Question for the "techie" people out there - automation, wifi etc.

[Parront]

Thanks for the repo, I will post mine when I do this. I am building my first coop, and I have several big plans for it that will probably really only happen over a long time - going for a camera and coop door first. Anyway, here are some of my ideas I am just pasting from my reply on another post. Would love to see if anyone has any other interesting ideas to add. As for what I am using, a raspberry pi running mqtt to talk to my home assistant server, and this nice little piece of software (very configurable for lots of motion based automations) for the camera feed

My comments from this post:
Great to see this! I am a soon to be chicken owner, but long time hobbyist electronics tinkerer, so I was looking forward to building a smart coop. You have given me a leg up with the door solution (Although I am doing a ramp). I also plan on using a raspberry Pi to control it, but I am going to integrate it with my existing smart home system (I use Home Assistant). I have several other things I am thinking of adding, over time as I am able to build them. Here are some thoughts on each one, and yes, some are over ambitious, but I will start simple and then overengineer them when I have the time to play

1. Coop Cam! Using a raspberry pi camera module to have a livestream! Also, potentially to see if eggs are out when getting up in the morning.
2. Automatic door/ramp: I was considering having them be on schedule, and on demand (via the web interface for home assistant). For the automatic schedule open/close, I am thinking of adding a motion detector to see if any of them are locked out! Some logic like this: at 9pm, if no motion sensed in the run for the past few minutes, close door. Also, a trigger for "if door closed, but there's motion in the run, open it." another thing here is that I might not need a PIR sensor, I have used this software for DIY security camera before, and it senses motion via the stream itself.
3. Water: Level sensor in the bucket to send a notification if low. Maybe also solenoid valve to refill if low, but that's really just overnegineering for the fun of it. I plan on collecting rainwater and I live in Louisiana, so unlikely to get empty anyway!
4. Ventilation/Cooling: So a temperature sensor in the coop, and then use it to trigger some ventilation fans, maybe attached to the wall of the coop at its highest point, blowing hot air out of the coop. I am thinking of just recycling some PC cooling fans, although I feel like they will die with the humidity eventually. Maybe also turn on little water misters on the run? Seems like they might enjoy that in the heat.
5. Heat: Same as above if cold, turn on relay switch for warming lamp if too cold. Although I don't think this will ever be an issue here in Louisiana

Maybe you could use facial reconition for your "if door closed, but there's motion in the run, open it." If this face, then do not open.

 

[CajunChooks]

Maybe you could use facial reconition for your "if door closed, but there's motion in the run, open it." If this face, then do not open.

Not gonna lie, I am actually considering a putting a little raspberry pi camera in the nesting box and use computer vision (OpenCV) to recognize oval shapes and send me a mobile notification: "egg laid!"

 

[Parront]

Not gonna lie, I am actually considering a putting a little raspberry pi camera in the nesting box and use computer vision (OpenCV) to recognize oval shapes and send me a mobile notification: "egg laid!"

Program it to ID the hen that laid the egg, so you know who's layin' & who's lyin'!

 

[nickyblase]

haha, that's awesome!

 

[CajunChooks]

Program it to ID the hen that laid the egg, so you know who's layin' & who's lyin'!

Hahaha ... Well, they are different breeds, or better, RFID leg bands! Ok, that's it, I need to draw a line somewhere and stop myself haha
Next thing you know I am implanting chips for AI learning in their brains, poor guys

 

[jthornton]

@jthornton do you have any good ideas about what kind of DC motor to use for the door, since I hear you are a specialist

I am thinking maybe a stepper motor driving a screw, but not really sure. I have played with basic electronics, but not with DC motors really

I used a 12vdc 5 RPM motor for my door. It is much simpler to use a DC motor with two relays to reverse direction than a stepper motor. In this circuit you can see that if no relay is pulled in both leads are connected to 0vdc so no movement. Pull in either relay and the motor rotates. This is a simple electro-mechanical circuit in my case the limit switches are connected to the Rpi inputs and the Rpi outputs control the relays.



This is my first door I built.

JT

 

[CajunChooks]

I used a 12vdc 5 RPM motor for my door.

Great work! The construction and set up is really nice , very professional. My one issue is that I have very little space above the door itself, so I have to kind of put it to the side and use some sort of pulley system I suppose.

PS.: Those limit switches are reed switches / door sensors right?

What did you end up using for locking? I was thinking something like a pull solenoid, when off and door closed, it is sitting inside a small pipe U strap clamp (not sure if the right terminology here). Then just energize when door is opening or closing.

Thanks for sharing the circuit diagram and video!

 

[jthornton]

Yes, the limit switches are just magnetic door switches.

I ended up removing the lock as it was troublesome and rely on the fact that the door goes past the bottom and to the outside only a smooth metal surface is presented.

This is a photo of the door in my second coop, I made it from all wood parts.


The motor only takes up a couple of inches above the open door... so make sure you have room for the door to open.

JT

 

[CajunChooks]

rely on the fact that the door goes past the bottom and to the outside only a smooth metal surface is presented.

Yea, I have a little lip and the door goes below it so a raccoon couldn't raise it, but it is made of plywood, do you think that's a problem?

 

[jthornton]

Yea, I have a little lip and the door goes below it so a raccoon couldn't raise it, but it is made of plywood, do you think that's a problem?

My first door was hardboard but with humidity changes it would swell a bit and sometimes stick going down. Most home improvement stores have 12" x 12" aluminum diamond plate which is what I used. I just made the frame fit the plate...

JT