What did you use on your pop door?

[DreamsInPink]

Be aware that hinge 'lock' will deter most predators but it's not much of a challenge to a savvy raccoon if they get some time to tinker...

Really??? You think a raccoon could figure out how to hold the hinge flat and be able to lift the door up and crawl inside at the same time??? Holy cow! What do you suggest for a convenient lock/latch for the pop door?

[COLOR=FF0000]My hinge when it comes to rest lays flat unlike in video where it lays at 90º. It is also always falls on the back side of the door a nut on the line or sinker will insure gravity always works in your favour. Away from tiny tinkering hands.

Mine is not exactly installed the same as on the video a bit more simpler and the hinge is weighted and only falls one way and lays flat when in the lock position.

One excellent point that was brought up we all should note If a human can pull the cord and open the door so can a raccoon.

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Could you get us some pictures?? I'm not understanding how it would be in the locked position if the hinge is laying flat? And my cord will be on the inside of the coop. In the storage area... so a raccoon pulling it to open the pop door won't be an issue.

 

[MeepBeep]

Be aware that hinge 'lock' will deter most predators but it's not much of a challenge to a savvy raccoon if they get some time to tinker...

Really??? You think a raccoon could figure out how to hold the hinge flat and be able to lift the door up and crawl inside at the same time??? Holy cow! What do you suggest for a convenient lock/latch for the pop door?

Yes, I do believe a raccoon could figure it out, did you take the time to read the study I posted about how clever they can be?

Also raccoons will sometimes work as a team or group, so your assumption that one single coon must figure out how to defeat the door and enter is ill conceived...

The hinge lock as pictured could easily be manipulated from the outside and the hinge also gives a 'grasping' point for the raccoon to lift, once he/she lifts the door about 1/4" the locking mechanism is defeated, and all that is left at that point is to lift the door some more, easily accomplished by a 2nd coon or even by simply sticking another body part below the door as soon as it's lifted (back paw/leg) as to not allow the door to fall back and re-latch... Once the door is lifted and the latch unable to reset they could easily lift and enter the rest of the way... Also the rope is fully exposed in the video, that is simple for a raccoon to figure out...

And yes, I do recommend keyed or small combination locks for raccoon proofing, that or some type of dead lock that can not be accessed from the outside...

 

[User395221]

Yes, I do believe a raccoon could figure it out, did you take the time to read the study I posted about how clever they can be?

I knew nothing about raccoons, as we don't have them here. On another thread, somebody told me about them and linked to some videos. In the videos, there were figuring things out, but they also showed a lot of manual dexterity. I was surprised at what I saw them to be capable of.

Quote: Could that arrangement be made more secure by attaching a length of timber across the outside, so that the hinge could only fall to the inside and the mechanism not be accessible from the outside? If the raccoons can't see how it's put together, they might not be able to suss out how to make it work??

(all I can say is that I'm lucky I don't have to raccoon-proof my chicken house)

 

[Hokum Coco]

Really??? You think a raccoon could figure out how to hold the hinge flat and be able to lift the door up and crawl inside at the same time??? Holy cow! What do you suggest for a convenient lock/latch for the pop door?
Could you get us some pictures??

I'm not understanding how it would be in the locked position if the hinge is laying flat?

And my cord will be on the inside of the coop. In the storage area... so a raccoon pulling it to open the pop door won't be an issue.

As I am sure you noticed the hinge in the video locks the door no matter which side the hing falls. If you only use only one locking option as in my door you must weight the hinge to insure it falls only in that one direction.

 

[DreamsInPink]

What do you suggest for a convenient lock/latch for the pop door? What about a gate latch, I don't know what they are called exactly. But I could put it inside the coop with a cable alongside the cable for the pop door... nothing would get past that. Though if I ever did do an automated door, that wouldn't work. Idk.

 

[Hokum Coco]

What do you suggest for a convenient lock/latch for the pop door? What about a gate latch, I don't know what they are called exactly. But I could put it inside the coop with a cable alongside the cable for the pop door... nothing would get past that. Though if I ever did do an automated door, that wouldn't work.

Idk.

Sounds like that would work.

 

[aart]

I used 1/4 rope thru heavy eye screws, and a 1/4 steel rod for a lock....pics on My Coop page.
Other pop door uses same rope and eyes, but has a fancy cam device as a lock...that is on coop page too.

 

[DreamsInPink]

I think I've found how I'm eventually going to lock it... I have no idea how to explain it though. It's a video I found on here.

Like that!! ^^^^^ (not my pictures, but I want to do mine like that) If I can figure it out.

 

[DreamsInPink]

Here's the video for it!

 

[DreamsInPink]

Found another person who did the same thing basically.... @aart I'm trying to get a parts list... mainly for the large round part in the middle.. around the main bolt. Also, how do you keep yours from pulling straight up and through when you open it?