Automatic coop door anyone?

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Here ya go!
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/2100-2107.html

I'm still trying to think of ways to retrofit my other coops to use the same door on them!

 

[wyandotte freak]

That is pretty slick.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I spent so much on building the coop I don't have anything left over for an auto door

Guess I'll have to look around this place and see what I can sell on ebay!! I think it's a wonderful
idea and would give me peace of mind....that's worth $250!!

 

[HaulnFetch]

I have been thinking about an automatic door too. Here is a link to one I have been looking at.

http://www.chickendoors.com/products.php

 

[Bandera Grassland]

The Pullet-Shut has some nice safety features http://www.chickendoors.com/products.php. This is the one recommended by HauinFetch. The website doesn't say what mechanism holds the door closed to protect against raccoons prying it open and pulling it out. I see in one of the photos there are a couple of bolts protruding in the opening to prevent the door from being pushed inward. The door pivots out and is operated with a magnetic sensor. Just be sure you don't misplace the magnet! It has a torque-limited closer to prevent crushing--that's good. This looks like a prototype I saw at Randall Burkey Co. that the designer was waiting on a better motor before releasing on the market.

What I don't like about this design is the door opening outward where it can be bumped and damaged by passing livestock. If only someone would design one with retracting safety bolts so the door could swing inward into the coop. If the retracting bolts came out on both sides of the closed door it would really be safe against predators.

The price of $180 plus $20 shipping is what I paid for a thin piece of what feels like balsa wood that is pulled up and let down by fishing line attached to a drapery motor http://shop.ebay.com:80/i.html?_nkw...cqr=true&_nkwusc=automatic+chcken+door&_rdc=1. I wish I had known the Pullet-Shut was available before I spent money on the one I have. Although it has a nicely finished frame and installed like a breeze, I can push up the closed door with the flat of my hand. There is no safety feature holding it down other than gravity. I added a piece of trim at the base in front of the bottom of the door to keep raccoon fingers from lifting the door. I suspect it will only last a couple of years before I have to replace the motor and the weather eats up the door.

 

[3peeps]

I have one, but we made it with a motor manufactured in the United States. You get a list of instructions on how to adapt it to your coop. You hook it up to a timer and it works very, very well. We love it! The motor cost me around $100 and we used our existing guillotine door...it just has to weigh less than 4 pounds.

Here's the link:
http://www.add-a-motor.com/Model D20 Motor for Chicken Coop Doors.htm

The customer service from this place is very good. I spoke with a man on the phone and he was very friendly and helpful. I'd recommend them to anyone.

 

[chkn]

Thanks everyone for the ideas and the links!!!