Keeping backyard chickens has become progressively well-known lately, with many individuals selecting to raise their own poultry for fresh eggs, meat, and companionship. In any case, dealing with a chicken coop requires everyday consideration, including opening and shutting the coop door to guarantee the well-being and security of the flock. Traditional manual coop doors can be inconvenient and tedious, particularly during nasty weather conditions or when owners are away from home. Fortunately, technological advancements have resulted in the development of solar automatic chicken coop doors, a practical and effective solution for managing coops. Let’s explore the importance of solar panels in automatic chicken coop door!
A solar automatic chicken coop door is a device that uses timers or light sensors to open and close the door of a chicken coop automatically. Solar panels regularly control these doors, making them energy-productive and harmless to the ecosystem. They have motors or actuators that control the door's movement, allowing it to open and close smoothly without manual intervention.
Solar automatic chicken coop doors depend on solar power to work, removing the requirement for power or batteries. The solar panel gathers sunlight during the day, completely converting it into electrical energy to control the door's motor. A built-in or light sensor decides when the door should open and close, depending on the hour of day or encompassing light levels.
Solar automatic chicken coop doors offer various advantages to backyard chicken owners, making them an essential venture for anybody hoping to streamline coop management. The following are some significant benefits:
One of the essential benefits of solar automatic chicken coop doors is their convenience. By automatically opening and closing the coop door based on preset timers or light sensors, these doors eliminate the requirement for manual intervention. This can save chicken owners time and effort, particularly during occupied mornings or when owners are away from home.
The chicken coop automatic door helps to upgrade the security of the chicken coop by shutting it around evening time when hunters are generally dynamic. This diminishes the risk of hunters like foxes, raccoons, and owls accessing the coop and hurting the herd. With a solar automatic chicken coop door, chicken owners can confidently ensure their chickens are protected and safeguarded.
Solar automatic chicken coop doors are designed to endure different weather patterns, including precipitation, snow, and outrageous temperatures. This guarantees consistent operation throughout the year, regardless of the weather. The solid development and weatherproof marks of these doors assist with keeping moisture and drafts out of the coop, establishing a comfortable and secure climate for the chickens.
Automatic coop doors are exceptionally energy-efficient and harmless to the ecosystem by leveraging solar power. They diminish dependence on conventional power sources and help lower energy bills. The solar panels gather daylight during the day, changing it into electrical energy completely to drive the door's motor, making these doors a supportable solution for coop management.
Numerous solar chicken coop doors have programmable clocks or flexible settings, permitting owners to customize the door's operation to suit their requirements and preferences. You can easily adjust the door's settings to meet your routine and your flock's needs while opening and closing at specific times of the day or in response to ambient light levels.
Picking a solar automatic chicken coop door requires cautious thought of a few factors to ensure the coop activity's security, comfort, and productivity. Here are a few critical factors to consider:
In short, solar automatic chicken coop doors offer a convenient, efficient, and sustainable solution to coop management for backyard chicken owners. With benefits such as convenience, security, and energy efficiency, these doors have revolutionized chicken safety. By leveraging solar panels, you can get reliable and hassle-free solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of your flock.
]]>Chicken keepers face the challenge of guaranteeing their feathered companions stay warm and comfortable in the colder months as winter comes. Winterizing a chicken coop becomes crucial to safeguard your flock from the harsh environment and keep up with their general prosperity. This article will explain the fundamental tips to winterize your chicken coop, with a unique focus on the role of automatic chicken coop door in establishing a comfortable and secure environment for your poultry. We will also explain the strategies to protect your chicken in winter and make managing your coop more effective and convenient using automatic doors.
Winterizing your chicken coop with automatic doors is a comprehensive way to ensure the prosperity of your feathered friends during the colder months. By combining proper insulation, ventilation, and the comfort of automated coop access, you establish a comfortable and secure climate that advances the well-being and happiness of your group. As winter approaches, implementing the following tips will safeguard your chickens from the chill environment. Follow the below tips to protect your flock using an auto chicken coop door:
One of the essential aspects of winterizing your chicken coop is appropriate insulation. Insulating the coop retains heat, saving the inside warmer for your chickens. You should consider using materials like straw, hay, or wood shavings on the coop floor for extra protection. To prevent drafts, seal any coop structure cracks or gaps. Thus, well-insulated walls and a strong roof are essential in keeping a comfortable temperature inside the coop.
While insulation is critical for warmth, sufficient ventilation is equally significant. Proper airflow prevents moisture buildup, which can lead to respiratory issues in chickens. Ventilation also controls the temperature inside the coop, keeping it from being excessively humid. Therefore, you should install vents with flexible covers to manage airflows according to weather conditions. Nonetheless, be careful not to make drafts that could make the coop unreasonably cold. Finding the proper balance between protection and ventilation is critical to a healthy coop climate.
In cold temperatures, furnishing your chickens with access to liquid water becomes challenging. Get a heated water dispenser, or use a heated water base to stop water from freezing. Hydration is pivotal for your chickens' prosperity, and ensuring access to water even in chilly climates is fundamental. Check water sources consistently to ensure they stay unfrozen, and consider having a backup system set up if there are power outages.
Dealing with your chickens' nourishment during winter is indispensable for their well-being and egg production. Automatic feeders can be a significant resource, ensuring your chickens have a consistent food supply without exposing them to the virus. These feeders are designed to dispense food at scheduled times, minimizing the frequency of coop visits in a freezing climate. Therefore, you should pick a feeder that is durable, simple to clean, and reasonable for the size of your flock.
Position your coop so that it gets as much sunlight as possible during the winter to get the most out of the natural sunlight. Daylight gives warmth and helps sanitize the coop by killing harmful bacteria. Maintain regular window cleaning to allow sunlight to enter the coop. Therefore, consider utilizing reflective surfaces to amplify natural light and establish a seriously welcoming climate for your chickens.
One of the key features in modern chicken coop management is the utilization of automatic chicken coop doors. These doors provide ease for chicken keepers, which allows scheduled opening and closing times without manual intervention. During winter, auto chicken coop doors become especially significant, reducing time spent in chilly environments and minimizing heat loss. Moreover, automatic doors improve the security of the coop by preventing predators from acquiring easy access during the night.
Set a predictable timetable for the automatic doors to open and close. This routine assists your chickens in establishing a routine and urges them to return to the coop at night. The planned activity also permits you to adjust coop access with sunshine hours to ensure your chickens are securely concealed before sunset. Therefore, consistent indoor activities add to your overall prosperity and reduce the stress of your flock.
