How did your Auto pop door work over the Winter ?

[tigger19687]

I thought it would be good to get updated reviews now that Winter is mostly over.

*******If you have an Auto Pop Door please let us know how it is over the Winter.
This is NOT for a homemade auto door please.

Please list:

1) Name of Auto door you have, company/Brand, where you bought it .
2) Inside or Outside mount ? With or Without over hang if outside.
3) How long you have had it and What State You are located if not on your profile.
4) Did it work when it was suppose to (Sensor or timer)
5) If it had issues, what were they.

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I thought this may help others that are thinking about these. I know many are on and off the fence about an auto door, myself included.
This Winter I had a rope that allowed me to open/close the door without going outside. But there were times I forgot to close it at night once they went in.

I have not only read all the older posts about this but just spent the last 3 hours reading reviews on Amazon. There are MANY that have said these are not lasting very long and that has me a bit worried. They are NOT CHEAP and I don't want to have to replace a $250 door every year.

So if you have one let us have a new update on how things are working for you.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have Ador1 and am very satisfied with it. Worked as it should. Location in profile. (Chicago winters) Battery operated since summer and not replaced. Cheap $5 6volt lantern battery. Not the better alkaline type.
I have researched pop doors extensively before deciding on this one.

 

[Joeschooks]

I have a ChickenGuard Premium that I purchased it on eBay. It was heavily discounted because although brand new it was a 2016 model (who cares if it’s an old model, does the same thing except buttons and screw hole locations are improved on the current model.) It’s mounted outside, under the overhang of the roof which sort of covers it but not enough to keep all the weather off. I operate it on the sensor. Batteries have not needed replacing yet (had it 6 months) and it’s worked flawlesslessly except the ONE night I was away in Paris! Fortunately I have cctv over the coop so a text to the neighbour solved the issue. It needed recalibrating. Over time the open and close positions seem to vary a minuscule amount which throws the settings out of sync. That’s my theory anyway. So now I’m going to recalibrate it before I go away to make sure the settings are perfect, hopefully avoiding any more mishaps. I might change the batteries before going away too... it’d be Sod’s law otherwise! Despite this I highly recommend the Chickenguard and don’t know how people get by without. It’s not practical for me to get up at the crack of dawn every morning and always be home at dusk to lock them away. I live in UK and paid £99 for the unit (plus made my own aluminium sliding door).

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have the Auto Coop Door Advanced from Fleming Outdoors. This is the third winter I have used it. It is mounted inside the coop. It runs on electric with a battery backup. Mine closes according to how many minutes from sunrise/sunset I program it, according to my GPS coordinates. Doesn't rely on light or a strict time. No problems whatsoever.

 

[tigger19687]

I am having a hard time finding one that has a Plug AND Batteries, no fishing line, Timer and with excellent reviews.

I really like the Ador1 because it has no string pulley but it does not have the timer. I can't let the hens out before 7:30 to 8 due to neighbors (I am being polite here) so I need the timer. PLUS mine will be installed INSIDE so Light sensor will not work as well.

edit to add that the Ador1 has a delay for open and close up to 8 hours ! This may actually work !
It has a sprocket type of open/close, NOT the string !
TY !

 

[PetesChicks]

I have the Ador1, it works great. It’s had the same battery for about a year now, one of the cheapest from Job Lot.

Besides the delay option, there is also a “Last Call” option, where the door re-opens a few minutes after it shuts, to let anyone that isn’t paying attention a second chance to get in. I’ve only had chickens left outside a couple times, when I first installed it. The stupid rabbit is another issue, she gets shut out about half the time in nice weather, and not much better than that in light rain or snow.

 

[cavemanrich]

The stupid rabbit is another issue, she gets shut out about half the time in nice weather, and not much better than that in light rain or snow.

Rabbits are nocturnal to a degree in nature. Your pet may not realize its time for bed at sundown.

 

[Lonesome Dough]

Referring to the first line on the initial post, 'winter almost over". Not by a long shot, minus 3 this morning, still 2 feet of snow with drifts to four feet and nothing forecast over 40 degrees next ten days. But this is a great study, I want an auto door and have not decided on one, the biggest problem for me will be outside mounting, my coop has vertical ribbed steel siding, 8 " on center for the ribs. Without a flat surface it will difficult to mount, my alternative is mounting indoors but I'm not sure if that is wise.

 

[cavemanrich]

Referring to the first line on the initial post, 'winter almost over". Not by a long shot, minus 3 this morning, still 2 feet of snow with drifts to four feet and nothing forecast over 40 degrees next ten days. But this is a great study, I want an auto door and have not decided on one, the biggest problem for me will be outside mounting, my coop has vertical ribbed steel siding, 8 " on center for the ribs. Without a flat surface it will difficult to mount, my alternative is mounting indoors but I'm not sure if that is wise.

Your location and amount of snow, I would certainly recommend mounting inside coop. Ador 1 does have a remote sensor that can be mounted so it sees the outdoor light at present.

 

[tigger19687]

@Lonesome Dough Yes Ador does have that extra wire for the sensor ! I have to put it indoors as well as I just feel it is better for anyone that has Winter Winter BTW, 'Almost over' means I have about a month left. This Winter is a bust though for here.

The Ador guy is SUPER NICE (Ron) ! I emailed them to find out about a timer (before I saw their blog about the delay open and close built in). He was Super fast to get back to me.
Very informative and I will be buying it with the sensor wire.

I even emailed him at 9pm and he shot me an email back at 10:30pm that night !

What I love about it is the Sprocket mechanics, NOT the cheap wire. It also holds the door closed to critters can't just open it. It is solid, just screw it in, oh and add the battery, not small AA ones either ! and a Great PRICE !! I think it is $17 extra for the 12' sensor wire but I am ok with that and only $20 shipping !