The Great Chicken Door Debate - show us your chicken doors!

[Nana2KJS]

Yes the pet doors are still in use. All the ladies wander in and out at their leisure. When we first put them in the pen and house we clipped the middle section of plastic up so they could see in and out. Once they started using the door regularly we dropped the center and they have been fine with it. Haven't made any changes to any of it .... well... have added a couple girls here and there, but the setup has remained the same all this time.

 

[jpaulsonsr]

I had a ramp that hinged up to make a door. Decided to replace it with an automatic door so we could go on vacation. The door is 16"x32", so even using thin plywood, the door was heavier than the ChickenGuard allowed.

I mounted the door and controller as per instructions, and then added a counter-weight system that effectively reduces the weight of the door to 1 lb. Since the control box takes up the middle, I made a gambrel from an old scrap of PVC pipe. A line goes from there to two light-duty pulleys attached to the roof. A scrap of deck lumber serves as the counter-weight.

It works perfectly, although I might add a few more ounces of ballast to extend the life of the batteries.

 

[mickeymushroom]

Mine is a very simple design. I have a rope that goes all the way from my back porch to a hole at the apex of the coop above the door. To the inside of the coop down the wall and attaches to the door. One step out the door and i close it or open it.

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

Here's a pic of my chicken tractor door
I was inspired by old church door'sView attachment 105094

 

[RonC]

Mine just has a simple side hinged door. Don't think I've ever closed it. It has blown shut a couple of times trapping the chickens either inside or out. Coop is in a secure run.

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

Here is my DIY automatic coop door. I already had been using this door manually for about five years. I would open and close it manually using a rope and pulleys. This allowed us to work the door without having to step inside the coop. I just modified it to open using a 12VDC surplus gear motor, roller type micro switches, a 120VAC DPDT relay and a plug in outdoor timer. I also have red and green LEDs mounted on the front of the coop that we can see from the house that confirm the door is at open or closed positions. I added a fault switch and strobe light to warn us if the door has malfunctioned. This switch is mounted to remain in contact with the door and kills the power to the motor if the door over travels the switch. I added an additional blade of the same 1/2" plastic the door is made from in the bottom of the door track. The strip is beveled and remains clear of bedding providing a reliable door stop. My biggest issue prior was the door would not make the closed switch from the bedding and the motor would continue to run and the cord would begin to wind back up on the motor spool and the door would begin to raise until the door would come off the fault switch. I will attempt to post photos a a wiring schematic. So far the door has been functioning flawlessly for about two weeks.

Here is my DIY automatic coop door. I already had been using this door manually for about five years. I would open and close it manually using a rope and pulleys. This allowed us to work the door without having to step inside the coop. I just modified it to open using a 12VDC surplus gear motor, roller type micro switches, a 120VAC DPDT relay and a plug in outdoor timer. I also have red and green LEDs mounted on the front of the coop that we can see from the house that confirm the door is at open or closed positions. I added a fault switch and strobe light to warn us if the door has malfunctioned. This switch is mounted to remain in contact with the door and kills the power to the motor if the door over travels the switch. I added an additional blade of the same 1/2" plastic the door is made from in the bottom of the door track. The strip is beveled and remains clear of bedding providing a reliable door stop. My biggest issue prior was the door would not make the closed switch from the bedding and the motor would continue to run and the cord would begin to wind back up on the motor spool and the door would begin to raise until the door would come off the fault switch. I will attempt to post photos a a wiring schematic. So far the door has been functioning flawlessly for about two weeks.

Love it might try it myself

 

[Barnyard_chickens]

I have a toilet seat door works great!

 

[hlhutchinson]

This is ours, originaly wanted a door that would slide but in the construction for got to make room for it. So we put in a pop door with a pulley that goes to the outside to open and close without getting into the run. No lock, we have a carabiner as a lock on the door that goes into the run that we can walk into

That's how we keep it from closing on them and keep it accessible for us to open and close

 

[Hokum Coco]

The Great Chicken Door Debate has begun the best chicken door ideas showing us.

I like a the features on this one. Check out the link:

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

I like a the features on this one. Check out the link:

I love that simple yet works well awesome