While picking an automatic chicken coop door, you should invest in a solid and durable product. Look for features like a battery backup in case of power outages, flexible opening and closing times, and sensors that can detect obstructions. Thus, a well-designed and powerful system will increase your winterized coop's proficiency and give you peace of mind in dealing with your flock.
To maintain the functionality of automatic doors, you should perform regular maintenance checks. Clean the door system, eliminate trash or deterrents, and investigate the sensors for appropriate activity. Lubricate moving parts as the manufacturer prescribes to prevent freezing in chilly climates. Thus, routine maintenance expands the lifespan of the automatic chicken door and minimizes the risk of malfunctions during winter.
No matter what winterization methodologies are utilized, monitoring your flock regularly is pivotal. Notice their behavior, check for signs of stress or illness, and adjust your winterization plan, depending on the situation. Each flock is remarkable, and understanding the particular requirements of your chickens will add to their overall well-being and happiness during the colder months.
In short, the winterization of your chicken coop, combined with the integration of an automatic door, is a robust strategy that addresses the challenges of chilly climate and the convenience of poultry management. By following the tips illustrated in this guide, you can establish a comfortable and secure environment for your feathered companions, ensuring their prosperity all through the winter months.
]]>The safety of feathered flocks is essential in the world of poultry farming. Investing in an automatic chicken coop door is one of the critical considerations for providing a secure environment for your birds. This seamless technology can make a significant difference in the overall management of your poultry, leading to efficient and stress-free operation.
Compared to manual doors, automatic chicken coop door technology offers various benefits that will surprise you. We strive to deliver the best automatic chicken coop door designed to open and close automatically according to your set schedules or light sensors, providing an efficient and consistent routine for your chicken. This technology can save time and effort and protect your chickens from external threats like predators. This article will explore the various benefits of opting for an auto chicken coop door and how it can improve the health, safety, and productivity of your poultry operations. Let's get started!
Here are the most significant reasons you should go for an automatic chicken coop door over a traditional setup:
One of the primary reasons for choosing the best automatic chicken door is the robust security for your feathered companions. The traditional setups have manual doors, and there is always a risk of human error- a door left open or closed too late can jeopardize the safety of your chickens. On the other hand, automatic doors can help you set up schedules, ensuring that the coop is sealed during the night and opened at a suitable time in the morning. Therefore, you should invest in a reliable automatic door that can create a robust line of defense and give you the peace of mind that your chicken is safe from predators.
Any disruption in the chicken routine can cause stress and affect the overall safety of your chicken. We have the best automatic chicken coop door with various benefits, including consistent and reliable schedules for your chickens. This automatic door setting can open and close the door appropriately, ensuring your chickens experience a predictable daily routine. Our automated door technology allows your chicken to receive optimal daylight exposure.
You can face trouble due to manual labor, but our automatic doors can perform specific tasks to lighten the workload. With the functionality of daily automatic door opening and closing, you can save valuable time and effort. During inclement weather or when you are away from the coop, this automatic chicken door technology can protect your chickens by following your routine. The time saved can be utilized towards other aspects of poultry management; you can collect the rewards of chicken keeping without the added stress of constant door monitoring.
Life is unpredictable, and your schedule may not always align with the natural rhythms of your chickens. But our automatic chicken coop door can offer the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. If you have an early morning commitment, our auto door chicken is programmed to accommodate your schedule and ensure your chickens remain secure and safe. Moreover, the automatic door allows you to maintain consistent care for your chickens if you plan for vacations or short trips. The adaptability of these doors can improve your ability to manage your poultry operations perfectly without jeopardizing the security of chickens.
Modern automatic chicken coop doors are often equipped with innovative technology, enabling remote monitoring and control. With the integration of smartphone apps or other digital interfaces, you can check the status of your coop door and even adjust settings from anywhere with an internet connection. This level of remote accessibility adds an extra layer of convenience, especially for busy individuals or those who travel frequently, ensuring that you remain connected to your flock.
Investing in a high-quality automatic chicken coop door means prioritizing durability and long-term reliability. These doors are built with robust materials and advanced engineering, minimizing malfunctions or breakdowns. The longevity of such doors ensures a sustained level of protection and convenience and saves you from the cost of frequent repairs or replacements.
Many automated door systems have low battery backup, but our robust automatic chicken coop door has battery backup features. In power failure situations, our auto chicken door can continue to operate without interruption using stored battery power to protect your chickens. This feature is significantly valuable in unreliable power sources, adding an extra layer of reliability to your poultry operations.
Our automatic chicken door often comes with additional features, such as adjustable settings for climate control. The automatic door is programmed to open earlier during the hot summer days, promoting efficient ventilation and preventing the coop from becoming too warm. But these automatic doors open late during the colder months to retain heat and provide your chickens with an efficient and comfortable environment. Therefore, you should use an automatic door with climate features to optimize your chicken's living conditions.
Every flock and chicken keeper has unique preferences and requirements. Our automatic chicken coop door has customizable settings for individual needs. Whether you prefer a specific opening and closing speed, want to adjust the sensitivity of light sensors, or need to set a unique schedule, the ability to customize these settings allows you to tailor the door's operation to suit the specific needs of your flock and your personal preferences.
Our modern automatic chicken door is designed to be energy efficient. It has low-power components and energy-saving features that can help to minimize electricity consumption. We have a sustainable and environmentally friendly auto chicken coop door while maintaining a high level of care for your chickens.
In short, you should not compromise the safety and security of your chickens by opting for cheaper alternatives. By choosing our automatic chicken coop door, you can perform poultry operations efficiently. These automatic doors also offer security and reliability to your chickens. Therefore, you will enjoy the keeping experience without dealing with the daily hassle of manually opening and closing the coop doors.
]]>An automatic chicken door has several benefits for both you and your chickens. Firstly, it eliminates the need for manual opening and closing of the coop door, which can be time-consuming and tiring. With an automatic door, you can set a specific time for the door to open and close, so you don't have to worry about it every day. Even better, some automatic chicken doors feature Dusk-to-Dawn (a.k.a. Dawn-to-Dusk) operation. Dusk-to-Dawn is preferred over a time schedule since you do no need to update the schedule through the year.
Secondly, an automatic door provides a safer environment for your chickens. Manual opening and closing of the coop door can allow predators such as foxes, raccoons, and snakes, which can harm your chickens to enter the coop if you forget to close the door or close the door too late in the evening. An automatic door ensures that your chickens are secure and safe inside the coop, especially at night when predators are most active.
Lastly, an automatic door can improve the health of your chickens. Chickens need natural light to regulate their internal clocks, and an automatic door can provide them with just that. With an automatic door, your chickens can wake up with the sunrise and sleep with the sunset, which can improve their overall health and well-being and enables their natural free-range instincts.
