DIY Automatic Chicken Coop Door | Solar & Arduino

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

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[@jaarden]

I myself programmed it on time. Summer and winter time. Together with a bluethooth module to adjust the time if necessary.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

That would have worked a lot better with time - the light sensors were a complete failure in the end. It was not consistent.

[@ИванТихонов-л8ы]

Oh! I need such door! Thank you for you video!

[@crenneker]

Thanks for posting. I've tried three different brands of automatic chicken coop doors and have not been happy. Two failed completely. The one that is working killed a bird a few months ago as it got caught in the door. I want to modify your plan and build my own system to control two doors (coop and run), use a look-up table for seasonal changes in sunrise/sunset times (I don't want the light sensor due to ambient lighting in the area), sensors for the chickens and/or gravity-only closing. With gravity-only, I want an interlock to keep my local racoon from pushing the door up. He likes to eat their food.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Hi Craig - We have had this door for around 18 months now and I did move over to the chicken guard controller as my attempt to program my own did not go to welll. The door is on a string so it won’t shut on the birds and it does interlock so safe from predators. Well worth just having the door even if you didn’t go for the whole system.

[@Weirdomanification]

Nice build!

[@oasibioserendipity2026]

Hi, I was watching your project and I like the way you did the work. I have various sensors and components for Arduino laying around in my home and I nearly have everything. I have two 12 v motors from a car window mechanism and was wondering if that motor could be ok. I was also reading your comment where you say light sensor was a failure...better program the time for opening and closing am I correct? I don't have the door you have and I have to build it but I was thing at a sensor that reads (maybe infrared or ultrasonic) the presence of a chicken when closing the door. I still have to come up with a locking system once the door is closed. And yes, I will make it possible to control it manually remotely over the internet.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, think programming for time is more secure (sensors get dirty, cloud cover etc etc). The motor does not have to be too big, if the door does come down on a hen then the motor should to have the power to force it even more. Try and get a nice light door.

[@jw3521]

haha! I was trying to kill the bug on the screen but then I noticed it was your pointer!

[@arnoldgreenwood2969]

How long did it take the chickens to learn to go in before the nighttime door closes?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

They were really quick learners so about a week. Our 2 new ones are a different story, they walk the ramp but the 2 bouncers peck and squark, if tour names not on the list your not coming in 😂

[@joachimdeklerck244]

What door do you use? I want to Make it.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Hi There - the door I used was from Chicken Guard - very light and simple to install.

[@ImSaari]

Subbed

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers, thanks for watching

[@yurakovalec7292]

I have done very similar with Woodglut designs.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is still going strong and looks exactly the same s when I built it..... need another one soon though 😉