Automatic door advice

[Chefwifelife]

Hiya. We are re-homing 4 chickens next weekend. We’ve got the coop and run sorted and a few last bits to get this weekend. We’re looking for an automatic door opener; the company we’re getting the coop from have a chicken guard premium in stock and it reads quite well having both a timer and solar timer.

The coop is on our allotment which is attached to the end of our garden. I’ve read a couple of old similar threads but none recent. Any advice really appreciated.

I’ve never been able to trust them- always worried that they would fail and lock my chickens in, so not much help sorry. We have a secure part of the coop for when we go away and just leave the hatch open enough for them to get out. It’s a much cheaper option!

@teapotter thanks for the reply. Maybe we should just opt for no timer to start and see how we find it? 🤔

If you’re happy to open/close the hatch then I would leave it for now. It depends on your lifestyle and organisation. We find it much easier to have a secure run as well as a larger area. We use the secure run if we are away on holiday (leaving hatch open) or if we are not going to be home to close the hatch at dusk. It is covered over (small roof for rain) and wire underneath so that no foxes can get in. Hope it goes well.

Thanks again @teapotter. We have a pretty secure run coming with it and neighbours who will let them in and and out if we go away. We have a toddler and another on the way so that’s not often at all. Thanks for the well wishes.

We've just got chickens- I set up the coop with the Chicken Guard Premium a couple of weeks ago and it reliably opened/closed. Chickens moved in today and put themselves to bed and the door went down I imagine it's better to try without this time of year but I hope I'll be glad for the extra sleep in the Summer!

Ah thanks @aestas I’ll report back once they’re settled in 😊

Used an auto opener for about 9 years now, changed the battery only twice and no problems at all, other then when the ice built up in the string (?) and it was frozen solid!