Question on Coop door

[pkforever]

So my Boyfriend and I are going to be finishing up my chicken coop tomorrow and one of the last touches besides the run is the door. I'm not entirely sure how to do it. Right now it's just a hole in the wall but due to the fact that we have pesky raccoons in the area(Took one of my first chickens in 08) I will need to lock them up tight at night. So suggestions on how to install the door would be great! and what kind of lock to use too.

As you can see right now the dog has claimed it as her house.

 

[pkforever]

Anyone?

 

[Dogfish]

My door locking system.

It won't open unless the string is pulled, so a raccoon reacing in won't be able to open it.. Mine is motorized, but yours doesn't have to be. Below is a link to the video of it working.

http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/mesoas/Chickens/?action=view&current=0401000714.flv

Here is a shot of the tracks for the door. Just some galvanized "U" channel that you would find in the flashing section of your harware store.

For the lock to work, it can only be mounted inside.

 

[pkforever]

That looks a bit more complicated than I think we could handle... haha

 

[Dogfish]

You don't have to motorize it. It will work just fine with a string or rope pull.

The lock is just a flat bar attached to the door using 3 nylock nuts and a 3" 1/4"x20 screw. Place the pivot hole so the top section of flat bar is just shorter than the lower section.

The weight is set offcenter on the top of the bar. Attached with a woodscrew, and an eye screw that the string is attached to. Drill the hole in lead first, if you use lead for your counterbalance.

The bottom of the bar is an "L" bracket attached with two screws and nylock nuts.

The "L" bracket hooks onto a 3 inch 3/8" lag bolt. Place the lag bolt after you get the lock to swing.

If you can drill a hole, you can build this. It really is that simple.