the run is in a protected spot in the rear of our pole barn building acting as a wind block. Will be extending roof out on this side to match the overhang on other side.

I ordered the Omlet auto door back in June not Installed yet.

Thanks for all the comments super helpful!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Lucky you! LOL! If the sun is up and that door isn't open my WTB will go to the open front of the coop and start squawking nonstop

They're quite accustomed to it, as that's the schedule I've kept since we've gotten the auto door. Even the little chicks know not to expect me at the crack of dawn.