Favorite door hardware/latch/lock?

[Mouthpear]

i ended up going with these

https://shedsupply.com/collections/...handle-black-or-chrome?variant=34452788805771

i love that i can actually lock them with a key and not worry about a raccoon opening them. no need for padlocks or anything extra. i ended up using on my run door, egg door, and clean out door. they all share the same key set so don’t have to worry about managing that.

I prefer not to use anything that requires and actual Locking mechanism and key.

• In an emergency, getting in a key may slow you down. Keep one always, at the coop.
• If you ever need someone to look after them sort a time, you will have to entrust them with a key.
• "no need for padlocks or anything extra" a key would technically be that "anything extra"
• If the actual key cylinder ever becomes damaged be prepared to have to drill it out or cut the entire thing off.
• If you ever have to replace you will have to try and find a match.

I prefer not to use a lock. I use a "locking" carabiner (shop around)



Large Locking Carabiner



or US Stainless Stainless Steel 316 Quick Link 3/8" Marine Grade. (shop around)

• Both are relatively cheap
• Both are highly effective against raccoons and other predators.
• No need to keep a key or worry about losing a key.
• No need to make sure that all the locks match, key wise.
• If one is damaged, no need to try a match.
• In an emergency simply take off.

I Know you have already made your pick, but this is just, food for thought, for all.

OH and TY for the update.

 

[AnnPann]

I prefer not to use anything that requires and actual Locking mechanism and key.

• In an emergency, getting in a key may slow you down. Keep one always, at the coop.
• If you ever need someone to look after them sort a time, you will have to entrust them with a key.
• "no need for padlocks or anything extra" a key would technically be that "anything extra"
• If the actual key cylinder ever becomes damaged be prepared to have to drill it out or cut the entire thing off.
• If you ever have to replace you will have to try and find a match.

I prefer not to use a lock. I use a "locking" carabiner (shop around)



Large Locking Carabiner



or US Stainless Stainless Steel 316 Quick Link 3/8" Marine Grade. (shop around)

• Both are relatively cheap
• Both are highly effective against raccoons and other predators.
• No need to keep a key or worry about losing a key.
• No need to make sure that all the locks match, key wise.
• If one is damaged, no need to try a match.
• In an emergency simply take off.

I Know you have already made your pick, but this is just, food for thought, for all.

OH and TY for the update.

Thanks for the insight! I’m sure others looking for a hardware option will find this useful for deciding which way to go and weighing the pros and cons.

I personally have a strong hatred of carabiners. They always seem to break, rust, malfunction every time i’ve utilized one, and i’ve never found one that i can reliably work one handed (a requirement for my coop doors), so I was determined to not have to use them.

I received 2 keys with every handle (and i asked they send me the same lock set so they’d all work on all doors), so now i have 12 of them. LOL. And will be attaching a key on a chain on front and back of coop with a hook, so one will always be out there for quick access. I don’t worry about human theft, only predator theft, so not a big deal to leave a key out there. and if i need to share the key with anyone, they key only works on the coop, so no extra worries there.

i could see the key slowing me down a bit if there was an emergency like a fire, just because it’s not as smooth as a house key and i’d be panicked. but, so would a carabiner (lol in my case at least) or really anything else that would also slow down a raccoon.

This particular type of latch is easily removed (if you have access to both sides of latch) with an allen wrench and phillips, so simple to replace or change to something different (like the dreaded carabiner!) if need be. no major surgery. i’ve had one on my shed for years without issue, so i’m optimistic this will work out OK.

 

[Krugerrand]

Here's what I have on my run:

I copied the idea from @res
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/

 

[AnnPann]

Here's what I have on my run:
View attachment 3290076

I copied the idea from @res
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/

I have not seen this before - how clever!

 

[Krugerrand]

I have not seen this before - how clever!

Yes, I like the simplicity of it. I think a raccoon could get lucky - but the door has two of them and one is up high. The odds of something getting both of them is pretty low.

My favorite was how res used cattle panel for the door. That was SO much easier than framing out a door and doing hinges. It saved me a lot of time and money.

 

[Mouthpear]

Here's what I have on my run:
View attachment 3290076

I copied the idea from @res
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/

Looks overly complicated . Bet the plans are expensive and extensive.

 

[AnnPann]

I feel like I need to post a PSA update. Turns out it actually IS possible to lock yourself in with the handle I’m using. The key part of the run door is a little lose. I left the key in it for the day. Somehow when I went inside the run and shut the door behind me, it locked itself. I had no way out! Thankfully I had my phone in my pocket and called in a rescue. Lesson learned - don’t leave the key in the door!

 

[Mouthpear]

I feel like I need to post a PSA update. Turns out it actually IS possible to lock yourself in with the handle I’m using. The key part of the run door is a little lose. I left the key in it for the day. Somehow when I went inside the run and shut the door behind me, it locked itself. I had no way out! Thankfully I had my phone in my pocket and called in a rescue. Lesson learned - don’t leave the key in the door!

ITYS

I personally have a strong hatred of carabiners. They always seem to break, rust, malfunction every time i’ve utilized one, and i’ve never found one that i can reliably work one handed (a requirement for my coop doors), so I was determined to not have to use them.

Buying good quality carabiners that are aluminum or stainless steel will take care of that or buying some US Stainless Stainless Steel 316 Quick Link 3/8" Marine Grade.



As to

it locked itself. I had no way out! Thankfully I had my phone in my pocket and called in a rescue.

You may want to keep that allen wrench, the kit comes with, inside the coop/run. So if this happens again, all you have to do is take off the inner handle/cam. Drill a hole in the door frame, just big enough for the allen wrench to fit into snuggly and store it there.

Of course you can always reconsider the whole latching system, I mentioned in my previous post.

 

[Mouthpear]

I feel like I need to post a PSA update. Turns out it actually IS possible to lock yourself in with the handle I’m using. The key part of the run door is a little lose. I left the key in it for the day. Somehow when I went inside the run and shut the door behind me, it locked itself. I had no way out! Thankfully I had my phone in my pocket and called in a rescue. Lesson learned - don’t leave the key in the door!

Just checking in on you , making sure ur not still locked in...

 

[AnnPann]

Nope not locked in. And still happily using my existing hardware/locks that check all the boxes for my particular hardware requirements. Just not leaving the key in the run door. Pretty simple solution.