For those with an Auto close door

[tigger19687]

I have the Ador1, LOVE IT, hate the stupid chickens. They are very good about going to bed themselves.

Last night with our 96F day, we had Severe weather roll through here starting at like 6pm.
Hens all locked up in the run so I was not worried, thinking they would be in the coop in time.

The storm came and went, dark, windy rainy, then lighter out.

Well just as it was time for the door to usually come close to being closed I peek out only to hear the door closing and the hens Still in the run. I little upset but started to head to the kid play house to roost.

I had to go out and open the door, call them in and close it .


So if you have a BIG storm that comes through with in the hours of the door closing, Keep an Eye out. I am glad I looked out when I did as it was just as another round of storms was coming. I would not have seen then in the kid play house.

p.s. the EYE for the auto door is on the TOP of the run and it usually closes Way after they are in the roost.

I LURVE my hens

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is why I opted for timer... if it's overcast or stormy here I'd have to bet it could be dark enough to cause the door to shut.

Also I don't let my chickens out until later in the morning. They're used to that schedule and it helps keeps them a little quieter.

 

[ChickLOVESChicks]

Interesting! Good to know... I don't have the setup for an auto door yet, but I might have to opt for a timer because weather here can be pretty unpredictable with lots of rain showers.… We had a thunder storm yesterday and it got really, really dark. I imagine enough to effect the sensor...

 

[BY Bob]

They missed the late to bed feature? When the door opens again after it has closed? Mine have never missed the last call and my Lily likes to stay out late (and party).

My party girl

 

[ChickLOVESChicks]

They missed the late to bed feature? When the door opens again after it has closed? Mine have never missed the last call and my Lily likes to stay out late (and party).

My party girl
View attachment 1437213

She is beautiful!
Is she a BSL?

 

[BY Bob]

She is beautiful!
Is she a BSL?

We have no idea what she is. Got her off of Craig's list. The people that had her thought she was a Rhode Island Red (nope). Kinda looks like a black sex link. We just love her for who she is. It is very dark when she goes to bed. She goes in almost 20 minutes after everyone else

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I think the instructions warn about such dilemmas. Or the faqs on the website. I know I read about it somewhere.
I check every night since I now have ducks - no autodoor for them - yet.
I have not implemented the last call feature though. Only once did one of the hens get locked out. She was waiting on the ramp to be let in. I imagine pecking at the door and clucking "Come on guys this isn't funny". She has learned since then.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Storms are a great reason to avoid the dawn to dusk feature. I have a lot of shade and that exacerbates the light effect of dark storm clouds.

 

[BY Bob]

When i installed the door and oriented the coop I made sure the door pointed west to give them the most time out via the sensor. What I did not think about is the howling west wind in the winter. So I built them a porch that I can enclose with plexiglas in the winter to block the wind.

One of the thing I love about having chickens is the next problem to solve. There is always something.

 

[tigger19687]

They have never missed a "closing" before. But the storm I think threw them off, not the door itself I believe.
They ALL wanted to play outside longer. They are let of of the coop in the AM at 7:30 and they are happy to go to bed way before dusk.

This is the 1st storm that was on and off all with in a 2 hour frame and around late evening. The only other BIG storm we had I locked them in the coop because it was bad and wanted them to be safe.

BTW, @BY Bob she is pretty, sex link or just a barnyard mix ?