Automatic Chicken Door: Opens and closes reliably with a sensor

Automatic Chicken Door: Your coop closes itself

An automatic chicken door takes over one of the most important daily jobs in keeping chickens: opening and closing the coop. A motor moves the door according to light or time of day, at weekends and while you are on holiday too. With us you will find chicken doors with controllers such as the Kerbl Duo Pro, Duo Smart WLAN and EasyProtect, the SmartCoop pulley and rack drive, the Agrarzone door and the WILMA Solar, plus plenty of accessories.

Drive and design

With a sliding door, the door moves up and down in a guide. A cord pulls it up and gravity closes it. A rack drive moves the door actively in both directions, so predators can hardly lift it. The EasyProtect locks itself when it closes. With guide rollers you can mount the controller next to the opening if space above the door is tight. Make sure the door runs freely and is not blocked by bedding, so it closes completely every evening.

Power supply and accessories

Depending on the model, the door runs on a mains adapter, batteries or a solar battery set. A mains adapter needs little maintenance if there is power in the coop, and without a socket the solar option makes sense. With an external light sensor, the controller measures daylight in the best spot, even if it hangs inside the dark coop itself. An external button opens the door at the push of a button, and spare cords keep your pulley system running. That way you can adapt the door exactly to your coop and your routine.

Frequently asked questions

Light sensor or timer, which is better?
A light sensor adjusts automatically to the time of year and is the most convenient choice for most keepers. A timer makes sense if street lights or floodlights could confuse the sensor.

Can a fox open an automatic chicken door?
Simple sliding doors can sometimes be pushed up by strong animals. Models with a self-locking mechanism or a rack drive sit firmly in place and offer much better protection.

How big should the opening be for chickens?
For standard chicken breeds an opening of around 30 x 30 cm is enough. For large breeds, plan a little more and choose a suitably larger door.