When choosing an automatic chicken door, there are several features to consider. Firstly, you should consider the size of your coop and the number of chickens you have. The automatic door should be large enough to accommodate your chickens, and the opening and closing mechanism should be smooth and quiet to prevent startling your chickens.
Secondly, you should consider the power source of the automatic door. Some doors are powered by electricity, while others use batteries or solar power. Choose a power source that is convenient for you and your location.
Lastly, you should consider the safety features of the automatic door. Look for doors which do not re-open if they meet an obstruction. Re-opening will put all your chickens at risk. Additionally, look for doors with manual override options in case of power failure or other emergencies.
Automatic doors can improve the health and safety of your chickens in several ways. Firstly, they provide a consistent schedule for your chickens, which can improve their overall health and well-being. Chickens need a regular sleep cycle, and an automatic door can provide them with a natural sleep schedule uninhibited by fear of predators entering the coop.
Secondly, automatic doors can prevent predators from entering the coop. Manual opening and closing of the coop door can be undependable and allow predators to enter the coop, which can harm your chickens. With an automatic door, predators are less likely to detect the presence of your chickens, which can keep them safe.
Lastly, automatic doors can prevent your chickens from escaping and getting lost. Chickens are curious creatures and can wander off if given the chance. An automatic door ensures that your chickens stay inside the coop at night, preventing them from getting lost or injured.
An automatic chicken door can save you time and labor in several ways. Firstly, it eliminates the need for manual opening and closing of the coop door, which can be time-consuming and tiring. An automatic door opens and closes automatically, so you don't have to worry about it every day.
Secondly, an automatic door can save you the hassle of having to wake up early in the morning to open the coop door. With an automatic door, your chickens can wake up with the sunrise, and you can sleep in a little longer. This can be especially helpful during the winter months when the days are shorter.
Lastly, an automatic door can save you the hassle of having to rush home to close the coop door at night. With an automatic door, you can set a specific time for the door to close, so you don't have to worry about it if you're running late.
An automatic chicken door provides several security benefits for your chickens. Firstly, it prevents predators from entering the coop and harming your chickens. If you forget to close your manual chicken door, nighttime predators are very likely to seize the opportunity. With an automatic door, predators are less likely to detect the presence of your chickens, which can keep them safe.
Secondly, an automatic door can prevent theft of your chickens. Chickens are valuable commodities, and theft can be a real concern for chicken owners. An automatic door provides an added layer of security, making it more difficult for thieves to access your chickens.
Lastly, an automatic door can prevent your chickens from wandering off and getting lost. Chickens are curious creatures and can wander off if given the chance. An automatic door ensures that your chickens stay inside the coop, preventing them from getting lost or captured by a nighttime predator.
An automatic chicken door provides several environmental benefits for your chickens. Firstly, it allows your chickens to have access to natural light, which can improve their overall health and well-being. Chickens need natural light to regulate their internal clocks, and an automatic door can provide them with just that.
Secondly, an automatic door can provide proper ventilation for your chickens. Chickens need fresh air to breathe, and an automatic door can provide them with the necessary ventilation without exposing them to dangerous drafts.
Lastly, an automatic door can save energy by using solar power. Solar-powered automatic doors are becoming more popular, and they can help reduce your carbon footprint while providing the same benefits as electric or battery-powered doors.
The cost of an automatic chicken door can vary depending on the quality, size, power source, and features. Electric and battery-powered doors tend to be more expensive than solar-powered doors. However, solar-powered doors require more upfront costs for the solar panel and battery.
It's important to consider the long-term cost savings of an automatic door. An automatic door can save you time and labor in the long run, which can be invaluable for busy chicken owners. Additionally, an automatic door can improve the health and safety of your chickens, which can prevent costly vet bills in the future. Most importantly, a good automatic chicken door will help to protect your poultry livestock investment.
When choosing an automatic chicken door, it's important to consider the size of your coop and the number of chickens you have. The door should be large enough to accommodate your chickens, and the opening and closing mechanism should be smooth and quiet to prevent startling your chickens.
Additionally, consider the power source of the automatic door. Some doors are powered by electricity, while others use batteries or solar power. Choose a power source that is convenient for you and your location.
An automatic chicken door can be a game-changer for both you and your feathered friends. Not only does it save you time and energy, but it also provides a safer environment for your chickens. With an automatic door, you can set a specific time for the door to open and close, so you don't have to worry about it every day. Additionally, an automatic door can improve the health and safety of your chickens, which can prevent costly vet bills in the future. When choosing an automatic chicken door, consider the size of your coop, the power source, and the safety features. With the right automatic door, you and your chickens can enjoy the benefits of a safer, more convenient, and healthier coop environment.
]]>Manual doors are the traditional way of securing your chicken coop. They are simple, cheap, and effective, but they require a lot of effort and maintenance. On the other hand, automatic doors are a more advanced and convenient option. They offer a range of benefits that manual doors cannot match, including:
Predators are a constant threat to your chickens, and manual doors provide little protection against them. Automatic doors, on the other hand, are designed to keep predators out. They close automatically to prevent any harm to your chickens. This means that you can rest easy knowing that your flock is safe and sound, even when you're not around.
Manual doors require you to physically open and close them every day, which can be time-consuming and tiring. Automatic doors, on the other hand, do all the work for you. They can be programmed to open and close at specific times, so you don't need to worry about forgetting to lock them up at night or letting your chickens out in the morning. This means that you can spend more time enjoying your chickens and less time worrying about their safety.
Manual doors are not only inconvenient, but they can also be a drain on your energy bills. They provide little insulation and can let in cold drafts during the winter. Automatic doors, on the other hand, are designed to be energy-efficient. They provide insulation and can be programmed to open and close at specific times to regulate the temperature and light exposure inside the coop. This means that you can save money on your energy bills and provide a more comfortable environment for your chickens.
Choosing the right automatic door for your chicken coop can be a daunting task, especially if you're new to chicken keeping. There are many factors to consider, including:
There are two main types of automatic doors: sliding doors and vertical doors. Sliding doors slide open and closed horizontally, while vertical doors open and close vertically. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the one that best suits your needs.
The size of your automatic door will depend on the size of your coop and the number of chickens you have. It's important to choose a door that is big enough for your chickens to move in and out comfortably, but not so big that it compromises the security of your coop.
Automatic doors can be powered by electricity or solar. Electric doors are more reliable and require less maintenance, but they are more expensive and some require professional installation. Solar battery-powered doors are easy to install, but they do require sufficient sun exposure. Determine if the area where your chicken coop is located and the amount of direct sunlight available for operating a solar powered automatic chicken door.
