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[tinkkletoes]

i am thinking of getting an automatic coop door opener.

Has anybody used these and have any thoughts on these ?

[Lavenders_Blue]

It depends on the type of coop you have and the brand of auto opener you are thinking of getting.

I have a Forsham Ark and bought a 'Pullit' opener built to fit this coop (not a Forsham product BTW). It was brilliant for a few months until the batteries ran low and it went somewhat haywire New batteries didn't fix it and suffice to say a couple of repairs and a new Pullit later I asked for my money back.

 

However, I don't have any experience of the more popular models such as the VSB which I suspect is far more reliable.

 

I would say as long as the product you buy is reliable (check out online reviews maybe) then go for it. When mine was working reliably, it was a real boon especially in the summer when the chooks get up at 4.30am and winter when they go to bed before you're home from work.

[Alis girls]

Wouldnt it be cheaper to use your husband? or train one of the kids to open and close door. By "haywire" I suspect it kept opening and shutting at random - result - confused hens

[Lavenders_Blue]

No kids here and hubby doesn't 'do' hens unless forced to (especially at 4.30am!).

Dog would more than happily let them out but would then probably eat them

Yes - by haywire I do mean opening and closing at random! It malfunctioned once while we were away for a few days. Neighbour (looking after chooks) told me it had got stuck in the 'open' position and she wasn't really sure what to do. Thank goodness it didn't get stuck in the closed position locking the chooks either in or out of the coop depending on what time of day it went bonkers!