Greg in SW Washington State

[Rushdoggie]

I don't have an automatic door, mainly because my chicken run is not night-time predator proof and I want to make sure my hens are locked up tight in the coop every night. I like the idea of an automatic door, but I don't think I would trust it to work every time - especially in the winter when nothing seems to work. So I am happy with a heavy wooden pop door which I open and close with a small rope.

FWIW: I do have an auto door and I don't 100% trust it either, but the reality is sometimes I can't be there at dusk and its nice to know the door will most likely work.

I still check it and do a head count when I can get there, but if I happen to come home late I feel better knowing its there.

I've had it a year and it has not failed yet.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Thanks for joining us!

 

[gtaus]

FWIW: I do have an auto door and I don't 100% trust it either, but the reality is sometimes I can't be there at dusk and its nice to know the door will most likely work.

I still check it and do a head count when I can get there, but if I happen to come home late I feel better knowing its there.

I've had it a year and it has not failed yet.

Good to know. If I had a job that kept me at work until past dark, I think I'd get an automatic door, too. But I know myself and I would be out there with a flashlight counting heads when I did get home.