How reliable are automatic coop doors?

[ForFlocksSake]

The autodoors are so insanely nice to have. We initially thought it was a luxury item, but then when we had evenings where we would be out and about and not there to close the coop door, or if we were sleeping later due to illness, we decided to investigate our options. We've got Omlet coops/run areas, and for the Go Up, which is what we started with, we got the solar powered Hentronix, which worked like a champ. The only issue was the dust that is generated would get up in the gears and we needed to make sure we were maintaining it, of course. Now, we have a Cube (larger coop) and it came with an autodoor. It's fantastic. The only issues we've had is that, at least for the model we have, either you can rely upon the electric eye to sense morning and nighttime OR you can program in the time you want it to open and close, but not a variation of both. It would also be super cool if there was a phone app, kind of like the Ring app, but alas, not at this time. Regardless, the convenience is wonderful. I suspect the issue of chicken dust getting into the moving bits on any brand could be a maintenance concern, but over all, we're super grateful. Mind you, we live in a suburban housing tract neighborhood and can only have up to five hens, so our situation may be quite different from yours, but ultimately, I'm sure you'll make the best choice for you! Cheers!

Thanks for your info! I was definitely disappointed when I learned there were no doors that could be controlled from a phone app remotely. That’s what I really wanted. For now I’ll use my programmable door (once it’s installed). Hopefully they come up with a remote activated app door in the future!

 

[TXChixRock]

I've heard great things about the Ador 1. Lots of folks on here have them and love them....they are vertical opening I believe

I have 2 of the Ador1 chicken doors and have used them for years. I am extremely satisfied with their doors and their customer service is also top notch. Never had a chicken hurt and the convenience is excellent. Auto doors are great if you can’t be home to shut the doors at dusk, especially when it’s dark at 5 pm in the winter and I’m still stuck in traffic on the way home. Or, heaven forbid, I want to stay at a party past sunset, or go out to dinner!

 

[Donna-NC]

We have a completely enclosed yard for our girls wire mesh roof and all. We took patio blocks laid on the long edge and buried them into the ground around the entire perimeter to keep out predators (we had dug up a patio area and thought this would be a good reuse).
I used to do the morning release of the hens from the coop to the chicken yard, my husband did the evening. He was not as diligent about it as I was, there was many a morning I went out and found the girls at the run gate to greet me. I got sick of the constant nagging about it and broke down to get an automatic door.

I love it!

I'm still out there very early in the day, checking their food and water. but I don't have to worry about them being safe at night. I bought the FarmLite Large Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener on Amazon.

It was dang easy to install, super easy to set up and FANTASIC customer service - I wanted an electronic version of the user manual and they were great about sending it to me ASAP. It has battery backup for long power outages, a cutoff if a hen is in the doorway when the timer kicks in to close it, it can be set up via 24 hour clock OR the level of light, fobs that I can use to close the door from inside the house if necessary and it has solar power capabilities if I want to take it to that route some day. We've been SUPER happy with it!

If I have ANY issues - and these are NOT with the door - when we do have a brief power outage *I* forget to go out and reset the time on the door, so like if the power goes out at 4pm and comes back on at 6pm the clock needs to be adjusted to the current time. I've put a reminder on the fridge to also reset the coop door since I have to reset the fridge controls when the outage happens. But Like I said, that's on me not the door.

 

[mossyoakpro]

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 ?

I have mine on a timer instead of the light sensor....it's set for what my weather app says is "sundown" my birds are usually already on the roost long before that. I'm planning to put one on my run door so that they can go out by themselves with the coming of football season and my travels that associate with that. I'm not much for asking folks for favors so I just do things myself and make it easier on me.

 

[mossyoakpro]

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 ?

Also forgot to mention...I have the optional coop light attached to my door. The light comes on 5 minutes or so before the door closes to let the flock know it's time to go in. Like I said...mine have all been already up on the roost when the light comes on so it's kind of a waste except it's great to use if you need to check on them after dark for any reason.

 

[Im Old Rooster]

Ive gone back and forth about getting an automatic door for our coop. I think I may have even made a post about it a while back. We have a coop attached to a run and do not free range. The run is secure but technically something could dig under. We aren't too concerned because we are in a neighborhood, have NEVER seen a raccoon, coyote, fox or possum, never had our trash messed with, and when my husband uses his stinky fish carcass fertilizer for the garden its never tampered with. We also have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence around our entire yard and are enclosed by fences on three sides from other neighbors. we also have a large yard full of dog smells from our 4 hounds. The entire perimeter of our home has cameras and none have EVER caught an animal other than a deer and stray cat. I know there is still a risk, but for now we aren't concerned.

