What a great idea this is – and only A$129.99 on eBay. I will certainly be getting and installing one. Of course foxes can strike during the day too – but so often it is because you are late home or have forgotten to lock the chooks up. I will be teaming this up with my fox-proof fences to try and ensure that we can have a few hens again in a soon-to-be-restored poultry facility.
There is some debate about what type of chooks we should get. the traditional chooks on this farm (for the century before we owned it were White Sussex, do that is tempting. then there are Australorps, the only authentic Australian breed. Araucanas with their coloured eggs are a temptation too, but we have had Rhode Island Reds before and would like to have them again. They are a charming breed with lovely brown eggs. I think we already have names for them. My grandson is going to really enjoy going up to the chook house to collect the eggs. I can hardly wait either – but back to the door opener…
‘Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener – Light Sensitive or Timer Operation.
Never forget to lock the chooks up again and losing your flock to foxes!
Easy to install and set and forget.
Has four modes for you to choose from:
1/ Set time to open and Set time to close.
2/ Set time to open and Automatically close at Sunset
3/ Automatically open with the morning light and set time to close
4/ Open Automatically at sunrise and Automatically close at sunset
Flexibility to suit every need.
Features:
Operates on light sensitivity or Timer
Will lift a door .03kg to 1kg
Weather Proof
Runs up to 1 year on 4AA Batteries (included)
Comes with Aluminium Door and Rails
Four operating modes
Comes with instructions
Australian Made
Comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, just return it within 30 days if you are not completely satisfied’
I will probably try to include a solar charger to the battery set-up so that they never run flat – and I will afford some quality batteries to run it – like these Enerloops.
I will also probably add another idea to my new chook house, a ‘fox-proof ladder’ just as a further safeguard. I am so over having my beloved hens (and other critters – especially lambs!) destroyed by Brer Fox.
I will have the chickens entering and leaving their house higher up than a fox can reach. The chooks will have to hop up a wobbly ‘ladder’ made of a single length of 2″ plastic pipe with 1″ plastic pipe rungs pushed through it about every foot. A hen will easily learn to hop along up it, but a fox ought not be able to climb it! Photo to follow.
Door Opener available on Ebay here.
See Also:
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2015/11/01/eneloop-pro-aaa-battery/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2015/04/01/eneloops-rechargeable-batteries/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2018/03/23/brer-fox/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2018/05/06/hello-possums/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2015/04/01/vermin-proof-fence/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2018/07/06/wildlife-proof-fencing/
https://www.theultralighthiker.com/2018/08/03/poachers-moon/
A PS: The Ring-Tailed Possum have moved into the Macadamia trees with a much larger nest – boy how they will boom when I get that vermin-proof fence finished this summer!
PPS: I have borrowed the pics. I hope the seller doesn’t mind. I hope to help them sell a few more openers after all!
Unfortunately it’s only the door for that price. The door and motor are $129.
Well spotted Jake. Thank you. I have edited the post to show that fact. I will be buying one anyway as the chickens’ lives are well worth that small investment. Cheers, Steve.
Agreed Steve. Money could possibly be saved by building a door with C channel and ridged plastic. They are a great idea and should help keep those chooks safe.
They are a great idea and certainly should save having to make that after dark trip (usually mid winter) when you arrive home late.
I’m sure I could build my own door. I have to rebuild the chook house and indeed the whole poultry complex. It dates from the 1940s and is just not good enough anymore and a bit of an eyesore. It is on my project list along with many pother things eg finishing the house which began in 1883!