[poultrygeist]

Hi all,  I am not at all technically minded however I fitted an "off the shelf version" last October, we have never had a problem with the light sensor and it has never been wiped.  The only problem we had was when the door warped and would no longer move smoothly up and down the runners.  This problem was soon solved when OH decided to replace the wooden door with my plastic chopping board which was exactly the right width and was waterproof!  If I want to close the door manually I simply disconnect the wire from the hook on the door and allow gravity to do the rest, If I want to open the door early for any reason I would disconnect the wire again and use a piece of wood to prop the door up.  The girls are very cute at knowing what time the door will close, the timid ones go in early and the daredevils seem to time it to the last minute.  I think the automatic opener and more importantly, closer is brilliant as if I am late home I know my girls are safely locked up and out of harms way.  Hope this helps.  Teresa

I would love to see a photo of your chopping board Door !  
Well done to your OH for solving the problem so neatly.

I love innovation. Ours is 6mm plywood with wooden runners opening sideways with a long batten through the wire mesh to open/close it.

We would have to use a mechanical linkage to drive it open and shut.
I did wonder if any would get left out in the cold. Need to have a manual override button and train them to peck at it. There's a challenge for you !

One prob with the light sensor which would certainly be tricky round here is if a PIR light comes on at night it could possibly trigger the door to open.
Especially dodgy if a fox triggered the PIR !
I hope Slatz can get it working well because they would certainly save some early starts. With our dog, it's a case of one up, all up.  

Rob

[Slatz]

Plastic chopping board.  I like that.  Sure the OH has a couple in the kitchen she never uses.  (not any more, anyway, muahahaha)

[poultrygeist]

Isn't that one of the commandments ?

'Thou shalt not take thy wife's chopping board, whether it be plastic or wood, for lo, there shall come to pass a great wrath which shall bring darkness unto the land'

oh, hang on. Amendment (iii). 'Unless for the use of poultry'.

That's handy.

[poultrygeist]

I think I need my afternoon nap

[Slatz]

I think I need my afternoon nap

And don't forget, two of the green pills and one red.

[compostqueen]

tee hee, titter, chortle  

Ta for making me laugh

I've a mental picture of a stampede of chickens trying to beat the port cullis coming down. Will they all make it  

[georgewoodman]

don't know if this constitutes treason, but this link


www.kelseyinfo.co.uk/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1203935762


will take you to another idea which looks quite smart



George

[Slatz]

I don't think that is treason.

It's really cool.  Even a video of it working.  You could use that set up with the Maplin light activated switch and build it cheaply.  I like it.  Hmm, drawer runners might be safer than nicking chopping boards.

[poultrygeist]

Gotta respect that. Another side opener. It's the future I tell you.

I reckon he could stick a sail on that thing and get to France. Makes my Wickes wood preserver look rather cheap.

..plus I built mine in the kitchen which seriously limited the size (door width) and meant I had to do final assembly in situ without any offering up.

If you get it working OK am I free to steal the design or are you in the process of appointing a patent lawyer ?

Rob

[Slatz]

Public domain this matey, steal away.

Buy me a drink next time you see me, or buy two copies of Big Issue next time you see a seller.

Karma works.

[poultrygeist]

Karma works.

....so that's why my wooden leg got woodworm  :shock:

Cheers for that. I'd obviously have to modify slightly but I'll tell everyone where I got the idea when I make my first million  

The chicken-house opener claims several years battery life without any charging system. Bear in mind it operates for about 1 minute/day, I'd be tempted to skip the solar charger and just let the batteries get tired. Maybe manually charge them every couple of months just to keep them fresh ?

[Jellyhead]

I agree with all the technical stuff, gonna make one after lunch

[poultrygeist]

I agree with all the technical stuff, gonna make one after lunch

Well done Jellyhead.
Will be expecting photos with full technical spec and drawings by 2pm.

Rob

[Slatz]

"after lunch" could be any time in the next fifty years so I'm not holding my breath.

Just had an e-mail telling me most of the stuff has been posted, light sensitive switch out of stock, will follow next week, so that will be the long pole in the tent.

[poultrygeist]

There goes your critical path.

This is the point in Grand Designs where Kevin Mcleod does his close up to the camera and says something like...

'by the time he gets all the bits we could be putting the clocks back again'

...and looks smug. :roll:

But that won't happen !!  

Rob