I have been using an automatic chicken door opener for about two months now. I love it! The door closes so slowly that even the slow-polkiest hen can make it in time. I've watched my standard 12-week old pullets make it through the door when it was nearly closed. The first few nights I went out after I knew the door was closed to make sure everyone was indoors, and indeed there were a few stragglers. BUT, they learned after only two days to get the heck inside when the door starts closing. Now they put themselves to bed well before the door begins to close. I had a choice to use the photocell or a timer. I chose the timer.
I would recommend the automatic door to everyone who can't always be there to let the girls in/out. Unforutnately the only place I could find them for sale (December 2006) was in the UK which makes it very expensive. Service for them (shipping) is also expensive and takes a very long time for those of us living in the US.
I must also add, as a heads up, that I found the directions for this door to be very poor and the thing didn't work like the directions said. I ended up having to return the one I purchased because it didn't work. This was a rather large hassle for someone in the US since the thing was purchased in the UK. After waiting a long time for a replacement to arrive, it didn't work right away either, plus the company sent me a used one instead of a new one and then they argued with me about it. Their last comment was "well, the warranty is the same". This would not have happened in the US. I was very unhappy about that and with the level of service I received. However, since it finally began to work and has worked ever since, I'm satisfied with it. I just wish there was a company in the US that sold the auto door opener.
