Thanks for sharing this video. I've been trying to figure out how to make the exact same thing. I have a water timer as well with more than one cycle and would like to try to recreate this. Could you please provide more details on how "As the door opens a small dowel pops out and keeps it from closing. Then, at night, when the second bucket fills the dowel is pulled out, ...?" I'm having trouble visualizing what makes the dowel pop up. I did not see the 2nd bucket move anything.
Absolutely brilliant. I am finishing up a coop this week for 100 hens and have been wondering how im going to make my auto door closer. What is being triggered by filling the bucket at night? Much thanks from Petaluma.
Thanks for your comment. I use a standard irrigation timer (I bought the cheapest one that had two separate programs) to turn on the water, one minute in the morning and one in the evening so that the water fills the buckets. As the door opens a small dowel pops out and keeps it from closing. Then, at night, when the second bucket fills the dowel is pulled out, and the door closes. Good luck with your project! I've had a lot of fun with this.
I liked this video so much that I watched it several times. I came up with a few ideas after seeing it several times....
If you put a light, soft hose on the bucket and diverted it into the water for the chickens, you would never have to give them water again. It would flush out the dirty water and replace it with clean, two times a day.
The other thing I noticed is that you can make a smaller hole in the bucket, and then adjust the time on the water coming in to less time.
Thanks for your comments. Already, even though it's not orderly, a bunch of the water flushes into the chicken's water pan keeping it cleaner that it used to be. Using a hose is a cool idea, provided you could get it to point in the right direction (a bit tricky for my setup, since my buckets can turn around.) Regarding the time that the water is running, I'd like to make it shorter, but I'm using an irrigation timer, which has a 1 minute minimum burst. Still, anything's possible! Thanks!
You have got to be kidding!!! This is Crazy Wonderful! If everybody in the world was like this guy we would solve all the worlds problems. Super good job! Maybee you can plant some veggies right there under the water if you are in a dry climate or if you are in a wet one, who cares if you lose a few gallons every day. Nicely done! I think I have seen almost every automatic chicken door opener on utube, and this is definetly the most fun!!!
It's only one minute of water to open, and one minute of water to close, and the water helps freshen up their watering pan, right below. I'm feeling like it's worth it. -Walt
You are a genius. I still marvel at how you got the water to burst at a certain time. Way to go!
thedarkprinceofawsom 2 months ago
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Thanks for sharing this video. I've been trying to figure out how to make the exact same thing. I have a water timer as well with more than one cycle and would like to try to recreate this. Could you please provide more details on how "As the door opens a small dowel pops out and keeps it from closing. Then, at night, when the second bucket fills the dowel is pulled out, ...?" I'm having trouble visualizing what makes the dowel pop up. I did not see the 2nd bucket move anything.
beigecamouflage 8 months ago
pretty cool mr. H!
dannywaters93 1 year ago
Absolutely brilliant. I am finishing up a coop this week for 100 hens and have been wondering how im going to make my auto door closer. What is being triggered by filling the bucket at night? Much thanks from Petaluma.
djtrich7 1 year ago
Thanks for your comment. I use a standard irrigation timer (I bought the cheapest one that had two separate programs) to turn on the water, one minute in the morning and one in the evening so that the water fills the buckets. As the door opens a small dowel pops out and keeps it from closing. Then, at night, when the second bucket fills the dowel is pulled out, and the door closes. Good luck with your project! I've had a lot of fun with this.
walthays 1 year ago
I liked this video so much that I watched it several times. I came up with a few ideas after seeing it several times....
If you put a light, soft hose on the bucket and diverted it into the water for the chickens, you would never have to give them water again. It would flush out the dirty water and replace it with clean, two times a day.
The other thing I noticed is that you can make a smaller hole in the bucket, and then adjust the time on the water coming in to less time.
llewej7 1 year ago
Thanks for your comments. Already, even though it's not orderly, a bunch of the water flushes into the chicken's water pan keeping it cleaner that it used to be. Using a hose is a cool idea, provided you could get it to point in the right direction (a bit tricky for my setup, since my buckets can turn around.) Regarding the time that the water is running, I'd like to make it shorter, but I'm using an irrigation timer, which has a 1 minute minimum burst. Still, anything's possible! Thanks!
walthays 1 year ago
You have got to be kidding!!! This is Crazy Wonderful! If everybody in the world was like this guy we would solve all the worlds problems. Super good job! Maybee you can plant some veggies right there under the water if you are in a dry climate or if you are in a wet one, who cares if you lose a few gallons every day. Nicely done! I think I have seen almost every automatic chicken door opener on utube, and this is definetly the most fun!!!
llewej7 1 year ago
Seems like an incredible waste of water.
Rygel 1 year ago
It's only one minute of water to open, and one minute of water to close, and the water helps freshen up their watering pan, right below. I'm feeling like it's worth it. -Walt
walthays 1 year ago
I'm from sebastopol too. LOL this is so hippy and you know it!!!!! good work though i'd modify it a touch though.
yellowsnowman89 2 years ago
Must came out from the red & green show.LOL. I like it though.
8126926 2 years ago
Woohoo Mr.Hays!! lol
ttwiglet 2 years ago
I am working on building a home for our future chickens. This looks like fun!
PamandLeonHall 2 years ago