That being said, I have no desire to test our predator theory once the sun goes down. I go out every evening to shut the coop door (which is an extremely secure coop) and open it when the sun comes up. It's not the biggest deal in the world to do it but I wonder if Id be happier with an auto door. I know there are a bunch out there and im mostly looking at the run chicken one, but I guess my question is how many people are thrilled with their auto doors and how many regret it or hate it. I have wifi cameras inside the run so I could check to see the door is shut at night and open in the morning, but has anyone here had an incident where the auto door didn't open or close? Anyone have an incident that had them go back to a manual door?

I did the same back n fourth on getting an automatic coop door! Oh my my why did I wait so long? I love mine! Mine was a little pricey but has worked great and was very easy to install. I bought a ChickCozy door and have had it at least 4 months not one problem. Has a dusk to dark or you can do it by times. Because I have a cover over outside pens I did it by times. Best decision I’ve made!

 

[Im Old Rooster]

I did the same back n fourth on getting an automatic coop door! Oh my my why did I wait so long? I love mine! Mine was a little pricey but has worked great and was very easy to install. I bought a ChickCozy door and have had it at least 4 months not one problem. Has a dusk to dark or you can do it by times. Because I have a cover over outside pens I did it by times. Best decision I’ve made!

 

[rj100n2]

Ive gone back and forth about getting an automatic door for our coop. I think I may have even made a post about it a while back. We have a coop attached to a run and do not free range. The run is secure but technically something could dig under. We aren't too concerned because we are in a neighborhood, have NEVER seen a raccoon, coyote, fox or possum, never had our trash messed with, and when my husband uses his stinky fish carcass fertilizer for the garden its never tampered with. We also have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence around our entire yard and are enclosed by fences on three sides from other neighbors. we also have a large yard full of dog smells from our 4 hounds. The entire perimeter of our home has cameras and none have EVER caught an animal other than a deer and stray cat. I know there is still a risk, but for now we aren't concerned.

That being said, I have no desire to test our predator theory once the sun goes down. I go out every evening to shut the coop door (which is an extremely secure coop) and open it when the sun comes up. It's not the biggest deal in the world to do it but I wonder if Id be happier with an auto door. I know there are a bunch out there and im mostly looking at the run chicken one, but I guess my question is how many people are thrilled with their auto doors and how many regret it or hate it. I have wifi cameras inside the run so I could check to see the door is shut at night and open in the morning, but has anyone here had an incident where the auto door didn't open or close? Anyone have an incident that had them go back to a manual door?

Built my own. 12v actuator and timer with relay. Works great.

 

[LouiseG]

Ive gone back and forth about getting an automatic door for our coop. I think I may have even made a post about it a while back. We have a coop attached to a run and do not free range. The run is secure but technically something could dig under. We aren't too concerned because we are in a neighborhood, have NEVER seen a raccoon, coyote, fox or possum, never had our trash messed with, and when my husband uses his stinky fish carcass fertilizer for the garden its never tampered with. We also have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence around our entire yard and are enclosed by fences on three sides from other neighbors. we also have a large yard full of dog smells from our 4 hounds. The entire perimeter of our home has cameras and none have EVER caught an animal other than a deer and stray cat. I know there is still a risk, but for now we aren't concerned.

That being said, I have no desire to test our predator theory once the sun goes down. I go out every evening to shut the coop door (which is an extremely secure coop) and open it when the sun comes up. It's not the biggest deal in the world to do it but I wonder if Id be happier with an auto door. I know there are a bunch out there and im mostly looking at the run chicken one, but I guess my question is how many people are thrilled with their auto doors and how many regret it or hate it. I have wifi cameras inside the run so I could check to see the door is shut at night and open in the morning, but has anyone here had an incident where the auto door didn't open or close? Anyone have an incident that had them go back to a manual door?

My neighbors put in an automatic door and the door closed late and opened early, and they lost their chickens to raccoons. I go out every evening and check on the ladies as they are going to bed and I close them up. I then go out in the morning and let them out, so I can count them and make sure they are all well. I also like to watch how they walk and move each time so I can catch any limping or lethargy early on before it becomes a health crisis.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

My neighbors put in an automatic door and the door closed late and opened early, and they lost their chickens to raccoons. I go out every evening and check on the ladies as they are going to bed and I close them up. I then go out in the morning and let them out, so I can count them and make sure they are all well. I also like to watch how they walk and move each time so I can catch any limping or lethargy early on before it becomes a health crisis.

We have Wi-Fi cameras in the run so I’ll be able to check the door is shut every night. I’d end up going out to look if we didn’t have those.