Hi all! Been lurking off and on for over a year, when I first got into chickens and this site! Awesome info and people. Only now have I gotten the urge to post as I'm a bit proud of my automatic opener, and thought some would be interested. I'm no mechanical genuis, so this is a bit jerry rigged, but as of day two works well!
I had read somewhere an idea of using an auto power antenna, and I went for that. I thought it would work well as it is made to go in both directions (i definitely wanted a closer and opener) and it is torqued to go relatively slow, and I thought I might be able to physically attatch a line to the antenna. The antenna runs on 12 vdc/5 amp.
So in a nutshell, first I changed my pop door to a lighter version of what it was, as the light weight is essential. (door was already designed to slide up/down) Ran a rope line through door and through coop (installed nylon flange bushings so rope goes smooth thru coop).
Drilled a small hole in tip of antenna for wire loop which the rope attaches to. Had to get two ac/dc converters so that it would run on regular ac outlet, (antenna wiring comes with two leads, one always on and one that is switched which is controlled by radio knob. In my case, the switched one is controlled by the digital timer, and the hot is always plugged in.) I mounted in a way that I thought would be out of the way of birds but not bend the antenna with the weight of the door when opening. Also, it was just the easiest spot to mount it. But you could do this in alot of different ways. (vertical mount, etc) Might be easier if pop door was on inside of coop, but I just worked w/ how it was already built. So here is a pic (my coop roof opens open in a hinged manner for access) in the door open position, which is antenna retracted.
Here is the door closed position, which is antenna extended. Not much weight on antenna because of slack in rope after the door hits bottom.
So right now I have it timed to open at sunrise, and close 1/2 hour after sunset...birds are well inside by then. Time might dictate some modifications...little worried about the birds pecking the rope or trying to perch on antenna, but we'll see. But this is great for peace of mind on late nights, sleep in mornings, or weekend getaways even. With their homemade water heater and timed lights as well, they are more 'wired' than some humans! Total cost about $100. $50 antenna, $35 for the adapters, $10 for timer. (includes all shipping charges)
I had read somewhere an idea of using an auto power antenna, and I went for that. I thought it would work well as it is made to go in both directions (i definitely wanted a closer and opener) and it is torqued to go relatively slow, and I thought I might be able to physically attatch a line to the antenna. The antenna runs on 12 vdc/5 amp.
So in a nutshell, first I changed my pop door to a lighter version of what it was, as the light weight is essential. (door was already designed to slide up/down) Ran a rope line through door and through coop (installed nylon flange bushings so rope goes smooth thru coop).
Drilled a small hole in tip of antenna for wire loop which the rope attaches to. Had to get two ac/dc converters so that it would run on regular ac outlet, (antenna wiring comes with two leads, one always on and one that is switched which is controlled by radio knob. In my case, the switched one is controlled by the digital timer, and the hot is always plugged in.) I mounted in a way that I thought would be out of the way of birds but not bend the antenna with the weight of the door when opening. Also, it was just the easiest spot to mount it. But you could do this in alot of different ways. (vertical mount, etc) Might be easier if pop door was on inside of coop, but I just worked w/ how it was already built. So here is a pic (my coop roof opens open in a hinged manner for access) in the door open position, which is antenna retracted.
Here is the door closed position, which is antenna extended. Not much weight on antenna because of slack in rope after the door hits bottom.
So right now I have it timed to open at sunrise, and close 1/2 hour after sunset...birds are well inside by then. Time might dictate some modifications...little worried about the birds pecking the rope or trying to perch on antenna, but we'll see. But this is great for peace of mind on late nights, sleep in mornings, or weekend getaways even. With their homemade water heater and timed lights as well, they are more 'wired' than some humans! Total cost about $100. $50 antenna, $35 for the adapters, $10 for timer. (includes all shipping charges)
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