There are many threads about coop pop doors and I've read them all and looked at pics. But they do not address my issue. The chickens have a secure run of 20x30 ft. And around that a 1/3 acre enclosure that they get let out in in the morning. I made an opening for them to get out of the run at the far side of the run as you enter it, and obviously it is not covered or inside a structure. The run has a hwc roof.
So if I wanted to make a guillotine style pop door that I could open from the people door (30 ft away) so that I don't have to go in the run to open the little door, what material would you use to make it from so that it wouldn't bind and be hard to open, or deteriorate so quickly that I would have to make a new one every few years.
Ideas that I have so far is:
for the door: metal (if I can find something in a suitable size because I'm not set up to cut metal) or 1/4" plexiglass
for the track: ??
Here's where I am stuck. I think if I use wood that'd cause the door to jam when it gets wet. I like the idea of drawer tracks but I think they would rust and bind.
security:
I can let the door go down below the 4x4 at the inside bottom of the run enclosure. So I don't think any raccoon could get their fingers underneath that. But I would also like to hear any other security measures that I could take that would not require me to get into the run to open or fasten them. I'd been thinking to have two ropes one at the top and one at the bottom, so that I can secure the door no matter which position it is in. But I am not sure that'd work.
So if I wanted to make a guillotine style pop door that I could open from the people door (30 ft away) so that I don't have to go in the run to open the little door, what material would you use to make it from so that it wouldn't bind and be hard to open, or deteriorate so quickly that I would have to make a new one every few years.
Ideas that I have so far is:
for the door: metal (if I can find something in a suitable size because I'm not set up to cut metal) or 1/4" plexiglass
for the track: ??
Here's where I am stuck. I think if I use wood that'd cause the door to jam when it gets wet. I like the idea of drawer tracks but I think they would rust and bind.
security:
I can let the door go down below the 4x4 at the inside bottom of the run enclosure. So I don't think any raccoon could get their fingers underneath that. But I would also like to hear any other security measures that I could take that would not require me to get into the run to open or fasten them. I'd been thinking to have two ropes one at the top and one at the bottom, so that I can secure the door no matter which position it is in. But I am not sure that'd work.