Ideas for opening the chicken hatch from outside the run

[vehve]

Here's a picture of the problem:



We have a hatch for the chickens inside the run. It has hinges on the right hand side (Had to make it open to the side because with the insulation it's over 3" thick, having the hinges on the top or bottom or a sliding door were out of the question). I would like to be able to open the hatch from the outside, while my better half sees no problem in stepping through vast amounts of fecal matter to open the door.

So far I've come up with many ideas based on a rod connected to the door, or a rail on the wall which would push a hinged stick that opens and closes the hatch, which you could move with some sort of lever mechanism or a belt and wheel system. However, I have been told that this kind of mechanism is "Ugly" and "Complicated", something that my engineer side cannot fathom.

So if anyone has any pictures of how they've solved a similar situation, this would be highly appreciated. Over engineered systems and simple solutions alike are welcome!

Oh, and I prefer a mechanical system, i'm not too keen on electric solutions.

 

[4 the Birds]

A hinged long rod would work to open and close your side hinged door. A sliding door from above or side to side could also have an attached rod to open it from ouside the run. If your run is predator proof then I don't see why you would not just leave the pop door open full time to give some ventilation to the coop and allow the birds outside access as they wish. My pop doors are always open regardless of the temperatures or weather. Yours is protected from the run roof and you can further add boards around the opening if you wanted to cut down drafts (see picture below that shows pop door tunnel). I hope that you have a fencing skirt around the bottom of your run to keep predators from going under. Hope this helps!

 

[vehve]

4 the birds, a hinged long rod would in my opinion be a elegant way to do it, but even though my better halves and my tastes are frighteningly similar, at this point they seem to differ. Every time i suggest something i'm met with a pouting face =(

The tunnel entry is a good idea to take into consideration come winter, for now we can manage without.

Yeah, we'll probably try to keep the hatch open as much as possible, but i'm a bit of a fatalist, so I can imagine there might be situations when you'll want to be able to easily close the hatch.

I don't have a skirt around the bottom, instead I have hardware cloth across the whole bottom of the run. I'm hoping nothing will chew through it.

 

[4 the Birds]

4 the birds, a hinged long rod would in my opinion be a elegant way to do it, but even though my better halves and my tastes are frighteningly similar, at this point they seem to differ. Every time i suggest something i'm met with a pouting face =(

The tunnel entry is a good idea to take into consideration come winter, for now we can manage without.

Yeah, we'll probably try to keep the hatch open as much as possible, but i'm a bit of a fatalist, so I can imagine there might be situations when you'll want to be able to easily close the hatch.

I don't have a skirt around the bottom, instead I have hardware cloth across the whole bottom of the run. I'm hoping nothing will chew through it.

V..... Looks like a well built coop! I closed my coop pop doors only once this year when we had very strong winds during the night and it was 15 below zero. I walk through my run each day and it stays relatively poop free and that is with 30+ chickens. Most all the poop will be below your roost bars and a poop board will make clean up much easier. Good Luck!

 

[vehve]

4, I'm jeallous of all the space you can provide for your flock. Looks idyllic =)

 

[Ridgerunner]

As a retired Civil Engineer, I see an elegant solution to the problem. Remember, an engineering design is finished, not when there is nothing else to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Change your shoes before you step in there if poop really is a problem.

There are many possible solutions, some as simple as a rod or some really complicated ones involving pulleys and cable. The more moving parts you have the more opportunities you have for failure.

On any mechanical device you choose, consider how freezing water may affect its operation.

 

[iwiw60]

Here's what I'm doing with my pop hole for my chickens:


http://www.chickendoors.com

You can mount it to swing outside or to the inside...it's the one for me!

 

[vehve]

Ridgerunner, as an engineering student myself (Software stuff mostly though), I'm more of the "If there's a way to engineer it, there's a way to over-engineer it" school, or "Complicated is beautiful". I'm sort of thinking of having some kind of Rube Goldberg machine to open the thing... But we'll see... Also your solution presents another problem; storing the poopy shoes.

iwiw60, I'm not too keen on an electronic solution, they do have their strengths, but I prefer something mechanical. Also, it needs to function in quite a temperature range. "Neither snow nor rain nor heat..." and all that =)

 

[iwiw60]