Automatic Pop door..which is the best?

[Cindy in PA]

I plan on getting the D20 motor as soon as DH turns my old door into a sliding door. We will probably use a plexiglass (heavy grade) or aluminum door. I would like to have metal runners for it to slide in, as my sliding door with wood sides on my bantam coop, tends to hang up in wet weather. DH is very good at building stuff, but I would like to know what type of ready made metal pieces have you used for the door to slide in. I would like to have the door on the inside and have it slide below the opening and be as tight to the hole as possible. Let me know what you all have used, Thanks.

 

[Schroeder]

I used a 1/4 in thick polyethelene cutting board I bought from Menards. It is very strong and has a slick surface that slides nicely in the track (and is easy to clean if needed). While you're at the hardware store you can buy aluminum track with a matching size groove.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
This is the exact one as Foy's but factory direct as mtullis said. I am not handy at all when it comes to electronics. Took me a year to figure out the DVR on my TV. This door is the best for people who don't know what they are doing. I loved mine. I would still be using it if I hadn't built a new coop and run that stops everything but a bear from getting into my coop. I sold it to another member who is using it in their coop right now with no problems.

I suggest that when you install your door, you make sure that the bottom of the door closes down at leat a good 2 inches below the door frame so that a predator can't grab the bottom of it and raise it. The door is really light weight and wont take much to open if it's even with the frame. My door and the frame around it had tons of scratches where nightly visitors tried to get in but fail to do so.

 

[write2caroline]

When you described the door I imagined a door somewhat like the auto scoop for the electric cat litter thingomabob.
Caroline

 

[kybeagle]

Quote:
This is the exact one as Foy's but factory direct as mtullis said. I am not handy at all when it comes to electronics. Took me a year to figure out the DVR on my TV. This door is the best for people who don't know what they are doing. I loved mine. I would still be using it if I hadn't built a new coop and run that stops everything but a bear from getting into my coop. I sold it to another member who is using it in their coop right now with no problems.

I suggest that when you install your door, you make sure that the bottom of the door closes down at leat a good 2 inches below the door frame so that a predator can't grab the bottom of it and raise it. The door is really light weight and wont take much to open if it's even with the frame. My door and the frame around it had tons of scratches where nightly visitors tried to get in but fail to do so.

How long did it take to get yours after ordering it?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
This is the exact one as Foy's but factory direct as mtullis said. I am not handy at all when it comes to electronics. Took me a year to figure out the DVR on my TV. This door is the best for people who don't know what they are doing. I loved mine. I would still be using it if I hadn't built a new coop and run that stops everything but a bear from getting into my coop. I sold it to another member who is using it in their coop right now with no problems.

I suggest that when you install your door, you make sure that the bottom of the door closes down at leat a good 2 inches below the door frame so that a predator can't grab the bottom of it and raise it. The door is really light weight and wont take much to open if it's even with the frame. My door and the frame around it had tons of scratches where nightly visitors tried to get in but fail to do so.

How long did it take to get yours after ordering it?

I got mine from Foy's. It took about 2 months. You don't think about these things early in the year. In the spring when everyone else is building coops do you think of it, lol. Once you get it, it's quick and easy to install.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We ordered one of our doors from Wells Poultry and it came right away, even though they're in the UK. They have the same type of doors that Foy's carries, although I'm not sure which models they're currently carrying. It's been a couple of years since we ordered form them, but I think we had it in about a week. It wasn't any longer than that. It was quite fast.

 

[Green_Eggs_and_Ham]

Quote:
Im just now reading all this about the doors. I got one of these d20s too. I havent had any problems with it at all since we put it in. Here is the cheapest place. I think this is where you were talking about. http://www.discounthomeautomation.com/Add-A-Motor-Chicken-Coop-Motor-AAD20 I hope that worked, Im not very good at this

I got our there and didnt wait any time. THey are in the States too!

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

If you're not mechanically inclined, this is the one I'm using and I think is the best built on the market: http://chickendoors.com/

All aluminum, runs off 12 volts & super easy install.

 

[ray2310]

Got our door from Foy's on Friday. Easy to install and works great. Wish I would have installed one when I built the coop.