automatic Door Opener

[Corey NC]

does anyone know where I can get some instructions on how to build one?

 

[Xtradust]

There's only one good one I've ever seen and they're not handing out any plans and the opener's not cheap.

I don't know that I even need one, but I think about them all the time.

If you could make them and sell them for less than $50, I think you could retire rich.

I saw a long post about it once. Pretty much came down to replicating a garage door opener.

If you could find a garage door opener with a blown motor, you could replace the motor with a much smaller one to work the door and do some fitting of the parts and you'd be set. You would even get the "safety close" electric eyes, and a "warning light" in the deal.

One guy brought up that if you are just looking for predator control, you could take a desk fan, remove the housing and put some heavy fishing line on the end of each blade. Then mount it next to the door so that only the fishing line covers the door. Put it on a timer and wham! If a possum, etc. tries to get in, the fan would work like a weed wacker and give it's nose a nice little trim. He felt that the chickens would figure it out pretty quick and the first one that tried to walk through would just get a smack on the beak. I don't know.

I'd love to hear from anyone that has an easy plan for a completely auto door.

Matt

 

[Eryn]

This is a great idea, my stepdad is really good at coming up with crazy stuff like this so I think I'm going to talk to him about it next time I get a chance to pick his brain... He is coming up to build me a bigger coop soon so when I get the chance I will talk to him and see if he can't come up with a plan!

I'll let everyone know what he says!