Don't judge as I am sincerely upset and realize my ignorance. Just want to share my horrible experience. I now know my mistake.
I have been building a coop and automatic chicken door for several days. Finally got it ready and I stupidly put the chickens in the new coop at sundown. I now know I should have put them in the new coop during the day so they knew it was their new home. Food and water inside.
So they let me pick them up, especially at night, since they had no where to go as I had closed off their old coop for other babies. (3) I put them in the new coop but they were not immediately jumping on the perch I had installed, nor did they move away from the door area. I had already set my auto timer earlier and knew it may be close to closing time. Sadly, as I was outside, but not near the coop, one of them did the most dreaded nightmare reaction to the door which closed so slowly - actuator 12 inch. She stuck her head under the door. I heard her cry out a little and knew she may be caught. She was. This door closes completely. Literally 100%. I panicked. Pulled back the roof and reached in to activate the manual button on the timer. It looked powerless. No red light. It didn't work. I tried deactivating the set time as it seems it will automatically open when deactivated. Literally almost 2 minutes have passed. I ripped the actuator wires from the relay switch and tried putting terminals on 12v battery. Couldn't reach terminals. Had to rip back some wiring to get a good length to reach both terminals. Didn't work. Reversed the wires. Finally.
I am almost sure 3 minutes passed. She lay there without moving. I finally saw her eyes blinking. No movement. Praying. Two minutes pass. She does pick up her head like she had been unconscious, but still not very sure she is not fatally wounded. Went back out in 10 minutes and she was standing perfectly, but not moving. I am hoping it is because she is in a new coop and scared. I am praying that she is OK in the morning.
I post this to warn some other stupid newbies and thinking it might help to give myself some therapy, but it has not worked. Just reminding myself how stupid I was. I have learned a lesson the hard way. Have been so proud up to now how intuitive I have been in thinking what is best. Have loved the experience (about 3+ months) and love my chickens. I will let you know how she is tomorrow if I can. I hate to post this, but just letting you know the danger of the door and pray to let you know the ability of a chicken to live.
I have been building a coop and automatic chicken door for several days. Finally got it ready and I stupidly put the chickens in the new coop at sundown. I now know I should have put them in the new coop during the day so they knew it was their new home. Food and water inside.
So they let me pick them up, especially at night, since they had no where to go as I had closed off their old coop for other babies. (3) I put them in the new coop but they were not immediately jumping on the perch I had installed, nor did they move away from the door area. I had already set my auto timer earlier and knew it may be close to closing time. Sadly, as I was outside, but not near the coop, one of them did the most dreaded nightmare reaction to the door which closed so slowly - actuator 12 inch. She stuck her head under the door. I heard her cry out a little and knew she may be caught. She was. This door closes completely. Literally 100%. I panicked. Pulled back the roof and reached in to activate the manual button on the timer. It looked powerless. No red light. It didn't work. I tried deactivating the set time as it seems it will automatically open when deactivated. Literally almost 2 minutes have passed. I ripped the actuator wires from the relay switch and tried putting terminals on 12v battery. Couldn't reach terminals. Had to rip back some wiring to get a good length to reach both terminals. Didn't work. Reversed the wires. Finally.
I am almost sure 3 minutes passed. She lay there without moving. I finally saw her eyes blinking. No movement. Praying. Two minutes pass. She does pick up her head like she had been unconscious, but still not very sure she is not fatally wounded. Went back out in 10 minutes and she was standing perfectly, but not moving. I am hoping it is because she is in a new coop and scared. I am praying that she is OK in the morning.
I post this to warn some other stupid newbies and thinking it might help to give myself some therapy, but it has not worked. Just reminding myself how stupid I was. I have learned a lesson the hard way. Have been so proud up to now how intuitive I have been in thinking what is best. Have loved the experience (about 3+ months) and love my chickens. I will let you know how she is tomorrow if I can. I hate to post this, but just letting you know the danger of the door and pray to let you know the ability of a chicken to live.
chicky! I do hope she recovers
