Coop door help!

[tYarisdaprincess]

Hi there,

I am a new member and there is just so much to look through that all looks great! My husband and I live in South New Jersey and have 10 week-old chicks. We are converting our shed into a coop and have most of it figured out, but are stuck on the door. There are a lot of predators in the area as we are pretty rural- fox, eagle, hawk, roaming dogs, etc. Because of this we plan to make our run predator proof and not free range, with a covered ramp up to the door for the chickens to enter and exit the coop.

I do not like getting up before 8 am, so we are interested in an automatic door. I have been researching doors for week and there seem to be several kinds, but they are all so pricey! I have seen reviews that the ones with wires/cables seem to break or snap. The ones that are all one unit as the door seem pretty expensive. In your experience what is the best option? We do have power to the coop so the power supply isn't a big deal. What would be best in my my situation? We plan to eventually have up to 30 chickens. Thanks in advance!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I just go out and open my coops door every morning. Sometimes you gotta do things you’re now used to or like to when you get chickens. I don’t trust auto doors as I can’t inspect the area before I let them out.

 

[Cadence A Waller]

I have an automatic door and it is great. Of course it is different for everybody but I find it very useful. I still check that it closes very night but I don’t have to worry about opening a coop door in the mornings. I don’t remember what type I have - sorry. But for me, I would say it is worth it. Especially if you plan on traveling, you don’t have to have someone open your chicken door in the morning.

 

[tYarisdaprincess]

I just go out and open my coops door every morning. Sometimes you gotta do things you’re now used to or like to when you get chickens. I don’t trust auto doors as I can’t inspect the area before I let them out.

Thanks for the advice! We will just be letting them into a predator proof run, but that is of course the ideal circumstances. Hadn't thought that could be an issue!

 

[tYarisdaprincess]

I have an automatic door and it is great. Of course it is different for everybody but I find it very useful. I still check that it closes very night but I don’t have to worry about opening a coop door in the mornings. I don’t remember what type I have - sorry. But for me, I would say it is worth it. Especially if you plan on traveling, you don’t have to have someone open your chicken door in the morning.

Thanks for the advice! I'm not sure when we'd travel as we are getting goats as well in just over a month. The not getting up super early is very appealing!

 

[folsjc]

I don"t have a door on my coop to let them into the secure run. I have a automatic door on the secure run to let them out into a non-secure fenced in run. Automatic door is made by Chicken Guard, runs off of batteries. Love it!!!!

 

[Alaskan]

If you know that the run is super well made and predator proof, then you do not need an automatic door.

That is what I did on my coops.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have a ChickenGuard door. Fairly easy to install and while I know the string is a possible weak point, I just make sure to inspect it each time I change settings or do anything else with the unit.

I get up late so it's nice not having to worry about whether or not the chickens can get to their water. And I'mm not always available at the same time each evening to lock up so the door does it for me. I don't travel much either, but in case I ever do, it's a bonus to not need someone to come twice a day to open and then lock up.

 

[tYarisdaprincess]

If you know that the run is super well made and predator proof, then you do not need an automatic door.

That is what I did on my coops.

Thanks! I was thinking about that. I just don't want to lose any of my baby cheepies <3

 

[Alaskan]

Thanks! I was thinking about that. I just don't want to lose any of my baby cheepies <3

Very true! Just be very careful with the run. Nice strong wire, tiny holes... but it sure is nice to have the entire coop and run predator proof!