Plexiglass pop door REALLY raccoon proof?

[Mehjr10]

Correct on the weight, I tried running it on 6vdc just to slow it down. But it cut down on the torque also. So was trying to cut the wieght.

 

[KDK1]

Here is a video of my locking automatic door.

 

[Baymule]

Cool door! And in answer to your question, yes you are still wrong!

 

[KDK1]

Cool door! And in answer to your question, yes you are still wrong!

Thanks... It took me a minute, but I finally figured out what the rest of your comment was referring to. Ha! Where at in SE TX are you? I'm on the Island!

 

[Baymule]

75 miles north of Houston, can be on the Island in about 2-2 1/2 hours. Still well within reach of hurricanes.

Ike dropped a hundred year old oak tree on the house and tore it up. But I had my emergency kit, so all was well.

HURRICANE EMERGENCY KIT:
Double pan of brownies and cheap box of wine. Drank the wine, ate the brownies and I no longer cared that a humongous tree was laying on the house and rain was falling in my kitchen and dining room and garage.

Of course, that was mild compared to what Ike did to the Island, Boliver and surrounding area. A friend of ours had a beach house on Crystal Beach. Heavy on the HAD.

 

[KDK1]

75 miles north of Houston, can be on the Island in about 2-2 1/2 hours. Still well within reach of hurricanes.

Ike dropped a hundred year old oak tree on the house and tore it up. But I had my emergency kit, so all was well.

HURRICANE EMERGENCY KIT:
Double pan of brownies and cheap box of wine. Drank the wine, ate the brownies and I no longer cared that a humongous tree was laying on the house and rain was falling in my kitchen and dining room and garage.

Of course, that was mild compared to what Ike did to the Island, Boliver and surrounding area. A friend of ours had a beach house on Crystal Beach. Heavy on the HAD.

Yeah, It amazes me still when you here of all the damage Ike did to Galveston and what Katrina did to N.O.. Even though Ike
destroyed the entire downstairs of our house, it totally obliterated the houses on the peninsula. At least we had a house to come home to! Just like there was a lot more severe damage from Katrina than in N.O. I like your emergency kit.

 

[thomasboyle]

Here's a thought on raccoon proofing the door - can you mount hardware wire on the outside of the door, and hook it up to a fence charger! If you already electrify fencing around the coop like I do, it shouldn't be too difficult. I think I need to try it on my pop door. Add a throw switch so you can turn it on when the door is down, leaving it off when the door is up. Then mount a camera outside to watch the raccoon get zapped!

 

[All Ball]

Thanks, everyone, for the great ideas - Mehjr10 - thanks for the photos, that really helped get a sense of your system, and knowing you get 13" of travel from that wheel is helpful.

KDK1, I've seen your door design before while searching around - it's really great. It looks like you have a relatively light plastic door like mine - do you have any concerns with a predator being able to push it up?

I'm thinking the paint stick approach will be key!

thomasboyle, I don't have electric fencing - my setup is pretty low-tech - but a great suggestion for electrified folks - it seems a lot of chicken book writers recommend the electric fence approach for people trying the paddock approach like I am, but on a larger scale.

One of the great things about chicken folks is all their creativity!

 

[Mehjr10]

All Ball , on the travel basically you will bore the hole from the center of the wheel to half the number of the distance of your travel. 14" is 7" from the center. At least that is what I think I did.. :/

You could do it with a bar, but i like the wheel because if the battery gets low and it needs a little assistance i can reach up and turn the wheel by hand with the motor on.. This usually happens when i get too lazy to charge the battery before it gets too low. Solar charger would be a good solution if my coop weren't under the trees.

Good luck and if any questions just ask.

 

[pfields]

Still new here so bear with me, please. I've researched till blue on pop doors. I want to order one and I'm down to the pullet-shut, Ador1 and the Fleming Outdoors pop door. I want to have both electricity and a battery back up. Recommendations welcome!