Automatic doors can range in price from around $50 to over $1,000, depending on the type, size, power source and optional coop management accessories. It's important to choose a door that fits your budget, but also provides the features and functionality that you need.
Installing an automatic door in your chicken coop is a relatively simple process, but it does require some basic DIY skills. Here are the steps to follow:
The first step is to choose the right location for your automatic door. It should be positioned in a place that is easily accessible for your chickens, but also provides adequate protection from predators.
The next step is to install the frame for your automatic door. This will usually involve drilling holes into your coop and attaching the frame securely. These automatic chicken coop doors are constructed with the door frame, which simplifies installation.
The motor is the heart of your automatic door, and it's important to install it correctly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, and make sure that the motor is securely attached to the frame. These automatic doors for chicken coops include the motor which is already installed and tested for door operation.
Once the motor is installed, it's time to attach the door. This will usually involve sliding or attaching the door to the motor, and then testing it to make sure it opens and closes smoothly. These automatic chicken doors are a complete unit and have the sliding door installed and tested for operation.
The final step is to test the door to make sure that it opens and closes correctly. Make any necessary adjustments, and then enjoy the convenience and security that your new automatic door provides.
Maintaining your automatic door is important to ensure that it continues to function properly and lasts for many years. Here are some tips to help you keep your automatic door in good working order:
Clean the door drive mechanism regularlyAutomatic doors can get dirty and dusty over time, which can cause them to malfunction. Clean the drive mechanism per manufacturer recommendation. For example: the Acme threaded worm drive on Coop Tender Automatic Chicken Doors is cleaned with WD-40 and a towel.
The sensors on your automatic door are critical for detecting predators and opening and closing the door. Make sure that they are clean and free from obstructions, and test them regularly to ensure that they are working correctly.
If your automatic door is battery-powered, make sure to check the battery regularly and replace it when necessary. A dead battery can cause your door to malfunction and compromise the safety of your chickens.
Yes, automatic doors are safe for chickens. They are designed to prevent predators from entering the coop and harming your chickens.
The cost of an automatic door can vary depending on the size, type, and power source. Prices can range from around $50 to over $1,000.
Many electric automatic chicken doors require professional installation. You can find automatic chicken doors which will operate with electricity or battery and are easy to install for the average, or not so average, DIYer.
Yes, many automatic door models can be paired with a solar panel to provide a sustainable and energy-efficient power source.
Installing an automatic door in your chicken coop is a smart investment that can make your life as a chicken owner easier and more efficient. It provides improved safety for your chickens, increased convenience for you, and energy efficiency for your coop. With a wide range of options available on the market today, it's easy to find an automatic door that fits your specific needs and budget. So, if you're looking to take your chicken-keeping experience to the next level, consider installing an automatic door in your coop. Your chickens will thank you for it.
]]>Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Door has migrated to a service subscription business model for its Internet Wi-Fi Module with Universal Web App™ product.
In this article, the reasons behind the migration and the realities of operating a fleet of IoT (Internet of Things) devices is brought to light.
“Traditional hardware purchases do not support software investments. Companies who are investing money to create ongoing value for customers through software but aren’t charging customers for that value either need infinite cash to support those investments (Amazon/Google) or those products will get shut down (Insteon, Revolv, etc.)” (Supalla, 2022)
In the early years (2014 – 2015), the cost to provide the infrastructure and product to compliment and add value to their automatic chicken doors was low.
The IoT (Internet of Things) landscape was still developing. The ongoing costs for IoT device hosting and data were relatively low.
Coop Tender® decided not to charge customers for the ongoing costs of operating the IoT – Internet Wi-Fi Module and Universal Web App technologies.
The key notion was that IoT infrastructure operating costs would fall over time, like the drop in cost for data storage over the years. (Mearian, 2017)
IoT infrastructure operating costs have increased over the years instead of decreasing.
The landscape for IoT device infrastructure is dominated by data. As such, businesses which provide infrastructure services generate revenue from data storage and transmission, or by providing integrated services such as email and SMS messaging.
Beyond the initial hardware purchase, the ongoing cost of operating the infrastructure required to provide the benefits of an Internet connected automatic chicken door has increased to the point that it is necessary for Coop Tender® to begin charging for use of the infrastructure.
Coop Tender® now offers a Cloud Service Subscription which helps to cover the costs of operating the IoT device infrastructure.
The service is free for the first year. After the first year, the service will renew at the yearly rate of $55 (15 cents / day). A monthly rate of $5 per month (17 cents / day) is also available.
Your Coop Tender Wi-Fi Cloud Service Subscription helps cover the costs which are incurred with each module for hosting, data, and messaging.
Each of the Cloud Service partners below provide an integral aspect to the Coop Tender® Internet Wi-Fi Module’s key features and benefits.
Microsoft Azure
Particle IoT (Internet of Things)
Messaging
Subscriptions are automatically billed to the payment method associated with your subscription.
Purchase of a Coop Tender® Internet Wi-Fi Module or an Automatic Chicken Door bundle which includes the Internet Wi-Fi Module receives 1 year of free Cloud Services.
Each subsequent year will be billed at the yearly subscription rate of $19.99.
Customers may choose a monthly subscription billing rate of $1.99/month after the initial 1-year period by contacting us.
Cancel at any time by contacting us with your cancellation request.
The following hardware components are required:
One Cloud Services Subscription is required for each Internet Wi-Fi Module in operation.
Mearian, L. (2017, March 23). Data storage goes from $1M to 2 cents per gigabyte. Retrieved from ComputerWorld.com: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3182207/cw50-data-storage-goes-from-1m-to-2-cents-per-gigabyte.html
Supalla, Z. (2022, April 26). Hardware/Software Business Models. Retrieved from atomsandbits.io: https://www.atomsandbits.io/p/hardware-software-business-models
]]>Some nighttime predators can and will destroy your entire flock if they have access to the inside of your chicken coop when your hens are roosting.
A recent study by the University of Minnesota shows that nearly 80 percent of all cause-specific losses of chickens are directly related to predators.[i]
If you consider that it costs up to $25 per month to raise one chicken[ii], that’s $300 to raise and feed one chicken for one year. If you feed your poultry organically, then your costs could be even higher.
Losing even one chicken to a predator has a financial and emotional impact.
The best way to ensure that your coop door is opened and securely closed every day is to install an automatic chicken coop door.
Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Door was introduced to the market in 2014.
