Automatic Chicken Door Use - Warning!!!

[laurob]

I installed an automatic chicken door opener last summer and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. However, a predator problem has arisen in using the ACDO. The door does not lock in position. A predator (probably an opposum) pushed the door up got in and took a chicken. It was horrible - feathers and blood everywhere. I found out after the second night and the second chicken was murdered that the door lifts very easily. The first night I thought the predator got in the during the gap of time after chickens go in and the door closes (15 minutes) - another risk - since you have to leave a little time since for the stragler.

I am heart broken - I love my girls - they are my pets - I feel I let them down by not figuring this out before hand.

 

[HandsomeRyan]

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[JanetS]

Sorry for your loss. What kind of door opener are you using? One thing I have learned about having chickens is there will always be predators. I think just about everyone on this website has probably lost a bird or two at some point including me. We thought we were doing everything to keep our chickens safe but we were wrong. A bobcat jumped over our 6 ft wood fence grabbed a chicken and was gone in seconds. This happened during the day while they were being supervised. We expanded their run and they no longer free range as the bobcat has been back many times but our chickens have been safe in their pen. That's about all you can do. Secure your coop/run and enjoy your chickens. Our chickens are also our pets and it was hard to loss one but we are determined to not loss anymore. Good luck.