Looking for an automatic door opener for my coop.

[JoshR]

I use to keep the coop door open so the chickens could just go in on out as they pleased. And so I wouldn't have to get up at 6am to let them out. But that's not an option now since I've been having problems with predators getting inside the coop. So I decided that it was time I got an automatic door opener for my coop. What are some good automatic door openers? It can be either pre-made ones or DIY ones. Doesn't matter to me. I just would prefer to not spend a lot of money.

 

[aafairchild]

Hey JoshR,

www.chickendoors.com. They are not the cheapest, but they are the best IMHO. I know the guys that make them(full disclosure here). They are based very close to me and I was their FedEx driver for a while last year. Got the full tour and was very impressed with them and the product. These doors are well made. The only reason why I don't have one is because my mom is retired and can let the birds out early. The also have a photcell option. A door is still on my wish list, but paying for both a new a/c and new roof has my budget squeezed pretty tight.

Alice

 

[tcstoehr]

You should look at these guys at Ador: http://adorstore.com/products/ador1-automatic-chicken-door

I saw the PulletShut in service but ended up getting an Ador after looking at it's form and function.

It has several nice features:
1) Integrated battery compartment.
2) Integrated light sensor.
3) Guillotine-style door

With the Ador, you just put it on there and you're done. No cable running to an external battery. No cable running to an external light sensor. Put a battery in it and it's ready to go.

Item 3 may or may not be an advantage to you and if fact may prevent you from installing it depending on your situation. But for most it seems better than sticking out 90 degrees from the wall.
The Ador also has no timer functionality, meaning you can't tell it to open or close at some prescribed time. You can do that with the PulletShut. The Ador just goes with the daylight sensor although it also has a "last call" feature for stragglers and some adjustment for the sensitivity of the light sensor.

Here's mine installed:


And here's a view into the battery compartment with the lid off. Those are 4 D-cell batteries and will last years.

 

[Teppler]

If your real DIY type of guy then you can build one with components off of e-bay and the internet. I built mine using the Arduino

processor, 12VDC gearmotor off internet and a relay board to control motor forward and reverse. some misc fuse holders, 4

limit switches and wiring.

Total cost was around $125 including plywood for control box and door. I used an inexpensive photocell and relay board

bought off the internet to open door at dawn and close at dusk, it is adjustable and was under $10...two limit switches to

control stopping door when opening and closing. Added two more limit switches to turn on small lights

I can see from my computer room to confirm door actually opened and closed. It all runs off an old car battery I had laying

around and I keep a small charger on it.

So far it has worked flawlessly but did spend many hrs getting everything to work like I wanted it to but then I am retired and it

was a challenge for me. I am not interested in building and selling them but would be glad to supply some photos if

your interested.

 

[JoshR]

Thanks for the suggestions. The two doors listed look pretty good. I like the Guillotine style of the ADOR1. I do have a few concerns on both doors though. The first one is. How do the handle cold winters? Last winter we reached temps around -10f some nights. My second concern is bad storms. The ADOR1 does off of light, so if I have a really bad storm that makes it pretty dark outside will it close the door locking my chickens out? And as for the Pullet-Shut. Will the door be able to handle strong winds?

 

[tcstoehr]

Thanks for the suggestions. The two doors listed look pretty good. I like the Guillotine style of the ADOR1. I do have a few concerns on both doors though. The first one is. How do the handle cold winters? Last winter we reached temps around -10f some nights. My second concern is bad storms. The ADOR1 does off of light, so if I have a really bad storm that makes it pretty dark outside will it close the door locking my chickens out? And as for the Pullet-Shut. Will the door be able to handle strong winds?

The Ador1 senses infra-red light, not visible light. I would think though that heavy cloud cover would diminish both. I have read that the holding your hand over its light sensor is not enough to fool it, I doubt a dark day would. But I cannot say for sure. In the Pacific Northwest I have seen some real thick clouds in the middle of the day and nothing has fooled it yet.
Cold by itself should not be a problem. I know the Ador1 has been tested down to -30. You should make sure your battery is rated similarly. I don't know about the PulletShut but I strongly suspect it has similar cold-hardiness. But I would look into that.
No automatic door mounted externally will be immune to ice build-up. Either door should be interior-mounted (as I did) if ice is a concern. If snow piles up and covers the door, either interior-mounted door will open allowing your chickens to stare at a wall of snow. In this case, the PulletShut must be mounted inside with the door swinging open towards the coop interior. Keep in mind this orientation would be vulnerable to a determined predator pushing the door open. When the door is mounted so that it swings outwards, the door edges are covered making it difficult for a raccoon to gain purchase on an edge to pull it open.
You can build a simple roof attached to the coop extending over the doorway if you want to be maximally protected from weather. Not a bad idea, in fact that's a really good idea.
Having examined but not owned a PulletShut I seriously doubt wind is a problem.

 

[JoshR]

Thanks for the info. I think I will get the Ador1.

 

[PinkyLee]

I am in the process of building my guniea coop and I am putting in the door from the shed part to the caged area.... my question is probably a stupid one... How will I know the time to close the door? how will I know if everyone is inside? right now I'll have the door used to only go in the fenced area but later they will be able to roam. My idea was to make the shed door automatic to close after dark and let the gunieas go up the tree and out the top of the fenced area, making it so no coyotes or foxes can follow them back.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Pinky

 

[Toddrick]

I've had my Ador1 for a month or so, and it's been cloudy and rainy most days recently. The door has never shut before sunset. I never had to adjust it from defaults. Hope this helps.

 

[tcstoehr]

I am in the process of building my guniea coop and I am putting in the door from the shed part to the caged area.... my question is probably a stupid one... How will I know the time to close the door? how will I know if everyone is inside? right now I'll have the door used to only go in the fenced area but later they will be able to roam. My idea was to make the shed door automatic to close after dark and let the gunieas go up the tree and out the top of the fenced area, making it so no coyotes or foxes can follow them back.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Pinky

You can't know for sure. You can only watch them and see what time they go in. In my case my hens are quite dutiful and proceed into the coop before real darkness falls, every single night without fail. If yours don't, I don't know how an auto-door would be able to figure that out. And if they don't come in, I would still want the door to close so at least the ones inside get protection. I guess you would have to set the time to be as late as possible but not so late that night predators show up.
Both of the doors discussed above have a "last call" feature. This feature opens the door a few minutes after if first closes and remains open for a few minutes giving any dilly-dallyers a second chance to come in before the door closes for the night.