Can You Add an Automatic Door to a Chicken Coop?

You’ll obviously opt for the ones that have dawn/dusk control options, but you’ll need to time it right because you don’t want the door to randomly open when predators are still out and about near the coop. For that reason, you’ll want to make sure that your door has multiple opening/closing programs that you can control.
If you can’t do it yourself or the step-by-step instructions are too hard, you can always hire a professional (a handyman) who knows how to install these kinds of things.

How to Choose

The good thing about aluminum doors is that it’s usually lightweight and costs less than their wood counterparts.

Power Source

These are usually lightweight and don’t put a lot of pressure on the motor.

Opening Mechanism

Cons:

Durability

Here is a basic motor for your chicken coop door by Add-A-Motor. All you really need to do with this one is just install it to a lamp timer and voila it works. It can lift and lower doors up to 10 pounds with a 25-inch opening, so keep that in mind.

Size

These days, more and more people are investing in automatic chicken coop doors because they don’t want to try to remember to close or open the doors at certain times of the day. There are several types on the market that you should consider, and today you’re in luck, because we will be covering that.

Programmable Control Box

The instructions are on this site which is very easy to follow if you’re a true DIY’er.

Safety Sensor

This opener has a timer, LED light so you can see what you’re doing and the screen, and it runs on 4 AA batteries. You can also choose from the Premium or Extreme options that offer more features than the standard one does.

Complete Kit

Size truly matters because if you have 4 chickens, and 2 of them are larger than the other two, you’ll need a larger door. Make sure you know how big your chickens will be, so you know how big of a door you’ll need.
They’re usually heavier so you’ll need motors that can lift heavier doors so it doesn’t accidentally behead the chickens.

Types of Chicken Coop Doors

Aluminum

Cons:
These doors have a motor and sensor in them that opens and closes. Some models have a timer, so it will let a chicken out at a certain time.
These doors have a motor and sensor in them that opens and closes. Some models have a timer, so it will let a chicken out at a certain time.
These doors have a motor and sensor in them that opens and closes. Some models have a timer, so it will let a chicken out at a certain time.

The good:

Tips

The absolute minimum installation space you’ll need is: 12 ¾ inches wide, 30 5/16 inches minimum and 42 9/16 inches maximum high.

• Very important, attach the control box to the coop
• Place any sealant needed (to keep out draft, tiny predators) around the control box
• Install the power source (whether its electric or solar) or put in batteries as per manual instructions
• Connect the control box to electrical wires that is already installed

Pros:
This chicken coop door by JVR has features that you would want in an automatic system. It weighs just 6.14 pounds, and the material is high quality, is able to withstand weather elements. This model runs on a solar battery that you’ll need to purchase separately. The door is fairly large, 11 13/16” inches wide by 12 9/16 inches high. It has a manual button that you can control the door with.

The Best Automatic Chicken Coop Doors

JVR Automatic Chicken Door Coop Opener

Pros:
This automatic chicken coop door by Run Chicken is the one that you definitely need for your chicken coop. It has a sturdy aluminum and is made for rough weather elements. It also has a timer with delays such as 30, 60 or even 90 minutes which can be good if you need more time to get your flock together. It has an automatic evening delay because in case your chicken is in the shade, so your chicken won’t be trapped outside if you are worried about that. It runs on a 12V power supply, so you’ll need some form of electricity if you are going to get this door.
We hope that we helped influence you or at least pique your interest in automatic chicken coop doors for your coop or future coop. If you have enjoyed reading this guide, please leave us a comment below!

• Timer
• Safety Mechanism

The bad:

FAQ

What is the best automatic chicken coop door?

Cons:

Do automatic chicken doors work?

These doors are usually cheaper to get so it won’t cost an arm and a leg.
These types of doors are usually durable, which means predators can’t get in as easily.

How do automatic chicken coop doors work?

The door comes with everything that you expect from a complete kit automatic door and also has these features:

How do you make automatic chicken coop doors?

If you’re truly interested making your own automatic chicken coop door, you’ll need the following tools:

• Electric car antenna
• Timer
• Power Supply
• Wires
• Screws
• Terminal Strip
• A power source (battery or solar, or even electric)
• & more.

However, if you do need the battery included, you can select the other option as this model does not have batteries included.

Bottom Line

Cons:
Some plastic can be low quality, which means it can break and let cold air, predators come in. So that is something to consider when it comes to doors.