Requests for a slightly larger door for ducks and smaller backyard turkey breeds led to the introduction of the Coop Tender® Large Automatic Chicken Door in 2016. The Large Automatic Chicken Door Opener has done well to provide automatic coop door operation for large chicken breeds, ducks, and smaller turkey breeds.
More recently, we began receiving requests for an even larger door, to accommodate geese and larger turkey breeds.
We are pleased to introduce the Coop Tender® Extra Lage Automatic Chicken Door.
The Extra-Large Automatic Chicken Coop Door maintains the durable, aesthetically pleasing design and unparalleled functionality aspects of Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors. Furthermore, the 15-inch wide by 15-inch high (38 cm x 38 cm) opening is suitable for all chicken breeds, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors are manufactured in the USA to exacting standards. Automatic Coop Door production includes numerous quality control checks and diagnostic tests throughout the process.
Three distinct manufacturing processes culminate into final product assembly and quality assurance testing.
This process begins with manual selection of top-quality lumber. Warped, bowed, marked, and damaged lumber is eliminated from the manufacturing process. Only high-quality, indoor-outdoor rated lumber is used.
Woodworkers then cut and assemble the core automatic chicken door components which include the controller housing, door frame, door, and mounting panels.
Precision woodworking tools are used to achieve less than 1/32-inch (0.8 mm) variance in cuts, cutouts and holes.
Woodworking jigs are used during manufacturing to ensure that each unit being produced matches specifications. Squareness of the door frame is checked and ensured multiple times throughout assembly.
Only Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is used. Titebond III is water resistant and offers superior bond strength. Wood clamps are used on major joints to ensure a bond which is as strong as the original wood.
After assembly, each unit is routed to give the chicken door unit a more finished, refined look.
Finally, Rain Guard Non-Toxic Water Sealer is applied and the woodworking portion of automatic chicken door manufacturing is complete.
Electronics manufacturing starts with parts acquisition. If even one of the nearly 200 parts (bill of materials) which go into a single automatic chicken door is missing, production is halted.
Electronics manufacturing begins with a good BOM (Bill Of Materials) management system. ERPAG (erpag.com) is our system of choice. With it, we can quickly and easily manage bill of materials to ensure parts are available.[iii]
Electronic circuit boards for Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors and accessories all follow the same manufacturing process:
The mechanical aspect comes in during final assembly.
Only after all mechanical, quality, electronic and functional tests have successfully completed is the product released for shipment.
Whether you are raising chickens, ducks, geese or turkeys, Coop Tender® has an Automatic Chicken Door to fit your needs.
The chart below helps to determine which automatic coop door is most suitable for your backyard poultry.
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Large Chickens |
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Ducks |
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Turkeys |
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Geese |
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Large Turkeys |
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Suitable for small and medium backyard chicken breeds. For larger chicken breeds such as Brahma, Jersey Giants, and Cochin breeds, consider the Large Automatic Chicken Door.
Suitable for all chicken breeds, including the larger Jersey Giants, Brahma and Cochin breeds as well as ducks. It is also suitable for smaller turkey breads such as the Midget White, Royal Palm and Bourbon Red varieties up to about 20 pounds. For larger turkey varieties, consider the Extra-Large Automatic Chicken Door.
Suitable for all chicken breeds, ducks, geese as well as small and larger turkey varieties up to 30 pounds.
[i] Alfred, B., P.L. M. Msoffe, F. F. Kajuna, D. Bunn, A. P. Muhairwa, and CJ Cardona. "Causes of Losses in Free-range Local Chickens following Control of Newcastle Disease in Three Villages in Morogoro, Tanzania." Causes of Losses in Free-range Local Chickens following Control of Newcastle Disease in Three Villages in Morogoro, Tanzania. University of Minnesota, USA, 1 July 2012. Web. 17 Aug. 2014.
[ii] "How Much Does It Cost to Raise Backyard Chickens?" BackYard Chickens. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
[iii] The current Electronics Components and Parts Shortage (2021-2022) has created challenges to ensuring that parts are available to build our automatic chicken doors and accessories. We have had to redesign our circuit boards to work with a different micro-controllers and micro-controller formats due to non-existent availability of components.
]]>Automatic Chicken Doors and Automatic Turkey – Large Chicken Doors have dropped in price by as much as 14%. Now is the time to automate your chicken coop door at 2019 prices.
There were several factors which worked to trigger a price increase in 2020.
Over the past few months, lumber prices have stabilized.
Demand has also reverted to pre-pandemic levels which has reduced additional labor requirements.
The micro-controller shortage, which is affecting numerous industries including auto makers, is still a concern. After prices increased, the micro-controllers used in their automatic chicken door controller were no longer available, with availability estimates going into 2022.
Coop Tender® mitigated the issue by updating the electronics and firmware to use a different variation of the micro-controller and invested in inventory. The goal was to invest in enough micro-controllers to ride out the shortage.
Coop Tender® is also investing in larger quantities when purchasing parts to take advantage of higher volume discounts. With over 200 parts for each automatic chicken door, this can be a challenge to manage. The implementation of a new BOM (Bill of Materials) management system has helped immensely.
The old BOM management system was very time consuming to operate and inefficient in providing meaningful insights into manufacturing requirements.
The new system auto-magically retrieves customer orders and supports the manufacturing workflow necessary for rapid order fulfillment and efficient operations.
As a result of reduced raw materials, parts and labor costs in addition to business efficiencies realized due to their new BOM management system, Coop Tender® has rolled back prices. You can get your Internet Wi-Fi Enabled Automatic Chicken Door at pre-2020 prices.
When the next price increase will occur is difficult to determine. Lumber is the largest single material expense for Coop Tender® Automatic Coop Doors. Another 100% or greater jump in lumber cost would be enough to trigger a price increase.
Coop Tender® is a family owned and operated business. You can be assured that everything from order to post-delivery customer service is taken very seriously. A glance through Real Automatic Chicken Door Reviews will help to fortify this notion.
If you have never owned an automatic chicken door, we ask you to consider Coop Tender® for your automatic coop door needs. Coop Tender® doors are a complete solution: door frame, door, solid steel worm drive, powerful gear motor and advanced electronic controller. Many other solutions are not complete solutions and may not be as dependable.
If you have owned an automatic door solution before and are considering a new one, please consider Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors. Manufactured since 2014 with many updates and improvements implemented since then to make their doors the highest quality, durable, dependable and easy to install automatic chicken door on the market.
]]>The Right to Repair concept is simple: if you own the product, you have the right to repair it. The problem is that many manufactures have made it difficult or impossible to repair their products.
We at Coop Tender® have always believed that you should have access to information necessary to troubleshoot and repair your automatic chicken door. We also designed our auto coop door to allow access to most major components without the need to uninstall the door.
