Add-A-Motor Chicken Coop Door

I give this gear 7 out of 10 acorns.

It is a very simple installation to add on to an existing vertically sliding chicken door.  My door was fairly heavy so I made it lighter just to be safe.  You supply your own light timer and that controls the motor.  This means that as the days get longer or shorter you have to keep adjusting the timer (if you want it to close at dusk).

The motor uses a braided fishing line to pull on the door.  It's attached to the door with a clip that will release if something jams.  I've had my clip release about 4 times.  That's why I docked it a few acorns.  My door doesn't stick and is plenty light for the specs so I'm pretty sure it isn't jamming.  It has a clear hitch at one point as it lifts.  The second Amazon review with a video (by Quigdaddy) shows the door lifting and theirs has the same hop/hitch/catch when the door is about 80% open.

We've had it in use for nearly a year and I'm not sure how long it will last.  If it keeps randomly releasing the clip I may prematurely end its life.  I installed a Pullet Shut door for some friends and that's the kind I would go with next time.  Double the money but probably worth it.  And it can run on a solar panel/battery if the power goes out.  And it has a light sensor to change with the seasons.

One time I came out there and the door was shut in the middle of the day and I found a hen had adjusted the light timer.  So be sure to mount your timer out of chicken reach

The set up of the opening and closing times isn't quite as simple as you'd think.  You have to give the unit power at any time you want it to operate.  But since you're using a light timer, you have to remember to "turn the lights off" at some point before you want the motor to actuate again.  For instance, to open the door at 8am and close at 5pm, you could set the light timer to "turn on the lights" from 8-9am and again from 5-11pm.  The duration of the time when the "lights are on" doesn't matter.  The motor only kicks into action (either up or down) when the light timer first turns on.

Ive used the pullet shut (chickendoors.com) probably 4 years now. I'm on my second set. The hinge broke and when i looked at it i saw a sticker that said "oil here every six months". Doh! Thats on me. Lol.

When i rebought. they now have a charge controller solar panel upgrade. The controller has a digital readout so you know the battery is charged. Great peace of mind considering the consequences of the door being open at night.

If you get some spare time Wayne, you could make a review for the Pullet Shut door (like this one but a whole separate post).  Then it would get onto the review grid too.  

I am surprised the hinge needs oil.  I'd've thought they'd manufacture it with a nylon bushing that wouldn't need lube.