Security of Coop doors

[rbruno]

Hello All,
As I start to complete my plans for my coop, I am to the point of research and considering designs for the doors for the chickens to go in and out of the coop. I like many of the ideas that have been posted that show a simple slide door that is lifted up a down to let the chickens out. My plan is to have one door exit to the run and another door exit out to my pasture for free ranging. My coop structure will be built with basically two sections. One for the birds and the other for storage. I would like to run string/chain from the doors through the rafters and into the storage room so I can just walk in and raise the door for which direction I would like the chickens to go. The door that leads to the run area will be secure because it will be in the coop which will be build to keep predators out. The one that leads to the pasture will not be enclosed. Has anyone had problems with predators prying up the slide doors to get into the coops? How do would you secure the door with being able to raise it from inside the building, but not in the section where the chickens will be? I read a thread on here that used an electric drill to raise and lower the door and it had a latch. I don't know that I want it to be electric, but am wondering about the security of slide door from predators.
Thanks,
Rob

 

[redsix]

My slide door is made from a piece of 5/8" T1-11 wood siding and measures about 14 in. wide by 24 in. tall. The actual doorway opening is 12 by 15. The door is pretty heavy and sits in a groove at the bottom so that the bottom edge of the door is not visible or accessible . I don't have anything securing it, but maybe I should? I have a pulley mounted above the door opening with a steel cable attached to it so I can open the door to the run without having to go in.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Racoons are the likely candidate to open doors. Simple latches wont work with them and some use locking latches or sliding bolt latch. The cost of completely predator proofing runs is rarely met. I don't even try and rely on perfect coop security as most predators are at night. I'd secure the door from coop to run also. I use hardwire cloth on the coop vents (for weasels) but only use 2x4 welded wire around the run (dogs, fox, etc.) and simple cover for hawks.

 

[rides2far]

My pop door has a 2 sided latch that attaches to a ring drilled into the door. The rope goes up & outside the coop. Easy to operate. I am thinking of purchasing an auto door. Pullets r now going to bed on their own at about 8:15