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i really liked the Foy's "Electronic Butler" - had two of them, on coops when I lived in West Sacramento. Battery powered (4 AA batteries, if I recall correctly), perfect light-sensor operation which needed no adjustment from the factory setting. Never a problem with either one. Fairly simple installation, though the instructions were not all that clear. Priciest of all the models out there, but as Kelly said, worth every single penny.
When I moved here and needed to get an auto-door for the coop, Foy's was out of stock. (I left coops and the auto-doors behind in West Sac, due to some "issues" with my then-landlady.). Bought an auto door from MyPetChicken and am not very happy with it. It uses electrical power and a separate timer to operate it. Even if the timers didn't keep crapping out, timer operation means you have to keep resetting it as the numbers of daylight hours change. If you have a power outage, the timer gets off-cycle and can open or close when it shouldn't. I am afraid I don't recall the name of that unit.
For the new coop, I considered getting another Foy's Electronic Butler, but now I have geese.... Even if they aren't going to be at the Ranch for some time, I have learned something about geese which precludes any use of a string & pulley because those meddlers will absolutely fuss with ANYTHING onto which they can get their bills. I could easily imagine them destroying the string, which would disable the door.
Just installed an ADOR1 auto-door and LOVE, love, love it! Battery powered and light sensor operated. It has a manual mode as well as an automatic mode, which was really useful for confining the chickens in the coop for three days and nights before putting it back into automatic mode. The bottom edge of the frame is split, or open, so water, shavings, dirt, feathers, etc., do not collect in a track, yet the bottom edge of the door panel is still covered. This means predator paws/claws can't reach under the edge to lift the door panel. Even if they could, the door panel is raised and lowered with a metal sprocket, so there is positive control to lock it in position. Plus, the ADOR1 is the most easily installed. It is also the most reasonably priced complete unit.
I researched the Pullet Shut door, which is one opening like house doors, swinging out sideways, instead of an up and down slider panel. Just imagined chickens perching on it..... some of my birds are like me: pretty hefty.
There are threads in the coop construction forum which detail MAKING auto-doors out of low priced components. I don't have that kind of patience or skill.
But I heartily recommend either the Foy's or the ADOR1 units.
I absolutely love the Foy's doorkeeper (inside mount with light sensor). I do not have electricity in my coops, so this was the only option, as it runs on batteries. (correct Linda - 4 AA batteries) I have 2 of them and have had them for 4 years. We have a lot of predator wildlife around here and I have had no issues in the 4 years. It closes so slowly, that there is no way a chicken will get the door shut on them. The light sensor is also adjustable, which is nice when you have a bright full moon. Mine did open once (when I first got it) on a full moon because the door faces right where the moon shines. Luckily, I heard my rooster crowing and went out to check. I adjusted it and have never had that problem again.
I know someone that had the pullet shut door and replaced them with Foys doors. The pullet shut door was constantly having problems and could not be relied upon to shut every night.
