Automatic chicken door

[num1hogfan]

I built this off a design I saw on youtube. It is simple to make if you have some building skills. It runs off a rotisserie motor, a couple timers and two micro switches. It took me a week to build because I had to figure out all the materials I needed and had to make everything.
I searched the internet for designs and how to make an ACD but this was the easiest and cheapest design I could find. It may not be right for everyone but it works flawlessly for me. I've had a couple hiccups but other than that it's a huge time saver. It opens at 7 and closes at 7 but that depends on the time of the year. It probably cost me $30 for parts but I had all the wood needed to finish it off.


This is not the finished product but it works and looks about the same. I did not care what it looked like since it will be inside the coop and no one would ever see it. I made an adjustment to the design from the pic. I moved the timers to a power strip in a Rubbermaid tote to keep the mites out of it and to make it easier to make adjustments to open and close the doors when I needed too. You will get the gist of how it works. Oh, no critter can open it once it is in the closed position.

I'll add a video of it installed and finished in the coop. I am going to make it run off solar for not much more than the cost of a car battery, a small solar charger and inverter. Let me know what you think.

 

[acl68025]

Planning on doing something similar when we finally get our farm. I want to manage my birds like my grandma did. Coop gets opened up to the run (scratch pen) in the early morning, then at noon the run gets opened for free range. With us working all day, an opener like this will be a must.

 

[RJSorensen]

That is a nice piece of kit you have constructed there. I like to see folks whom can or will make something, and then try to improve it. Also I must thank you for taking the time to show and share your experience. To me that is what BYC is all about, thank you.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[num1hogfan]

You bet. Maybe it will inspire someone to try and build something instead of buying it. When it's a possibility to make it, I will.

 

[tcstoehr]

Sweet. I love this sort of stuff. What I like about this design is that it naturally holds the door closed.
Why two timers?
Your next improvement will be to make this work with a daylight sensor or some other automatically adjusting seasonal timer.

 

[num1hogfan]

Thanks. I need two timers, one to open and the other to close the door. No, I'm unfamiliar with light sensors. I might look into it but if it takes more electronics then no. This system is simple and that's why I chose it. Solar power will be my next addition. I wanted to keep it inexpensive as well.