These days, more and more people are investing in automatic chicken coop doors because they don’t want to try to remember to close or open the doors at certain times of the day. There are several types on the market that you should consider, and today you’re in luck, because we will be covering that.
Top Picks
Best for: Being eco friendly – Coop Controls Automatic Coop Door
If you’re looking for a non-electric automatic chicken coop door, this is the one for you as it’s powered by solar batteries.
Best for: Being a reliable opener for the existing door – ChickenGuard Standard Automatic Chicken Coop Door
If you already have an existing chicken coop door, this is the opener for you, as it will open and close the door for you without you having to think about it.
How to Choose
These factors are very important when considering an automatic door for your chicken coop so that you’ll know what to look for when you’re ready to purchase one:
Power Source
Because it’s an automatic, you’ll see choices between solar, electric or battery operated. Some brands have three power sources (which may cost more) for your convenience.
Opening Mechanism
An automatic coop door will open a number of ways. Ensure that your purchased door opens like your new door. Otherwise, you’ll be left with one that won’t work with your current coop and you’ll be frustrated in the end.
Durability
You’ll want a reliable weatherproof door that’s also predator-proof as well.
Size
Size truly matters because if you have 4 chickens, and 2 of them are larger than the other two, you’ll need a larger door. Make sure you know how big your chickens will be, so you know how big of a door you’ll need.
Programmable Control Box
You’ll obviously opt for the ones that have dawn/dusk control options, but you’ll need to time it right because you don’t want the door to randomly open when predators are still out and about near the coop. For that reason, you’ll want to make sure that your door has multiple opening/closing programs that you can control.
Safety Sensor
You must have a safety sensor on your door. Imagine waking up and you see chickens beheaded because the safety sensor wasn’t working properly. Most doors have a security sensor that prevents the door from shutting when resistance occurs.
Complete Kit
If you’re looking at doors with complete kits, make sure it includes everything that you need. Double check before buying “complete kits”.
The truth of the matter is, you really need to take these factors in consideration so that you don’t accidentally kill your flock that you invested your time and money on.
Types of Chicken Coop Doors
Aluminum
These are usually lightweight and don’t put a lot of pressure on the motor.
The good:
The good thing about aluminum doors is that it’s usually lightweight and costs less than their wood counterparts.
The bad:
Some aluminum doors may be cheaply made and not as durable as it should be.
Wood
They’re usually heavier so you’ll need motors that can lift heavier doors so it doesn’t accidentally behead the chickens.
The good:
These types of doors are usually durable, which means predators can’t get in as easily.
The bad:
If you don’t buy the right automatic system, it may be too heavy and you’ll end up beheading chickens by accident.
Plastic
These are usually cheaper (like aluminum) but they can be just as durable to keep out predators.
The good:
These doors are usually cheaper to get so it won’t cost an arm and a leg.
The bad:
Some plastic can be low quality, which means it can break and let cold air, predators come in. So that is something to consider when it comes to doors.
Tips
How to install an automatic chicken coop door
- Very important, attach the control box to the coop
- Place any sealant needed (to keep out draft, tiny predators) around the control box
- Install the power source (whether its electric or solar) or put in batteries as per manual instructions
- Connect the control box to electrical wires that is already installed
Those instructions are the basics of installing an automatic system to an existing door or if you’re buying one with the door included, you’ll want to make accurate measurements to make sure the door also fits. You’ll likely need a variety of tools so much sure that you have those on hand.
Also, you will need to know how to program it, and you should follow the instructions from the manufacturer’s manual so that it can be working properly.
If you can’t do it yourself or the step-by-step instructions are too hard, you can always hire a professional (a handyman) who knows how to install these kinds of things.
The Best Automatic Chicken Coop Doors
JVR Automatic Chicken Door Coop Opener
This chicken coop door by JVR has features that you would want in an automatic system. It weighs just 6.14 pounds, and the material is high quality, is able to withstand weather elements. This model runs on a solar battery that you’ll need to purchase separately. The door is fairly large, 11 13/16” inches wide by 12 9/16 inches high. It has a manual button that you can control the door with.
The door comes with everything that you expect from a complete kit automatic door and also has these features:
- Timer
- Safety Mechanism
The absolute minimum installation space you’ll need is: 12 ¾ inches wide, 30 5/16 inches minimum and 42 9/16 inches maximum high.