Detailed information on how Coop Tender ® Automatic Chicken Doors are manufactured is provided in posts “DIY Automatic Chicken Door – Part 1” and “DIY Automatic Chicken Door – Part 2 – Electronics”.
Details regarding our automatic chicken door design concept and construction method with materials and assembly diagrams enable one to see how the door is manufactured, allowing one to “do it yourself” if necessary.
Automatic Chicken Door Troubleshooting articles may be accessed instantaneously online. This enables our customers to have access to troubleshooting information 24 hours a day.
In most cases repair parts are not necessary. For example: Cleaning the worm drive about once a year is one of the only maintenance requirements of the Coop Tender ® Automatic Chicken Door. If not completed, the door may not open fully or at all. The solution only requires WD-40, a Phillips screwdriver and a towel. Those who check the Coop Tender ® Help Center online will have access to this simple DIY solution.
DIY Parts for your automatic chicken door are available online. Additionally, a browser link to part replacement and installation instructions are available for each part online. Printed instructions are always included with all replacement parts which are ordered.
Thankfully, Coop Tender® has implemented manufacturing updates and quality control measures which have worked to eliminate failures. From material selection to parts acquisition, everything has been scrutinized and optimized to provide the highest quality, most dependable automatic chicken door on the market.
If your automatic chicken door needs service and you do not wish to affect the repair, Coop Tender ® offers repair service for their products in and out of warranty. Warranty repairs are at no cost to the customer except for shipping to the product to our repair center. Out of warranty repairs are charged at a flat rate $20 labor + parts and shipping. The goal is to provide cost effective, quality repair service for our products.
]]>For a really good writeup on the history of chickens, Chris Lesley has written an excellent article called “The Complete History Of Chickens: From Jungles To Backyards”. It is a quick, interesting read.
Humans apparently domesticated chickens around 2000 BC in the ancient Indus valley region of India (Lesley, 2020). The use and importance of chickens has changed quite dramatically throughout time, to the modern day.
Chickens have gone from fighters to special occasion food, and then mass-produced for poultry meat. Eggs have only gained popularity more recently as an excellent source of protein and nutrients. As such, there are also large commercial farms for egg production.
Now, backyard chickens have become one of the most popular urban and suburban hobbies. Chickens are not picky about what they eat and are easy to care for. Not only that, fresh eggs from your own backyard instead of the supermarket is extremely rewarding. And, you know where your eggs came from.
Chickens have even managed to go from an unknown, unappreciated animal, to a well-loved…pet.
In the same period (from roughly 2000 BC to the 21st Century – that’s over 4,000 years…), societies have changed in various ways.
One of the major impacts on society through time has been the creation and use of tools and technology. Tools were important to make jobs not only easier, but possible. Technology has not always been digital bits floating through wires and fiber optics. There are many technology advances which are purely mechanical in nature.
From a modern perspective, societies are considered much more advanced than even a mere 100 years ago. The key factor is how technology has not only interconnected the world but has had a major impact on how we live our lives.
A good example is education. It has only been in recent years that students have been able to learn using technology. School of the Air correspondence schools operated in Australia from 2003 – 2009 (Wikipedia, 2020). School of the Air used shortwave radio to communicate between students and teachers. Now, all you need is an internet connection and browser to access a seemingly unlimited of educational resources for children and adults.
Backyard chicken technology has experienced a similar explosive growth in recent years.
Only recently (mid-1800s) did we begin to provide specialized shelters known as chicken coops (chicken house, hen house, etc.) to our arsenal of advances in managing and caring for backyard chickens. “A Look Back: 19th Century Coops” is a great article by Clare of Curbstone Valley Farm which shows some uniquely interesting chicken coops (circa 1800s).
Chicken feed has gone from whatever they can scratch up from the ground to highly advanced chicken feed.
More recently, chicken coops have been augmented with modern, digital technology. Anyone who has ever cared for backyard chickens knows that if you let your chickens out to free range during the day, you must close the coop door at night. Otherwise, the place your chickens believe to be safe is susceptible to nighttime predators.
A recent study by the University of Minnesota shows that nearly 80% of all cause-specific losses of chickens are associated with predation (B. Alfred, 2012).
Automatic Chicken Doors have become the high-tech advancement your chickens have been waiting for. Your chickens will not need to wait for you to open the coop door in the morning to start looking for bugs and worms. Your chickens will feel safe and secure knowing the coop door is closed securely at night, while they are roosting.
In a short period of time, chicken coop doors have gone from non-existent (early 1800s) to manually operated, and finally Fully Automatic - Internet connected Automatic Chicken Doors which can be monitored, operated, and programmed from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and browser.
If you have backyard chickens and are considering an automatic chicken door, there are many to choose from. With so many to choose from, it could take some time to narrow your selection down to the one which will best fit your requirements. Some prominent online resources have spent the time to analyze the various features and benefits of the automatic chicken doors currently on the market. They provide a good overall summary of each automatic chicken door solution available:
Wiki.ezvid.com: The 10 Best Automatic Chicken Doors
Smart House Today: Automatic Chicken Door Comparison Results
We wish you much enjoyment with your backyard chickens.
Alfred, P. L. (2012, July 1). Causes of losses in free range local chickens following control of Newcastle disease in three villages in Morogoro, Tanzania. Retrieved from University Of Minnesota Research: https://experts.umn.edu/en/publications/causes-of-losses-in-free-range-local-chickens-following-control-o
Lesley, C. (2020, June 23). The Complete History Of Chickens: From Jungles To Backyards. Retrieved from Chickens & More: https://www.chickensandmore.com/history-of-chickens/
Wikipedia. (2020, December 27). School of the Air. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_the_Air
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The first motor we used in manufacturing our automatic chicken door was similar to the type of motor used in record players. We found that this type of motor had enough torque, operated within the required voltage range and used little power (about 150 milliamps), but the RPMs were about half of what we considered ideal.
In 2015, we switched to a motor which fit our requirements very well. It had the speed, torque, operating voltage and current consumption all within our requirement range. The only issue was that the motors were in limited supply and were no longer being manufactured, so it was imperative that we source a replacement.
The challenge in selecting a good motor to operate an automatic chicken door comes down to a few basic requirements:
Our search for a new motor took well over a year. We purchased and tested numerous motors. The motors we tested were within the operating voltage range and speed (RPM) requirements but failed to meet our current consumption and/or torque requirements.
