automatic chicken doors in winter

[jmoeller]

I would like to buy an automatic chicken door. My concern is winter, here in Wi it seems to last about 9 months.

So I don't want to buy a product I will be hassling with most of the year. I'm most concerned about ice and snow. I'm thinking about the Ador, but worried if ice will build up on the metal preventing the door from either shutting or opening. Or if we have snow while it is open will it shut completely. I believe it is built in Texas, so I would like to here from people who actually us it in the northern states. I really appreciate any advice. Jen

 

[Llamaranch]

We are in Texas but feel the Pullet Door, made down here in Lockart, Texas would do the job. It is very well built and is simple to install. If you added a vestibule around it so it would be protected from the weather, I am sure it would perform well for you and not freeze up. Take a look at Chickendoors.com

 

[ronmauldin]

I have the Pullet Shut door and love it. No tracks for the door to slide in and ice up in the Winter.

 

[jetdog]

I would like to buy an automatic chicken door. My concern is winter, here in Wi it seems to last about 9 months.   So I don't want to buy a product I will be hassling with most of the year.  I'm most concerned about ice and snow. I'm thinking about the Ador, but worried if ice will build up on the metal preventing the door from either shutting or opening. Or if we have snow while it is open will it shut completely. I believe it is built in Texas, so I would like to here from people who actually us it in the northern states. I really appreciate any advice. Jen

I have a guillotine style door and it works great all year, you could build a small covered porch on the outside so the snow and ice can't get to it.

 

[perchie.girl]

I was going to suggest a chicken porch as well. a foot or two deep to keep the automatic door dry.

deb

 

[jmoeller]

I have been trying to think of some sort of "porch" or wind break of sorts also to protect it from ice, and snow. The chicken door is the small white rectangle under the center window. I guess I should have done better at planning ahead. I'm thinking a porch will cover the window to much. I really like the idea of the windows to let light in on our dark winter days. also if the porch is covered and I use a guillotine type door the door will need to go up so the covered roof would need to be rather high. OR maybe I'm over thinking it. I tend to do that sometimes. I just don't want to be out there in the dark during a blizzard trying to get the thing to work all the time,.

 

[jetdog]

This is what I did, a tunnel from the run on the left and coop on the right, boxed in on 3 sides and the smaller piece on the 4th side, nothing can blow in I caulked all around to keep heavy rains from seeping in.