Forgot to document the new coop door. I mainly decided to install an automatic door because Luanne was starting to get annoyed with my needing to get home from wherever we might be to close the coop against rodents and predators. My being a chicken farmer was cramping her social calendar. I also like that the door opens 20 minutes after sunrise to let the hens out. I’m rarely up that early and this gives the hens the maximum safe foraging time.
The Slovakian door (best rated solar door on the market today) is designed to go on a wooden wall, but I want it on the wire coop. That required me to build a frame for the door and attach it to the coop’s metal frame. Once I had everything built, two coats of barn paint were applied to the redwood. Final step was to mount everything to the coop and cut the hole in the wire.
It took the girls a little time to realize they needed to use it to get in and out. I expected as much so I checked them right after sunset for the first few days. The first night, the buffs were both outside the coop waiting at the walk-in door to be let in. I opened the solar door from my phone via Bluetooth and they quickly figured things out. I found one of the pullets sleeping in the goat feeder the next night. Grabbed her and showed her how to go inside via the new door. All the hens now seem fully accustomed to the little portal.
Ed
