For those of you worried about predators and automatic door openers

[Happy Chooks]

Someone posted a while back about being afraid that racoons and other predators can pry the automatic doors open.

I have the automatic door opener from Foys, with the metal door and the inside install with sensor. I tried to push the door up when it was closed and I could not get it to open. Not even a little bit, where I could get my fingers underneath.

So if I can't get it open, I doubt a raccoon could. Just thought I'd share.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I've got the same opener and have the door installed on the inside. I had my husband install it so the bottom edge of the door slides down just below the opening in the wall. There's nothing to grab onto or pry up, from the outside.

 

[gryeyes]

I'm installing mine (the same model from Foys) so the metal door drops down a tad lower than the bottom edge of the hole through the coop wall. No little paws or claws can reach the bottom of the metal door to push it up.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
That is how mine is installed too. But some people posted that they were afraid a raccoon could apply pressure to the door and slide it up. I tried to do it and couldn't.

 

[owler]

That's good to know. Thanks.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

grey, you may have even noticed a paw print or 2 on that door! Raccoon, possum, cats and dogs tried to get in and couldn't do it. The wooden frame I had around the pop hole on the outside even had teeth marks!

 

[Kazzandra]

But don't forget to replace the batteries! There's no real warning with the door openers if they're about to keel over, and what night will it be that it doesn't close and you don't know...

 

[DVTO2]

How well does the sensor work on the Foy's? Are there door failures on cloudy days?

 

[chase]

seein as your not there to inspect the coop before locking the door, does nobody get concerned that a critter may get in before the door closes and gets locked in with the chooks leaving them no way of escaping? or do you all have a way around this?

surpose its less risky then leaving it wide open though.

 

[Badlatitude]

Quote:
Can you grab the corner of a 4x8 sheet of plywood screwed to rafters and shingled over and rip it off? I know for a fact a raccoon can do that. Had it happen to a customer who called us. Then decided the cost wasnt worth it to remove the coon and they would just shoe it out and re roof the house. Guess they ignored the fact it was late spring early summer and she had babies up there too. Momma came back that night and destoyed the roof. After she ripped atleast a square of shingle and paper off going nuts she grabbed the corner and ripped it off making a hole about 2ftx3ft in the process. She then calmly took her babies and left.

Also seen a raccoon tear apart a hav a heart brand wire live trap. They are way stronger then hardware cloth or green wire fence thats for sure!

We can only make it HARDER for them but a determined raccoon will most likely get into almost any coop or run if it decides to. Luky for us most just move on deciding its too much work or whatever.