How reliable are automatic coop doors?

[Donna-NC]

I have the farmlite chicken door and it sometimes shuts, even though its not the time I put in. Just the other day, it shut at 3 PM, when it is scheduled for 8 PM. I do not know the reason for this

Make sure you convert the time correctly from 12 hour time to 24 hour time. From Midnight to Noon the hours are in 12 hour format, from Noon to Midnight the hours just go up one digit every hour. I'm mathematically challenged so my list is my guide! I also keep a pdf of it on the cloud so I can access it with my cell phone if needed.
If that isn't the problem reach out to FarmLite - they're great with support!

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

I have the farmlite chicken door and it sometimes shuts, even though its not the time I put in. Just the other day, it shut at 3 PM, when it is scheduled for 8 PM. I do not know the reason for this

Do you have any other the other settings on a timer? Like the light ones that are after the standard open and close?

 

[Bella the Chicken Lover]

Do you have any other the other settings on a timer? Like the light ones that are after the standard open and close?

I don't know, we don't have the manual.

 

[Donna-NC]

That's EASY to solve! The manuals are here for downloading: https://www.farmlite.store/common-issues
Scroll down the page to find them.

 

[LaurelC]

I like the ADOR1 and that it has the Last Call feature but to me I really don't see the point. Most chickens, that don't make it the first time, will usually decide to go find selter as high as possible and won't sit there in front of the door just in case it opens back up.

I understand that. When I was setting up my chicken trailer, I placed the door in the front of the trailer so the tongue area could serve as a little "deck" for them to hang out on if they couldn't get into the coop. Not sure if that's how it'll shake out, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

 

[ConnieRobin]

That sucks. But you should get them fixed for free if you have a warranty.
Which brand and type ?

BTW, I have been reading most ‘up and down’ auto doors are too easy to open for racoons.

Thank you for telling me that. I wouldn't put it past raccoons. Will be boarding them up then. I would hate to hurt a man's business by naming them by name especially since he is working with us I think. We shall see. You really threw me on the up and down door comment. Thank you, thank you

 

[LoomisTom]

One thing I don’t understand about automatic doors is who’s to say all the chickens went inside before the door closes? What if the door closes and a few weren’t ready to go inside? They’re stuck outside ?

My Pullet-Shut door has a cool "second chance" feature that helps. 90 seconds after the door closes in the evening, it reopens briefly, then closes for the night.

 

[perkolator]

Yesterday my Run Chicken T50 has decided to give up after 3.5yrs in use.

Seemed like a great unit while it lasted, I've been reminded the last two days of how awesome auto-doors are!

Contacted Customer Service and they were very responsive, asked questions and wanted some videos. My unit is definitely past the 12month warranty so it's not covered, but they did offer a discount on the replacement drive unit.

Not really sure what failed on mine, something electronic for sure as it's completely unresponsive to new batteries and showed no signs of degrading in the last few weeks. It's been dry the last week and weather only into the high 30s, so it's unlikely due to getting wet or freeze/thaw issue.

They did note from my video that I likely have buildup inside the door track, preventing door from closing 100% - this is something I've had to clean out a few times in ownership with a metal wire - at the very bottom of track is a small protrusion that's the "stop" for the door, and slowly dirt can accumulate there over time. Last year it built up enough the door was leaving a 1/8" gap a the bottom, lol. If you have one of these doors, you may want to inspect yours.

So yeah, I think I'm just going to buy the replacement drive unit and keep on truckin' with the T50 Run Chicken door

 

[ForFlocksSake]

Yesterday my Run Chicken T50 has decided to give up after 3.5yrs in use.

Seemed like a great unit while it lasted, I've been reminded the last two days of how awesome auto-doors are!

Contacted Customer Service and they were very responsive, asked questions and wanted some videos. My unit is definitely past the 12month warranty so it's not covered, but they did offer a discount on the replacement drive unit.

Not really sure what failed on mine, something electronic for sure as it's completely unresponsive to new batteries and showed no signs of degrading in the last few weeks. It's been dry the last week and weather only into the high 30s, so it's unlikely due to getting wet or freeze/thaw issue.

They did note from my video that I likely have buildup inside the door track, preventing door from closing 100% - this is something I've had to clean out a few times in ownership with a metal wire - at the very bottom of track is a small protrusion that's the "stop" for the door, and slowly dirt can accumulate there over time. Last year it built up enough the door was leaving a 1/8" gap a the bottom, lol. If you have one of these doors, you may want to inspect yours.

So yeah, I think I'm just going to buy the replacement drive unit and keep on truckin' with the T50 Run Chicken door

3.5 years for a $100 door that lives outside in the elements is a good run IMO. My T50 has been great too going on a little over a year at this point. I would also replace it with the same door after that long.

 

[Buffychicken62]

3.5 years for a $100 door that lives outside in the elements is a good run IMO. My T50 has been great too going on a little over a year at this point. I would also replace it with the same door after that long.

I’ve had my Run Chicken doors since 2021 and have only had to replace the 2 double A batteries on the inside of Drive area. They started going really slow so I opened it up and replaced the batteries and then they work like brand new. I love these doors and will replace with the same brand after these no longer work.!!