Automatic door opener for hen house

tomtoby · « **on:** April 23, 2007, 20:16 »

Hi Folks!
We're new to the world of chickens and are embarking on our second week with 7 chickens (2 spekeldy, 2 bovan goldline, 2 cream legbars and a white star)

. We are realising that when we go away the neighbours are not going to want to stir at 6.15 to let the ladies out

so we need an automatic door opener for them. The only one I can find is over £100 with a timer and we can't really afford it right now. Does anyone know of anything cheaper? All help greatfully received!
Tom

Foxy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2007, 22:06 »

Hi
You can get them for around £70 on e-bay. You dont need a timer as they are light sensitive. Mine is very reliable and haven't had any chooks locked out yet! I dont know of any cheaper I think they are all about the same price.

The Chicken Lady · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2007, 09:30 »

I must be a bad chicken lady - I don,t get up at 6.15 to let my chucks out. I just let them out when I am ready. Sometimes when I am working nights it is after 7.30 when I get home, they don't seem to bother :oops:

MontyTom · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2007, 17:08 »

I found nothing cheaper. They are worth the cash, trust me. I have one down my allotment and it is superb. Look at www.axt-electronic.de

I would imagine the timer is extremely useful if you run cockerels in your garden with surrounding neighbours. I don't have one but wished it had a manual override for cleaing purposes. That is the only criticism I have of it.

cookie22 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2007, 12:25 »

We have one down our allotment and it's worth it's weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. They may be pricey but they're worth it!

diamond_lil · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2007, 15:00 »

Hi

Can you get automatic door openers WITH a timer? Our chickens are very free range and as a result we don't let them out until late morning (you aren't alone, Chicken Lady) so we know where the eggs are. Otherwise they could lay just about anywhere!

An automatic door closer would be great but we would want to control the opening time.

Foxy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2007, 21:47 »

Yes you can buy these with or without a timer -very easy - either on e-bay
or www.axt-electronic.de

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2007, 21:50 »

I never let my chooks out till 7:30 either. Sometimes later at the weekend :oops:

diamond_lil · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2007, 10:50 »

Many thanks, Foxy. Another important fact learned on the Poultry Pages! I shall be an expert by 2090!

DL

chicken_house_man · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2007, 17:55 »

You can also get them from www.chicken-house.co.uk/door_opener.htm

tomtoby · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2007, 21:16 »

Thanks chicken man we did come to you in the end and after a dodgy start with a lacking screw it's all working well and the chucks are very happy to be out at 6.30 - actually make a lot less noise in the morning now they go out early despite being blacked out in the shed!
Thanks folks
Tom

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