Automatic doors, dusk and lighting?

[heybarb]

Also regarding security? Has anyone had trouble with predators prying doors open?

This is the same question my husband asked me! Anyone?

 

[gardendufus]

Well, because of the construction of my coop, (the wall I wanted the door on is only solid for 3' or so, and hardware cloth for the top 3 1/2 feet, I was specifically looking for swing out doors.

I have had no problems with predators, but my run is as absolutely secure as I could make it, it also sits inside a yard totally fenced by 6' chain link, and I have a German/Belgian Shepard and an annoying terrier who are able to patrol the yard 24/7, so I have a few deterrents.

The door itself closes quite securely and I don't think there's much (any?) room for little critter fingers to grasp the door to even try to pry it open. The frame extends about an inch past the face of the door, so they would have to get their little digits into about (hmmmm?) 1/16 or 1/8 inch of space. I'll have to go measure that so I can be more exact the next time I'm talking about it.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I bought the pulletshut door and couldn't be happier, look under the coop section and the thread starts with advise needed auto door. Lotta advise and i posted pics. It was also heavily endorsed by the owner of chickens for dummies...I mounted everything outside the coop, there are no wires or cables or pulleys to get clogged up or pooped on by a chicken. Check it out.

 

[heybarb]

I ordered my Pullet Shut door this morning...should be here in a few days. I am hoping that it meets and exceeds my expectations!

 

[HEChicken]

Looking to revive this thread with a question for those who posted about automatic doors:

• what brand of door did you purchase?
• How is it holding up?
• Solar or Electrical run to coop?
• Timer or photo-sensor?

Looking for your advice and experience!

I just installed my Pullet Shut door yesterday so it has opened and closed exactly once each

so take these answers for what they are worth.

• what brand of door did you purchase? Pullet Shut from Chicken Doors
• How is it holding up? Brand new so can't answer this one
• Solar or Electrical run to coop? Solar (I have electrical but figured if I got solar it was one less thing to have to run off the power, and it was only $5 more. According to Chicken Doors, the solar will power the battery to run for several weeks, and where I live it is rare to have even a day with no sun, let alone "weeks".
• Timer or photo-sensor? Light sensor. They said it will close about 10 minutes after it is dark. Last night I went down to supervise and see how it works. As it got later and later and darker and darker I started to worry I'd messed up the installation and it wasn't going t close. The birds were not only all in the coop but all roosting and it was silent. And then the door closed. It was the very end of dusk, before it become night. I could see well enough to walk back to the house but shortly after I came inside, it was night-time.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It's like magic. You will not be dissapointed, I held reservations too but so many had good things to say, and some have had it for a long time....it's not junk or gimmicky, where you just know you've been rolled. It's great to have a quality made in USA product. Finally.