Coop door help!

To automatic or not to automatic?

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rosemarythyme said:
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.
Click to expand...
Great points! Has the string been an issue for you at all? Thank you for the advice :)
 
I don't have a door from the coop to my secured run, it's open all the time. If you have hardware cloth top, sides, and outer apron you should be fine. I am going to put an auto door in the coop for free ranging when I'm not home and closing the door at night when they come in.
 
Our run has so far kept the chickens safe. That is almost two years. The first 1.5 years I closed the pop door every night. For the last 6 months we have left the pop open. We do this mostly as the morning extra light comes on pretty early. We know the risk, but they like the run and it seems very secure. We see a local fox on our cameras every few nights. But doesn't seem to even try to dig its way in.

So for you... if the run is really secure and you are willing to accept some risk maybe you don't even need to close the poop door. YMMV
 
Tycine1 said:
I have a huge yard that's completely fenced. I do not have the overhead enclosed though, so predatory birds could get in, but haven't. I have a dedicated chicken coop on the property without a door. Have only had one problem in thirteen years, a constrictor snake got a pullet (and I got the snake).
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Do you just have a cut out then for them to go in and out? Or do you shut and latch a door manually? I'm trying to figure out if I would need to do that or just leave an opening. Thank you!
 
Ghosty said:
I don't have a door from the coop to my secured run, it's open all the time. If you have hardware cloth top, sides, and outer apron you should be fine. I am going to put an auto door in the coop for free ranging when I'm not home and closing the door at night when they come in.
Click to expand...
thanks for the advice! do you think netting over the top if it is about 8 feet tall is sufficient to keep predators out as long as the bottom 3 feet (as I've seen recommended) is hardware cloth and the rest of the sides is welded wire? Or would all need to be hardware cloth?
 
jreardon1918 said:
Our run has so far kept the chickens safe. That is almost two years. The first 1.5 years I closed the pop door every night. For the last 6 months we have left the pop open. We do this mostly as the morning extra light comes on pretty early. We know the risk, but they like the run and it seems very secure. We see a local fox on our cameras every few nights. But doesn't seem to even try to dig its way in.

So for you... if the run is really secure and you are willing to accept some risk maybe you don't even need to close the poop door. YMMV
Click to expand...
Great, thanks! How do you have your camera set up? I am considering getting one, but have had trouble getting any to connect to our wifi, and the signal might not be strong enough out by the coop. What do you use?
 

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