automatic chicken coop door

[omartorres]

Hello i want to put a automatic door or any type of door that i can put in my small chicken coop i want to open and close it easily with out going in to the run i need an idea or pictures.thanks

 

[AlienChick]

Are you saying you want to buy one or make one?

For a good quality auto chicken door for purchase, THIS ONE seems to be one of the best.

 

[fireguy56]

Hi, Welcome to BYC. You can build a simple track for a vertical sliding door out of wood or metal, then use a piece of plywood or aluminum or even a plastic cutting board that would slide up and down in track. There is an inexpensive motor that alot of folks use, self included called and Add-A-Motor D-20 www.add-a-motor.com about $100.00 simple to install above the door, plug into a cheap time and ya got auto door. Mine have worked great with no problems. Here is photo of my first coop door.
Erik

1/8" aluminum door in wooden track with add-a-motor above, tied into timer. You set the times, motor does the rest. Love it.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:
Couldn't a raccoon easily pry this door open since it's attached to the outside and there is no lock?

 

[Green_Eggs_and_Ham]

Quote:
fireguy56, this is the same set up we have! Aluminum door too. However, our door goes through the floor a couple inches. Does yours? I can't see in this picture. We also have the motor boxed in with thin plywood to keep the dust off it.

We got our motor atDiscount Automation . They had the best price and we got it real quick. The timer we got at Lowes.

omartorres, I highly recommend this set up. Easy to install. Custom door, size, etc, as you are not limited to the frame size of the other door options.

 

[rungirl]

I made my own automatic door opener for about $40 or $50 by following the example on a thread out here....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=8400-automatic-pop-hole-opener

This works great and it was easy to do. Mine goes down into a lip at the bottom, but if you are concerned with something prying the door open, I've seen a clever idea for a latch that operates with a counter weight and opens only when the opener pulls up on it. I'd have to search the forum for that. Good insurance that nothing can get in. I have a second timer on there for lights, but it's really simple.

Ah, I found it... here's a lock someone put on their door...

 

[AlienChick]

Quote:
Couldn't a raccoon easily pry this door open since it's attached to the outside and there is no lock?

Nope! Can't be pryed open at all.
It's secure!

 

[peterlund]

Quote:
My chickens would have those loose wires and plugs disconnected in no time!

They would even try to roost on them. I think they need obedience lessons.

 

[LakeMurrySC]

Quote:
I have to agree here!

I put one up on my coop this past weekend and it's wonderful!!! I'm defiantly not worried about any critters getting in here, and plus I liked the fact that you could get a solar panel along with the door to charge the battery. I can't stand trying to piece together a package...

But thats just me
Best of luck to you

 

[WalkingTreatMachine]

Hello! I don't know how far your coop is from the house or the orientation with regard to your house, but this works for me on a super tight budget. I attached a rope to the top of the pop hole door and through a series of eye hooks mounted on the coop, the garage, and the house. The rope goes from the coop door, over the yard and right into the window right by my bed. In the morning, I just have to crack the window and pull the rope. Voila! It works regardless of whether the electricity goes out, and the parts are less likely to 'surprise-fatigue'. With the manual approach, you never have to worry that it didn't open and your chickies might be roasting inside on a hot day. It doesn't work so well when I'm not actually home though... Cheers!