Automatic coop door - summing it up

[Devorah]

I know there have been numerous posts on automatic coop doors, including which ones are the best. I’m wondering if folks can tell me why they have one, the pluses and the minuses, and whether it’s better to install one before I put chickens in the coop. Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mmm, probably easier on you and the chickens to have it installed before they move in, but don't think it really matters. I honestly can't remember if mine was plugged in when they moved into their current coop.

"Best" is going to vary from person to person. I have a standard Chicken Guard but my coop is fully enclosed by the run, so I wasn't looking for the ultimate in security. What was important to me was 1) timer option, so I could decide exactly when it would open and 2) battery option. Light sensor/solar would be iffy at my location due to all our overcast days, and for me, I don't want the chickens out at the break of dawn either because that's when predators are most active here.

 

[Devorah]

Mmm, probably easier on you and the chickens to have it installed before they move in, but don't think it really matters. I honestly can't remember if mine was plugged in when they moved into their current coop.

"Best" is going to vary from person to person. I have a standard Chicken Guard but my coop is fully enclosed by the run, so I wasn't looking for the ultimate in security. What was important to me was 1) timer option, so I could decide exactly when it would open and 2) battery option. Light sensor/solar would be iffy at my location due to all our overcast days, and for me, I don't want the chickens out at the break of dawn either because that's when predators are most active here.

Thank you! Is the coop door more for convenience of not having to let the chickens out of the coop every morning or is it also a security feature? My coop is in the barn and goes out to the run which is along half of the barn’s length. I’m trying to figure out why else I would want an automatic door besides convenience.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Both convenience and security, but for me, more convenience. I wake up on the later side and this means the chickens can be out and about before I'm up. And at night, I don't have to worry about delaying or rushing when dining out to come home and lock up.

The security part comes into play as my run is not predator proof, so I would not feel safe simply leaving the pop door open at all hours.

 

[Devorah]

Both convenience and security, but for me, more convenience. I wake up on the later side and this means the chickens can be out and about before I'm up. And at night, I don't have to worry about delaying or rushing when dining out to come home and lock up.

The security part comes into play as my run is not predator proof, so I would not feel safe simply leaving the pop door open at all hours.

Thank you — if your run is not predator-proof, how does the automatic door protect the chicks?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you — if your run is not predator-proof, how does the automatic door protect the chicks?

I consider it predator resistant, for day time use only. A calculated risk since I'm usually at home and can see/hear what's going on in the run pretty easily.

The coop is intended to be predator proof. The auto door closes the pop opening so nothing should be getting inside the coop at night.

 

[bill3607]

There are quite few of the threads on auto pop doors as you mentioned and I think Ms rosemarythyme and myself are always involved in them

Mine is more about the convenience. I do not have the time, and really not the want, to even go down to the coop everyday. I go every few days to feed, water, clean poop trays, collect eggs and spend a bit of time with the ladies. They always have plenty tell tell me about every 3-4 days. I also check the complaint box while I am there just in case one of them needed to inform me of something that she rather the others didn't hear.

It is also a redundant security measure, but the pop door is inside a very secure run that is is more than adequate to handle the predators in my area. Bears here are very, very scarce and anything else it can handle.

I also have one that can be set by amount of light and time and I use the time setting. It runs off of AA batteries and I have had it 1 1/2 years and still have not had to change the batteries.

I'm satisfied with it.

 

[Devorah]

There are quite few of the threads on auto pop doors as you mentioned and I think Ms rosemarythyme and myself are always involved in them

Mine is more about the convenience. I do not have the time, and really not the want, to even go down to the coop everyday. I go every few days to feed, water, clean poop trays, collect eggs and spend a bit of time with the ladies. They always have plenty tell tell me about every 3-4 days. I also check the complaint box while I am there just in case one of them needed to inform me of something that she rather the others didn't hear.

It is also a redundant security measure, but the pop door is inside a very secure run that is is more than adequate to handle the predators in my area. Bears here are very, very scarce and anything else it can handle.

I also have one that can be set by amount of light and time and I use the time setting. It runs off of AA batteries and I have had it 1 1/2 years and still have not had to change the batteries.

I'm satisfied with it.

My coop doesn’t have a pop door; it has a door that opens up from the barn coop into the (secure) run. I’m trying to figure out why, besides convenience, I would want an automatic door. All of this information is very helpful! Thank you!

 

[bill3607]

My coop doesn’t have a pop door; it has a door that opens up from the barn coop into the (secure) run. I’m trying to figure out why, besides convenience, I would want an automatic door. All of this information is very helpful! Thank you!

Convenience is a good thing.

 

[Devorah]

Convenience is a good thing.

I’m sure I’ll see this more clearly when I’m on the other side of the fence!