[moprabbit]

Just wondered if anyone could give me any recommendations for an automated door opener for my chicken coop. Any suggestions and any pros and cons would be gratefully received. Thank you.

[twizzel]

I’ve got a chicken guard timer and no problems here. The fox proof door from chicken guard is well worth investing in if you’re going for a timer too.

[chrismahon]

I don't trust any of them so i would go and check. Might as well shut and open the pop-hole while I am there.

[twizzel]

I don't trust any of them so i would go and check. Might as well shut and open the pop-hole while I am there.

My chickens are on the other side of the farm to our house. I can count on 1 hand the amount of times the opener has failed- mostly because the batteries ran out (I’m pretty rubbish at remembering to change when the light comes on). I’ve had them on auto door openers for 6 years now. They lay better, especially in summer they aren’t stood inside when it’s daylight outside waiting to be let out. The opener let’s them out from 5.30am in height of summer.

[moprabbit]

Thank you both for your replies. I think I'm going to look into the Chicken Guard, as I'm quite a way away from the chucks.

[Eve]

I have 2 chicken guards, bought new and they both failed in their first year. Luckily they are used to protect the chicken feeders against rats at night (the feeders are in a rat proof mesh box) and not to protect the chickens against foxes as the outside perimeter is fox proof anyway.
Frost and dirt can affect the working of the metal door in its frams, a timber door may be better.

[twizzel]

I have 2 chicken guards, bought new and they both failed in their first year. Luckily they are used to protect the chicken feeders against rats at night (the feeders are in a rat proof mesh box) and not to protect the chickens against foxes as the outside perimeter is fox proof anyway.
Frost and dirt can affect the working of the metal door in its frams, a timber door may be better.

The fox proof door from chickenguard is much better than the other one on wood sliders.

[Anke]

The opener let’s them out from 5.30am in height of summer.

Around here the badger is still active at that time... ours are not let tou until 7am at the earliest.

[twizzel]

Mine aren’t free ranging- they’ve got rent a fence panels buried a foot or so underground. To be fair they are out near a busy farm yard so not in the middle of nowhere.

[Eve]

I have 2 chicken guards, bought new and they both failed in their first year. Luckily they are used to protect the chicken feeders against rats at night (the feeders are in a rat proof mesh box) and not to protect the chickens against foxes as the outside perimeter is fox proof anyway.
Frost and dirt can affect the working of the metal door in its frams, a timber door may be better.

The fox proof door from chickenguard is much better than the other one on wood sliders.

It’s the supposedly fox proof door and frame that came with the chicken guard, both metal. Using just the motor with a timber door & frame might be better.

[moprabbit]

Thank you for the advice about the door. I'm going to try to make one.

[wildandwooly]

We've had a Chicken Guard for a year and a half and it's been really reliable with the only issues being making sure we check the batteries regularly, keeping an eye on any build up of bark we use in the outside run at the base of the door so it shuts properly, setting the light settings and timer correctly in the first place and very occasionally the chickens decide it's too nice outside and they'd rather stay out and have a party with the ducks 
Basically these are all the issues we'd have had making our own really.

[nicandem]

If you are handy with wiring use an electric car radio arial (from scrappy), a 12 volt timer (cost 3-4 quid) and an old car battery (from scrappy or lying around)...... if you want to add an Aldi PV penal for the roof for 20 quid its easy too. 

[NellieB]

Hmmm. Lots of love for Chicken Guard here. We have two and over the first 18 months they've both fallen out of use. I'd say the main reasons were that the light sensor wasn't reliable enough and they chewed through batteries. I'd like to try the opener from Omlette, which I've heard good things about and suggested to a friend who loves it, but my hen co parent prefers doing it the old fashioned way

[Happy days]

We have a titan and been pleased with it. Does what it should.