In the summer of 2019, we finally came across a motor that fulfilled all of our requirements. Not only that, the torque was higher and power consumption lower than the motor currently being used in manufacturing our automatic chicken doors. Below are a few technical specifications comparing the two motors (old vs. new):
Technical Specification |
Old Motor |
New Motor |
Operating Voltage (Volts DC) |
9 - 24 |
6 - 24 |
No Load Current (milliamps) |
250 |
40 |
Average Load Current (milliamps) |
300 |
150 |
Speed (RPMs) @ 12 Volts |
90 |
75 |
Torque |
2.5 in -lbs. |
4.8 in-lbs. |
Max. Stall Current (Amps) |
1.5 |
1.3 |
Drive Force (lbs.)* |
25 |
37 |
*Drive Force is amount of force the motor can generate when connected to the worm/screw drive of the door. |
We had a motor mount plate manufactured which would allow the new motor to be retrofitted into our older model automatic chicken doors as well as install into our new doors without any changes to the cabinet manufacturing designs.
Next, we thoroughly tested the motor under extreme operating conditions:
We’re happy to report that the new motor passed our extreme condition testing with flying colors and are now being used on our model CT-003A automatic chicken doors and CT004A automatic turkey – large chicken doors as of January 1, 2020.
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The two primary methods of automatic operation are Time Schedule and Dusk-to-Dawn (a.k.a. Dawn-to-Dusk depending on whether you are looking at an automatic chicken door closer or automatic chicken door opener respectively).
Some automatic chicken door solutions work with a timer to open and close the coop door based on a time schedule. This can be an effective means of managing your coop door, but there are some issues you should be aware of.
The biggest problem is that your chickens have no concept of time, so they don’t know when the door is scheduled to close and may be unfortunate enough to miss the scheduled closing and get locked out of the chicken coop – leaving them vulnerable to nighttime predators.
Another issue with schedule-based door operation is the variance in daylight hours throughout the year. If you set your schedule during the summer, then as winter approaches, the door will be opening too early and closing too late. When opening too early, nighttime predators can still be out looking for an easy meal. When closing too late, your chickens are susceptible to predators until the door closes. The same type of issue arises if you set your schedule based on winter daylight hours (i.e. the door will likely close too early as summer approaches and can lock your chickens out of the coop).
When operating your automatic chicken door using a time schedule, it is very important that you monitor and update the schedule throughout the year – adjusting the open and close times based on current daylight hours. It is probably best to monitor and adjust the time schedule monthly.
Automatic Chicken Door closer operation based on actual daylight (Dusk to Dawn) is generally the most preferred method of operation since it is in tune with how chickens decide when to roost. Your chickens instinctively know to roost in a safe place as daylight transitions into nighttime (dusk). An automatic door closer which closes at dusk will automatically adjust when it closes based on actual daylight hours.
When researching the various automatic chicken doors available on the market, check if it can operate in Dusk to Dawn mode. Then, also check if it is programmable, allowing you to adjust settings based on the behavior of your flock.
For Example: Some chickens may stay out a little later than others. An important feature in this situation would be to program a delay which allows for the stragglers to get into the coop before the door closes. Once the settings have been programmed and adjusted to your flock, you don’t need to make any adjustments throughout the year – which would be necessary if using time schedule operation.
What if you want to remotely control your chicken door instead of going out to your chicken coop to open and close the door each day? Maybe you just want to be notified when your automatic chicken door opens and closes, or a way to monitor door status when you are away. This is where an Internet Wi-fi enabled automatic chicken door is an ideal solution.
With an Internet Wi-Fi connected automatic chicken door and a Wi-Fi network which can be accessed from the chicken coop, you can remotely control your coop door from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and browser, and you can receive notifications when your door opens and closes.
Regardless of which automatic door operating method you decide to use, Coop Tender® Internet WiFi Enabled Automatic Chicken Doors allow you to choose the control method (Schedule, Dusk-to-Dawn or Manual) and are programmable, so you can adjust operation parameters. These doors come pre-programmed to operate in Dusk to Dawn mode with settings that work for most chickens – out of the box. Using the keypad menu on the door controller, it’s easy to adjust settings if necessary. You can also program the door with the Universal Web App™ which is integrated with the Coop Tender® Automatic Coop Door Internet Wi-Fi Module.
In addition to the various operation modes, Coop Tender® automatic coop doors use a solid steel Acme threaded worm / screw drive to open and close the door. This makes them 100% predator proof. Nothing can open the door when it is closed.
Read more about Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors and you’ll know why it is the Top Rated Automatic Chicken Door on the market.
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In our previous DIY Automatic Chicken Door article, we gave you access to detailed plans for building the wooden cabinet, door and motor – door controller housing.
In this article, our intent is to provide information and designs for the electronics-based components in your DYI Automatic Chicken Door.
You learn about a solid and simple solution to opening and closing your coop door. You’ll also learn about the tools, materials and parts which you will need.
Our approach is to provide a modular DIY approach to building your own automatic chicken door. The information which follows, and the associated design files will provide a solid foundation for the electronic and hardware components of your DIY Automatic Chicken Door solution.
See our DIY Automatic Chicken Door – Part 1 article for information and free plans to build the wooden parts.
The electronics do require some special tools including a micro-controller programmer. Coop Tender® offers most of the parts you might need, including a pre-built and tested automatic coop door controller.
At the end of the article, you’ll have access to our Jumpshare cloud file sharing folder with all the files and documents.
As mentioned in our previous post, there are basically 3 major components to an automatic chicken door.
In an ideal solution, each of the 3 components will work together to provide a durable operating experience. Physical dimensions, precision woodworking, drive mechanism and electronics working together within designed specifications to provide a durable, long lasting solution.
The size and weight of the door has the most impact on overall electronics design considerations. Each of the other components are designed with these and other physical operational aspects in mind.
If you built your DIY Auto Chicken Door with these free diy chicken door plans (https://jumpshare.com/v/fizEpLxfLpnAKCfwfgdX?b=Q1UiEKKeAlqIw4xtPthA), we’ve got a good basis for the physical characteristics of the door mechanism (i.e. size and weight).
With the physical and mechanical aspects of your automatic chicken door in mind, we can begin to search for the ideal solution to operate it automatically.
Coop Tender® can help if you’d rather not delve into the highly technical aspects of the door controller. The Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Coop Door Control Panel Assembly is plug-and-play. All you need to do is follow the wiring diagram for the 12-pin connector by connecting the motor, limit switches and power. It’s also Internet Wi-Fi Enabled. This means that the firmware has been programmed to communicate with an IoT based Coop Door Wi-Fi Micro-Controller Module. So, connecting your door to the Internet is also plug-and-play.
If you’re interested in working with electronics, read on.