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Not as reliable buyers would like it to be
ChickenGuard Standard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener
This automatic chicken coop door by Chickenguard is actually an opener, which means you need a door already installed. However, this is easy to install (they will give you instructions) and it can hold up doors to 2.2 lbs (so you’re probably either using a plastic or aluminum door) so that your chickens can get in and out safely.
This opener has a timer, LED light so you can see what you’re doing and the screen, and it runs on 4 AA batteries. You can also choose from the Premium or Extreme options that offer more features than the standard one does.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- LED light
- Comes with heavy duty cord that has a breaking strain of 50 lbs
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with an actual door
Chicken Coop Automatic Door Accessory Motor
Here is a basic motor for your chicken coop door by Add-A-Motor. All you really need to do with this one is just install it to a lamp timer and voila it works. It can lift and lower doors up to 10 pounds with a 25-inch opening, so keep that in mind.
By mounting it on side channels, if your door swings open, you can turn it to vertical lifting. This model contains the engine, mounting equipment, AC-DC converter, cable lift, and guidance outlined by the manual.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Can lift doors up to 10 pounds
- Customizable
Cons:
- Doesn’t have any special features
- Some buyers question reliability
Happy Henhouse Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Kit
This automatic chicken door coop by the Happy Hen House is actually a kit that comes with a light sensor, and it’s made out of aluminum. It also has a weatherproof controller and a durable braid rope. This model relies on the sun, as it uses some solar activity. But it can use 4 AA batteries that are used to power the dusk to dawn timer, which is extremely helpful. It even has a sensor where if the bird is in the way of the door, it will not do anything until the bird has safely moved which is a super cool feature to have.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Dusk to dawn timer
- No electricity required
Cons:
- Not as reliable as the company claims as some chickens have died
Run Chicken Model T40
This automatic chicken coop door by Run Chicken is the one that you definitely need for your chicken coop. It has a sturdy aluminum and is made for rough weather elements. It also has a timer with delays such as 30, 60 or even 90 minutes which can be good if you need more time to get your flock together. It has an automatic evening delay because in case your chicken is in the shade, so your chicken won’t be trapped outside if you are worried about that. It runs on a 12V power supply, so you’ll need some form of electricity if you are going to get this door.
Pros:
- Sturdy
- Timer
- Weather Resistant
Cons:
- Needs electricity if you don’t have it already installed
Coop Controls Automatic Coop Door Opener Kit
Finally, we have a chicken coop door by Coop Controls that doesn’t need electricity and can run on solar batteries. So, if you’re trying to be eco-friendly, this is the kit for you. This kit is made out of high-quality metal so you know that it’s extremely durable and weather resistant. Like all the automatic doors we rounded up today, this also comes with a timer so that you can set it when to open and close (dusk to dawn). You get everything that you need with this kit, except for the 12V 7Ah battery and a piece of 2×4 wood which is needed to keep the door in its place.
However, if you do need the battery included, you can select the other option as this model does not have batteries included.
Pros:
- Comes with a complete kit
- Durable
- Easy to install
- Eco friendly
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with batteries
- Some buyers reported it as very unreliable.
FAQ
What is the best automatic chicken coop door?
The best one is the one that is obviously not defective and works well for your coop. But if you want our recommendation, we recommend the Run Chicken Model T40, Automatic Chicken Coop Door. It has everything that an automatic chicken coop door needs and should work well for your coop.
Do automatic chicken doors work?
Yes, they do, otherwise they wouldn’t be on the market. It really depends on which brand you buy from as well, so you’ll have to do some research so that you can choose the right automatic chicken coop door for your coop.
It depends on timers, sensors and the quality on how well the automatic doors will work.
How do automatic chicken coop doors work?
These doors have a motor and sensor in them that opens and closes. Some models have a timer, so it will let a chicken out at a certain time.
How do you make automatic chicken coop doors?
If you’re truly interested making your own automatic chicken coop door, you’ll need the following tools:
- Electric car antenna
- Timer
- Power Supply
- Wires
- Screws
- Terminal Strip
- A power source (battery or solar, or even electric)
- & more.
The instructions are on this site which is very easy to follow if you’re a true DIY’er.
Bottom Line
We hope that we helped influence you or at least pique your interest in automatic chicken coop doors for your coop or future coop. If you have enjoyed reading this guide, please leave us a comment below!
The post Can You Add an Automatic Door to a Chicken Coop? appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit.
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