Why Every Chicken Keeper Needs an Automatic Chicken Coop Door

Why I use and strongly advise including an automatic chicken coop door to your setup.

 A reliable auto coop door is a game changer for backyard poultry keepers and commercial keepers alike, offering convenience, security and peace of mind. 

Here are 5 reasons why I have decided that it will be the first product that Primary Poultry releases and why it will enhance your poultry-keeping journey.

 

Convenience and Time-Saving

Let's start with the obvious. Do you like your chickens out of the coop before you wake up? Do you want to ensure they’re locked away before you get home? Do you hate asking people to let them out and get them away when you go on holiday? The flexibility that these devices give you is instrumental to a happy and rewarding chicken-keeping experience.

 

I can't tell you how much of a game changer these things are - especially ones that you can fix onto your existing coop. I tried the drawstring ones for a good year or so before giving up on them due to them constantly getting stuck. The same can be said for the ones you can pick up for £30 or so, the timers on them aren't reliable and they open and close whenever they feel like it. They also don't have any security features unlike the PoultrySmart PRO does. (Shameless plug I know)  

 

I'm definitely not the only one with a busy schedule, and I won't lie and say there haven't been a few times I've forgotten to let the hens out in the past. I do get it though - that watching them come out of the coop first thing in the morning to begin another day of scratching around isn't wonderful, but the freedom that these coop doors give you is so worth it. 

 

You can set them up - the good ones at least, to open and close with the setting of the sun using the inbuilt light sensor, or at a set time. I use a mixture of both. I have mine set up to open when the sun rises, and close at 7:30 PM in winter and around 9:30 PM in summer to maximise sunlight exposure and minimise predictor risk. 

 

Some come with remote controls - yes you heard that right - and the PoultrySmart PRO is one of them.

You don't even need to leave your house if you don't want to, and if that's not enough to convince you then I'm not sure what else will, but il give it a go...

The PoultrySmart PRO also runs by harnessing the power of the sun, meaning no batteries go flat, although you can charge it using the included charger if you live in a particularly shady area.

 

Maximise Security

The top shelf auto coop doors are made tough. Being made of metal and ultra-tough plastics to provide a strong barrier between hungry Mr. Fox (Other predators are available) and your beloved hens. 

Aside from the more toothy creatures looking to get inside the coop, a secure door will deter pests looking to eat and contaminate the feed or steal warmth and eggs. Which in turn lowers the risk of your flock catching diseases and getting sick.

 

Human error is also a factor worth considering if you're looking to get one of these products. None of us are perfect, and accidentally forgetting to open the coop or close it at night is always possible. 

 

The highest quality auto doors come with in-built safety features to make sure that chickens don't get squashed by the door when it is closing. The PoultrySmart PRO can sense if something is in the way and raises itself back up again around 3 seconds later giving the bird time to move out of the way.

 

Better Chicken Health

A consistent routine is essential for a chicken to live a healthy and happy life and to continue to provide you with the freshest most golden eggs. 

 

Sunlight is a huge factor in this. They need a consistent daylight cycle as this regulates egg production due to the fact that chickens' reproductive systems are directly influenced by the amount of daylight that they receive.

Studies show that 10 - 16 hours of sunlight each day helps maintain a steady egg production cycle. Chickens rely on sunlight to structure their daily routines and encourage natural behaviours. It also ensures a healthy sleep cycle and maintains a strong immune system. 

 

 

 

Peace of mind

We touched on this earlier, but the peace of mind and flexibility that these give you is great. The timers and sensors are reliable and trustworthy so you don't need to interfere and the security that is provided is wonderful. 

 

On the more selfish side, if you open your door to unfavourable conditions and you don't fancy the trip down to the coop then you don't have to! You can stay inside in the warm knowing that your flock is safe, warm and protected from the elements and predators. As well as this, no one wants to come to the coop in the morning and see that there has been a visitor during the night because you forgot to close the door. I can assure you that it's not pleasant. 

 

Weather Resistance

Harsh weather is also a risk when keeping backyard chickens. A coop door needs to be able to stand up to torrential rain, frost and strong winds as these can impact your chicken's overall happiness or worse still. A secure door prevents bedding from getting wet or blown around and drafts from entering and making your chickens cold and uncomfortable.

Good automatic coop doors will also stand up to harsh weather conditions and continue to operate so your mind can be at rest during storms and the like. 

Water resistance is also a big one,  especially living in England where it seems to rain at least once an hour on a good day. All of my coop doors have endured countless storms, snow, hail, and ridiculous wind and even survived having a trampoline thrown at it during a storm last year. So you can be sure that there's not much that mother nature can throw at your coop that will upset your coop door - including trampolines.

 

Conclusion

An automatic coop door is a practical and worthwhile upgrade that you can provide for your chickens and their coop. From enhanced security to convenience and chicken stress reduction, these products offer peace of mind and flexibility and are a must-have for the beginner or professional keeper. 

It's just as well that here at PrimaryPoultry we are developing our own automatic coop door - the PoultrySmart PRO, and it provides everything that we have mentioned here today and more. 

 

Are you ready to upgrade your coop?

 

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Any questions? Please get in touch at info@primarypoultry.com