Automatic Chicken Door: Open in the morning, closed at night, no alarm clock

Chicken Door: Safe at night, free by day

A chicken door is the opening between coop and run. In the morning it lets your hens out, and in the evening it closes the coop once everyone is inside. With an automatic chicken door you no longer have to be home on time to do it. With us you will find doors and controllers from SmartCoop, Kerbl and Agrarzone, including the WILMA Solar, models with Wi-Fi and app, and pulley systems for sliding doors.

Light sensor or timer

Many chicken doors open and close using a light sensor. They react to dawn and dusk and so adjust to the seasons by themselves. A timer suits you if you prefer fixed times, for example so the hens are not out too early on summer mornings. Many controllers combine both. With app control you can also see on your phone whether the door is open or closed. This is a real help on days when you get home late or are away for the weekend.

Protection from foxes and martens

Foxes and martens are about at dusk, exactly when the hens are going to roost. A door with a self-locking mechanism such as the EasyProtect cannot be pushed up from outside. The sliding door should run smoothly in its guide and close right down to the floor. Set the closing time a little after sunset so latecomers can still make it into the coop. Check the door and guide rails now and then for dirt or ice, so the door always closes fully.

Frequently asked questions

When should a chicken door close in the evening?
Chickens go into the coop on their own at dusk. Set the door to close about 15 to 30 minutes after sunset, so all the birds are really inside.

What happens to the chicken door during a power cut?
With mains-powered models, the door simply stays in its current position. A battery or a solar battery set bridges such outages so the door keeps working.

Does an automatic chicken door fit every coop?
Most doors are mounted on the inside or outside wall above the coop opening. With a pulley and guide rollers, the controller can also be fitted to coops with little space above the door.