The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Bekka on October 17, 2014, 01:36:27 pm
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With the nights rapidly closing in, I am becoming more aware about locking my free range hens in at night and would like to get an automatic door as I am not always going to be home before dark.
What can you recommend? I have come across 'Chicken Guard' - any good?
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Hi, I tried a couple of units called Dawn till Dusk or something similar. Didn't get on very well with them. The first two malfunctioned very quickly and had to be returned and replaced. One of the replacements also malfunctioned so I got my money back. The other one ceased to function after a hard frost froze the hen house door shut so I gave up. When they worked they were great but given their unreliability I would also use electric poultry netting for a bit of extra security. :eyelashes:
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Hi
I use an automatic pop hole door made by a company called Chuxaway - I found them on Google and since installing it I've honestly never looked back! ;) It uses a battery operated timer, is simple to set up and has always been completely reliable; I hope that this helps. :)
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Also have a chuxaway on our big house. Great unit, great company to deal with. I got their sliding metal door as well.
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I have had a VSB one for 2 years.
Still on the first set of batterys and it has never missed a beat.
Worth every penny.
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Ditto - absolutely fantastic. We have had our for 4 years now and changed the batteries once or twice. Really worth having. We got ours of Wells Poultry but I think they have gone out of business now
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Mine was in a secondhand hen house when we bought it but originally the lot came from Flyte So Fancy. I wouldn't be without it now either. :thumbsup:
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We have the VSB door closers - absolutely BRILLIANT. We got ours from Wells Poultry - didn't know they were out of business tho' :-[
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They aren't, just called something else I think.
Funnily enough the batteries went on my controller over night so my birds were all shut in until I got there at 10. Didn't seem to bother them much but they were a bit hungry!
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I have a chicken guard.
Which ever you go for it is recommended, great not having to open or close after the chucks.
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I've had a vsb for years. Fantastic. Got it from wells poultry too. They have a troubleshooter on their website and over the years I've had a few small problems and always managed to fix them myself using the guidance on the website. You can also get spares from them if a part wears out so you don't have to replace the whole thing. Highly recommended.
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hada chuxaway original as not much clearance above door and it has separate motor so only need 2 inches
now have their current model... even simpler to fit and would not be without it
also seems very reasonable in price in comparision
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I suppose the key is not to rely on them in terms of hens being shut in / out. But they are good.
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Wish my ducks would go to bed so I could use one on them!
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Hi,
I have tried 2 types of chicken doors, the first was a chicken guard door off ebay. But im now using a chucks away door. Iv had it for a few years now and I swear buy it. I have ex batts so they had never been outside, so never gone in to roost. It took them no longer than a week yo get the hang of it. They come and go as they please now. The initial outlay for one can be a bit pricey, but its the best thing I ever bought. Im happy that for any reason I forget or cant get home before its dark they wil be safe from a visit form Mr Fox. I just wish my turkeys would learn from them.
Regards Emily
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I love the idea and really thought about buying one, but after a while I can't see the point.
We check them in the morning and check them at night anyway. If I had automatic door I would still worry and go and check them anyway. If I'm coming home late I throw some corn in there and persuade them to go in early.
The only ones I ever lost to a fox was at half past six in the evening in the summer so an auto door wouldn't have helped anyway.
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I've heard lots of good reports about VSB, except one that was faulty at purchase and was replaced immediately. The batteries seem to last well but I've never risked buying one, or ever been able to afford one. Afraid I would be checking it every day so having one would be pointless.
Our fox attacks were broad daylight as well.
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:chook:
I have been using the ChucksAway unit with no problem for a couple of years.
I have exchanged the motor batteries for larger Lithium Ion Vaping batteries so I don't have to replace the batteries or recharge them for 3 to 4 months at a time at least.
I did have a problem with the digital display on the unit fading out. Even with new batteries. It is possible to repair this by cleaning the conductive rubber switch pads and LCD's contact pads. Electronic , mobile phone or watch mending skill is required to do it.
I am happy to do this as a service to others experiencing this problem.
I am currently trying to create my own more robust and simple Dawn to Dusk door operating system.
I would prefer not to have to seasonally change the open and closing times on the Chuksaway unit.
The plan is for the level of ambient light to trigger the door operation.
If I have some success I will post details on this site.
Wish me luck!
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I have two Dawn till Dusk doors and this week got given two more coops so have ordered another two. Never had a problem with them and saves feeling like you have to get up at the crack of dawn easy in the winter harder in the summer) to let the girls out.
Everything can go wrong but so far (touch wood) it has been ok