automatic door for chickens,advise needed

[Achickenwrangler#1]

the door won't close with enough force to catch a chicken, it also will open again a few minutes later for any stragglers. The photo sensor opens at dawn and closes at dusk...you need the photo sensor to do this. The manually set timer opens at the same time irregardless of available light...6am is always 6am. Make sense?

 

[bruceha2000]

The auto door thing sounds very convenient. But I have a question.

If your run isn't at least as predator proof as the coop (and isn't that why you lock the chickens in the coop at night?) how do you know that your very convenient door opener isn't putting the chickens out with a fox, weasel or raccoon at sunrise? If the run is that secure, why not just leave the coop door open 24x7?

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's why I don't use a timer based on light...mine is a clock timer. I can set the time wherever I want it so I don't let mine out until a couple hours after sunrise - and sometimes later depending on circumstances.

What worries me is that they won't all get in at night before the door closes. My chickens are still young and don't seem to have much common-sense. They keep going in and out way later than I think is safe and one was still left outside after the door closed the other day. I'm still in the experimentation stage on this. For me it is helpful for LETTING THEM OUT after I'm gone to work but I haven't been comfortable with how late/dark they stay out as some preditors come our earlier than they have gone in on their own.

 

[gardendufus]

If you have it on a timer, rather than a light sensor, the open/close sequence will happen at the same time every day, regardless of the sunrise/sunset cycle. I'm sure you knew that and meant with the light sensor.

I have had mine since March (or April). Since it opens/closes based on the amount of light available, the open/close time changes as the length of the day changes. Originally, mine was opening somewhere between 6-6:30 (sorry don't know exactly, as I'm not an early riser, thus the auto door). One day a few weeks ago, I woke in time to watch it open at 5:15am.

I have watched several of the closings, which have ranged from about 7-7:30 in the early spring to as late as 8:30-8:45 just a few weeks ago. Currently closing about 8:30 as the days start to shorten. My chickens, obviously attuned to the shortening days have always been in the coop a half hour or so before the door closes.

Hope this helps.

 

[gardendufus]

The auto door thing sounds very convenient. But I have a question.

If your run isn't at least as predator proof as the coop (and isn't that why you lock the chickens in the coop at night?) how do you know that your very convenient door opener isn't putting the chickens out with a fox, weasel or raccoon at sunrise? If the run is that secure, why not just leave the coop door open 24x7?

I consider my run very secure, the auto door is just a convenience to my morning sleep, evening entertainment cycle. Even tho I consider my run secure, I'm convinced that closing the coop door at night, when chickens are the most vulnerable is an extra security measure is just common sense. I might add that I also have dogs patrolling my property 24/7 and a 6' chain link fence around the property and a gun in my house, but that doesn't stop me from locking my front and back doors.

I'll edit to add that I suppose if a critter got past my chain link and my dogs, and could get over the hardware cloth on the bottom 2' and through the 2" X 4" X 6' utility fence, then my run is not completely secure.

 

[Gargoyle]

Another point; even if your run is completely secure, you don't want the night predators skulking around, looking in and learning that Chickens are in there. Once they do, they'll start working on the run every night, seeking out an overlooked weak spot, and eventually they'll find a way in. Keeping the chicks hidden from sight at night is just one more step to keeping them safe.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

The auto door thing sounds very convenient. But I have a question.

If your run isn't at least as predator proof as the coop (and isn't that why you lock the chickens in the coop at night?) how do you know that your very convenient door opener isn't putting the chickens out with a fox, weasel or raccoon at sunrise? If the run is that secure, why not just leave the coop door open 24x7?

Chickenwrangler#1 free ranges her chickens. However if your run is not secure your not safe day or night. And free ranging chickens you just have to know you are going to lose a few but locking them up at night saves many lives for sure

 

[bruceha2000]

If you have it on a timer, rather than a light sensor, the open/close sequence will happen at the same time every day, regardless of the sunrise/sunset cycle. I'm sure you knew that and meant with the light sensor.

I think she meant she changes the clock timer occasionally to keep the door opening time to be a about a couple of hours after sunrise.

I might add that I also have dogs patrolling my property 24/7 and a 6' chain link fence around the property and a gun in my house, but that doesn't stop me from locking my front and back doors.

I'll edit to add that I suppose if a critter got past my chain link and my dogs, and could get over the hardware cloth on the bottom 2' and through the 2" X 4" X 6' utility fence, then my run is not completely secure.

Not a bad idea. Better the criminals should go find another house that is easier to break into than walk into yours and you have to ask yourself the "deadly force" question.

Can't a small predator, such as a weasel, get through the 2x4 wire? Not a problem for them to climb up 2' of 1/2" hardware cloth. I ask this question specifically because I still have to build my run and weasels do exist in the area. It would be nice if I don't have to use 1/2" hardware cloth all the way up the sides. 2x4 is cheaper.

Another point; even if your run is completely secure, you don't want the night predators skulking around, looking in and learning that Chickens are in there. Once they do, they'll start working on the run every night, seeking out an overlooked weak spot, and eventually they'll find a way in. Keeping the chicks hidden from sight at night is just one more step to keeping them safe.

Can't predators smell their presence in the run, even if they have gone in the coop for the night?

 

[gardendufus]

Can't a small predator, such as a weasel, get through the 2x4 wire? Not a problem for them to climb up 2' of 1/2" hardware cloth. I ask this question specifically because I still have to build my run and weasels do exist in the area. It would be nice if I don't have to use 1/2" hardware cloth all the way up the sides. 2x4 is cheaper.

Yeah, I don't guess you can make much of anything completely predator proof against absolutely everything. Luckily, I've not heard of weasels around where I live. I guess I just have to trust my dogs on that one. I made it as secure as I could. Enough so that if something happens I don't have to kick myself around the house saying I didn't do enough. I suppose if I end up with my security being breached by something I haven't thought of, I'll just improve on it as I can.

I would imagine Vermont has much different problems than we do here. We deal a lot with skunk, coyote and raptors of one kind or another. Before I built, I spent a lot of time in the Colorado thread, picking the experience of others in my area. If you haven't already, I'd be sure to do the same in the Vermont thread. Each area of the country probably builds and secures their coop/run differently.

 

[bruceha2000]

Coyotes - check
Skunks (P U!!!) - check
Coons - check
Possums - check
Fishers - check
Otters - check (don't know if they eat chickens but one went in the pond last winter for a fish)
Raptors - check
Weasels - check
Snakes - check (just garter snakes where I live)
Bobcats - check (though rare)
Bears - check
Dogs - check
Cats - check

About the only thing we don't have are wolves and Catamounts (mountain lions), last ones killed in the late 1800s.