downfall of automatic coop doors

[zippitydooda]

Does anyone besides me think that they are missing out on tucking their little darlings "in" for the night by using an automatic door to the coop?

It would be handy in the morning (when I would like to sleep in but don't get to).....but I really like the routine of talking to & petting each one before closing up the coop. I love their sleepy noises.

 

[53convert]

put a 2 way baby moniter in the coop then you can listen to the chicken hour and can really tell when something is amiss during the early morning hours.

 

[Bleenie]

Mine free range so I like to make sure everyones in bed and accounted for at night. I have read a few times on here about auto doors causing injuries and sometimes killing birds, that's another reason I wouldn't want one.

.. I also like petting them all and making sure the little ones are comfy

 

[featherz]

My auto doors could close right on a chicken and not hurt them. I use mine more as backup. I can close the doors manually by hitting the button on the timer if I want and I always go out to close the run doors and to make sure everyone is 'tucked in'. But the auto door is more for when I get home late and it's already dark - I know that the pop door will be closed and hopefully they will all be safe.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

My chickens are just in my backyard, so it's easy for me to put the door down and pull it up, plus I like the routine of it (I'll remind myself of that tomorrow at 6 am

), but I guess if my coop was a ways away and the weather was severe enough, or I had a broken leg or something, I can totally see the usefulness of an auto door. I always wondered, though, about possible injuries...

 

[featherz]

Here is one of my doors..

It's a piece of plywood that drops verrrrrry slowly. There's a frame on the outside to prevent an animal from prying it up. I love it! Even if the chicken just sat under the door it would not hurt her. Of course, the door won't close either.

I have mine since we get a lot of snow, I have spread out coops, and I sometimes am forced to come in after dark in the winter. But I always go check on them anyways.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

featherz, you totally have a situation that makes auto doors super smart. We never have very extreme weather in the PNW. That's cool that the door goes down slowly. I never knew how that worked. And your birds are beautiful

 

[matimeo]

Quote:
Like you I don't necessarily mind putting them in at night, but getting up at 5:00 am to stop their squawking in the summer is not my idea of a good time. Automatic door is one of the best investments I've ever made.

I have the same setup as featherz. Here's a video of my door:

 

[lauriej57]

I think an automatic coop door would be wonderful....but here are my questions. What happens when it snows so much that the door can't close all the way. What happens when the kick the bedding all around and it gets in the way of the door closing all the way. These are the 2 main reasons I don't have one. So enlighten me.

I'm the one out there in the middle of the blizzard, with my heavy duty putty knife, chiseling at the snow/bedding/ice to clear it away so I can close the door, until after a few days of this, I say sorry girls, but you're closed up til the weather lets up.

This happens when it's nice and toasty in the coop, but not at the door...


My opinion is that I would still have to go out in the middle of a blizzard and make sure the door closed up tight.

I have this problem in the summer also, but at least it's not frozen. Just have to brush the shavings away so the door will close tightly.

 

[rjlanger2]

I think the decision of automatic vs manual doors depends on whether you free range and how comfortable you are with the security of the run. I have chosen not to free range because of the number of predators. I feel the run is adequately secure. I have a sliding door that is manually operated. Most of the time, it is open and they come and go as they please. If it's cold, I'll close the door at dusk and "lock" them in overnight. That usually means there's a heat lamp on so I would have closed the door anyway to keep the heat in.

I know there's many that use an automatic door, and many that don't. I keep hearing how enjoyable many find tucking everyone in at night. In that case, you probably don't need an auto door. I think it's a preference - like driving an automatic vs a stick. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.