Automatic Chicken Coop Door using a drapery motor

Go to http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=29113 to view our coop and other videos of the coop.

backyardchickens.com

This is the second video installment of our chicken coop door. This is the automatic coop door using a Add-A-Motor 80 drapery motor [AAM80]. Hooked it up to a timer and now the door opens and closes automatically. Just another way to increase the cool factor of your chicken coop.

The first video was a manual door that can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHYa2PEJRHk Building a coop door is easy and functional.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• backyardchickens
• chicken
• coup
• shed
• door
• trap
• Add-A-Motor
• 80
• drapery
• motor
• AAM80
• automatic
• timer
• xkast

[jpreia]

its a great sistem... but how do you invert the rotation of the motor on the cycle?

[gwana8919]

@jpreia The motor has a setting on it and it does it for you.

[mtber7828]

What kind of timer do you use? I'm building one now,Do i need a timer with 2 on and 2 off? thank you,awesome jo

[gwana8919]

@mtber7828 Any timer should work



[gwana8919]

The door would be easy for a coon to open, however, they're pen is pretty locked down from critters being able to get close enough to the door to open. Been working well for 2 years.

[byronrace]

@jpreia the add-a-motor uses a DPST limit switch that diverts power to relay A or relay B, which applies DC power to the motor in alternating polarities. In other words, inside your $99 motor box there's a $10 gearmotor, a $2 switch and $5 worth of relays.

[byronrace]

And yes, the door design must be well thought out so that critters can't grab the edge of the door, or flat-paw the surface and slide it open. Suggestion: Use a piece of sturdy sheet metal (like an old street sign) and design the door so no edge can be grabbed from the outside. It's too smooth and heavy enough that you can't "flat paw" it open.

[byronrace]

Ask the add-a-motor people what happens to their product the first time the door sticks. They told me on the phone today that it will burn up the device, and that they don't cover that under warranty. The device should have a current/load limiter; and since it does not, I will not buy it.

[oldnavyyellow08]

If you use the D20 model Drapery motor you wont have the issue of tanglement from the counter weight. I got mine from AutomaticChickenCoopDoor They sell the whole door unit there.

[jcat5150]

@gwana8919 I'm probably being paranoid myself. My design is not altogether unlike yours. It's basically a mini-polebarn with a hen house at the back and a fully enclosed wire area at the front. 'Coons are a big problem here as well as skunks, which will dig under stuff (especially in the soft veggie garden earth directly adjacent to my coop). My hope is a setup like this will allow me to not be too worried about the digging under issue. Thanks again. I'll post some shots of mine when done.