Unorthodox placement of add-a-motor chicken door! =)

[featherz]

Was going to try a pullet shut door on one of our coops, as it was the first one we built when we had NO clue what we were doing.

Was built out of an old kids playhouse, and it had nowhere near enough room to do a guillotine style door, which is what the add-a-motor would require to put in an auto door. DH said, 'Nah, I can make it work' - and he did! Check it out - the timer is under an eave (not seen) and I am going to place another strip of wood on the left side to prevent a reach-in.

Keep in mind the run is pretty darn secure (hardware cloth covered on all sides including the top), but I've been having to free range them lately due to the heat. So I wanted to have a way to secure them when I am not able to close the run door (which I will be doing 99.% of the time).

Suggestions much appreciated! We will probably have to replace the osb door if it swells, but it's what we had on hand at the time - and it is also under an eave.

It's not pretty, but it works! The door swings around the eyebolt in the upper left. The string from the add-a-motor is on the right. I didn't think it would work, I admit it.

 

[dianaross77]

Here's to "making it work!" My husband is that way too.

 

[fireguy56]

Hi, I would think it should work since the add-a-motor is designed to pull up the weight of the door for opening and then reverse and let the weight of the door assist for the closing in down position. From what I see...you still have that happening, just not perferctly vertical. Good luck with it. I love mine. Works like a charm. Check out my page for pics of how I did mine. Erik

 

[featherz]

It worked perfectly last night and this morning, right on time. I'm adding another strip of wood to the front of those two on the left side, which will help prevent a reacharound. It's not 100% predator proof, but it's an improvement. Just wanted to show folks that it doesn't HAVE to be a guillotine up/down for those who don't have enough space. I was a skeptic, but so far so good! Will probably replace that piece of osb at some point and there's always the issue of shavings blocking the door so I'll see how that goes.