Problem w/Pullet-Shut Automatic Chicken Door *Update* Problem no more!

[newchick13]

I have been using this door since September. I did have an issue with the solar panel not charging enough when the days got shorter, and after a phone call to the company they quickly talked me through resolving the issue. I only needed to add an additional solar panel to charge the 12v battery which they sent to me free of charge. Now with 2 panels charging the battery, it really works well. So well that i am considering putting another one on the other end of the coop so i can add another run. The customer service was great I guess because I was dealing directly with the company who made the door. They seemed to really be concerned with making their customers happy. I would suggest to anyone having an issue that they should call the pullet door guys directly.

 

[VA Chicken44]

I purchased this door over a year ago. I have had nothing but problems, they may keep sending you parts, but they will not take the door back or give a refund. Each time I have rebuilt the door it has worked for a month or two and then it stops working. Today I was home from work and I went outside at 11:00 and the door was not open, it is on a light sensor, fortunately there is another door on the coop and I was able to get the chickens out before they died from the heat. I called and asked for a refund, I was furious. Once again I was told that they would send more parts, this time I was told I should rebuild the door and just sell it on eBay if I didn't like the way it worked. Can you even imagine how bad I would have felt if I had killed my 25 hens because I had trapped them in that coop to die using that door. Buy it at your own risk, but please consider if this door malfunctions it may be more serious than just an inconvenience.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Wow,that's too bad you had so many problems, mine has been working like a charm for over 3 months with no issue. First off though I charged the battery fully first, next, my solar spot gets at least four hours of light daily...I have stopped even looking at it, I know it's working great. I'm also going to order a second door for the broodies this week. I can't imagine a company that will bother to send you parts even...I'm sticking with this door...pulletshut.

 

[VA Chicken44]

Well I hope you don't come home to a coop full of dead chickens because they couldn't get out to get water when it was over 90 degrees. Even in the shade our coop heats during the day, just like the inside of a car does, that is why they tell you not to leave your pets in a car even in the shade. Our door worked great for about 3 months too, then it stopped working. I just can't risk having something like that happen to my chickens. There are a lot of other doors out there, this one isn't worth the risk in my opinion. The others may be a bit more expensive, but think would it would cost to replace 25 chickens.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

In the summer months I keep all the ventilation windows open, and it's under a large maple in the hotest part of the day, so the coop doesn't get that hot....i certainly wouldn't rely on something I was having problems with until the issue was resolved. I do wonder why your only two posts are to vehemently slam a company that has tried to resolve your issues...if you had taken it apart to try to fix it, I wouldn't take it back or return your money either...what is it that you're not telling us? I am going to buy another door, with the solar panel and light sensor...thanx anyway.

 

[BullChick]

I can understand anger. You are free to feel that way. I do have questions for the simple reason that I am still new to chickens, and don't know the answers.
Ready? You said the coop overheats, and you said they couldn't get outside to water. I know with meat birds, you don't feed them at night due to them growing so fast. I have never heard of keeping any animal from water at any point of any day. I also don't understand overheating. I have minimal ventilation (which I really need to fix) and no shade from trees/buildings. The coop never has a heat problem.
The question part is; am I misunderstanding about water, or do some people not keep water in the coop? Also, if your coop is getting that hot, can you add ventilation or a fan? I think I am missing something.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Right motorcyclechick, it's a really good idea to keep water and even food inside the coop, and not a good idea to depend on a small pop door as sole ventilation in any weather. It just doesn't add enough airflow, especially at night when it will be closed and the birds have no air!

 

[Skylarwahl]

We took it apart because the company told us to take it apart - 3 different times. Believe me I didn't want to spend all that time taking the door apart and putting it back together. Each time we tried to work with them, they didn't want to take the door back they just wanted to keep sending parts that we had to install, each time it worked for a few months and then stopped working. If you have questions please ask, but don't accuse of abusing the warranty or not trying to work with a company that is just trying to help out.

 

[gale65]

We don't keep water in the coop in the summer. We did last year and the waterer leaked all over the place. We keep one in the coop during the winter because it plugs in and it wouldn't keep it thawed outside when it's really cold. I won't use an auto door. Like the pp mentioned, it's not worth the risk. Maybe there a 1% chance it will fail but that 1% could kill some chickens.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

I'm no detective but I see the same person posting under two different "newbie" accounts, are highly negative to be suspicious. I also find the
herdsmanship of keeping chickens in an under ventilated coop to be unwise and irresponsible.

Makes me
wonder if there is a jealous competitor attempting to post negative remarks and scare possible pullet door customers.

I have had A++++ positive results with the people and products at pullet door, chickendoors.com.