Before jumping in and slapping a solution together, let’s think about the ideal solution.
Low Power Consumption: Especially if you plan to operate with solar, the solution should consume no more than about 50 milliamps of dc power on average. This is low enough to power with a 12 Volt 5 Amp Hour SLA battery and 10 watt solar panel.
A Display: Display key operational parameters in human readable format.
LED Light Indicators: Very helpful at night to provide visual color status indicators – warnings, battery, power, door status. No need to pull your boots and coat on during a cold winter night to check the door.
Human Interface: Some method which allows basic “programming” and operational control using an input device such as a switch or array of switches (e.g. matrix keypad).
Temperature: There are several beneficial control aspects to knowing the environmental temperature. In northern climates, temperature can be used to determine whether to open the door or not. Chickens won’t go out when it’s too cold. Keeping the door closed during sub-freezing temperatures helps to keep your chickens warmer and safer.
Temperature readings can also be used to activate supplemental ventilation in your chicken coop.
Battery Charge Controller: It never hurts to have a backup power supply to operate the door if electricity fails. A battery charge controller is essential if you want to operate your door using solar energy.
Wi-Fi Network Integration: Although maybe not essential. Connecting IoT (Internet of Things) technology to your automatic chicken door has many benefits. Door Status SMS alerts, monitor and control via the Internet as examples.
We now translate our requirements into an Electronics design concept. We’ll discuss the major components from an electronics perspective. You will also have access to the electronics parts BOM which contains manufacturer and supplier part numbers at the end of the article.
It soon becomes apparent that we can use a low cost micro-controller IC Chip and program it to process and control sensor signals. We’re a fan of the ATMega328 chip found on many of the Arduino prototyping development boards. It’s simple to transition from prototyping using the development board to PCB circuit design.
As you build your prototype, you update your firmware code to incorporate and process each I/O component. For Example: Reading, storing and incorporating the temperature as a criteria comparator for temperature-based operations. And displaying messages on the LCD Screen.
At some point, you will realize that your micro-controller does not have enough digital input/output pins to implement all the functionality you want. No worries. Microchip Technology manufactures an I/O Expander IC Chip, the MCP23008-E/P which solves the problem. This chip can be used to “offload” basic digital I/O operations such as turning on a LED.
You’re going to need something to regulate the voltage supplied to the on-board components and IC chips. Micro-electronics tend to like stable voltages. Linear voltage regulators like the LM7805 are simple to implement and are very durable. The only downside to linear regulators is that they are not as efficient as some of the modern DC-DC buck regulators on the market, but they do the job well.
Linear voltage regulators like the LM317 are a perfect solution to providing battery charge capabilities to your solution. When implemented as a current regulator, it takes only a few parts.
One of the most critical components for your DIY Automatic Chicken Door controller is a way to turn the motor both ways to open and close the door. With a permanent magnet DC motor, reversing the polarity of the voltage to the motor will reverse its direction. Texas Instruments makes a Half Bridge (H-Bridge) IC chip (Part #: SN754410NE) which can be used to digitally control the polarity of the voltage which gets sent to the motor. This chip is rated to output up to 1 Amp. That’s quite a bit of power. Ensure that your motor draws less than 1 Amp or you’ll end up damaging the chip.
Limit Switches: The best way to sense door position is to use limit switches. Limit switches have a triggering mechanism which will open or close the switch. Your circuit will have resistors so that you can tell which switch is activated by the analog voltage value which is read by the micro-controller. Although there are mechanical limit switches, we believe that ones which operate on magnetic principles are the most durable.
Since we have decided to use a micro-controller in our electronics design, we’re going to need to write some code to make things work.
The best way (IMHO) to do this is with iterative design and code implementation. Known the big picture and end goal, prototype and test each component one at a time. You can do this using a serial debugger at first, until you have the option of sending messages to the LCD panel for debugging purposes. Serial debugging does offer more flexibility and ease in setting up messages to write out.
If you’re going to program your own firmware, take some time to learn about the environment, or tool chain, you will be using. Knowing the basics will go a long way towards developing a solid solution.
You can find many examples and a lot of support for Arduino based prototyping. There are many open source firmware libraries available that you can use to easily integrate various sensors and components into your overall design.
If you end up using an Arduino to prototype your design, you will also be working within the confines of the Loop() architecture. On these devices, you have code for setup which runs only when the device starts up and then all other processing basically happens in loop() which runs infinitely.
You will likely soon find that the loop() architecture is making your code “clunky”. If all processing is put into a list of functions called from loop, you’re likely to encounter issues with delays incurred by this linear type of firmware development.
If you’re familiar with Finite-state machine implementations, then this would be a good application for it. If not, this Wikipedia article provides a good foundation behind the principle(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite-state_machine). You can find code examples online to help implement your own state machine architecture into the firmware and it is highly recommended.
When designing and prototyping your system, the tools you use can help to simplify the process or provide valuable functionality.
For designing PCBs and schematics, there are several software solutions available such as Eagle and KiCad, which are probably the best known. If you don’t have one, look at Fritzing. It’s basically an open source PCB design solution and it works well. You can use it to export the files necessary to have your PCB manufactured. For this type of project, it really does not make sense to try to etch and drill your own board. Home etching is ok for simple PCBs, but not so good for many of the thin traces you’ll have on your PCB. If you are designing a Thru Hole component PCB, then there are lot of holes which will need to be drilled. Both of these are best handled by the professionals. The good thing is that there are currently many PCB manufacturing resources available at your fingertips. China tends to dominate the market for low cost PCB production of your prototype. There are local PCB manufacturers available, but you’ll likely find that “one off” PCBs are quite costly.
For firmware design and development, Arduino does have an IDE which you can use. Most likely, you’ll find that things get a bit cumbersome moving between sections of your code. A plug-in is available for Microsoft Visual Studio development environment which helps to simplify code management. The plug-in is also available for other major development environments if Microsoft is not your thing.
We’re getting towards the end of this article. We hope that the information you have received is helpful in some way.
At the end of this article, you will have access to a shared folder which also contains a sample PCB for your DIY Automatic Chicken Door Controller. The PCB was used in earlier models of Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors and uses Thru Hole Technology (THT), so does not require special reflow equipment needed for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) PCBs.
The Parts List (a.k.a. BOM – Bill of Materials) which follows provides you with a list of the parts which are needed to build the door controller circuit board PCB. The download file has more details. The parts costs are current parts costs as of the time of this writing. Most of the parts can be obtained from Digi-Key. The Digi-Key part numbers and other supplier part numbers are in the parts file.
This PCB design incorporates all of the design requirements which we discussed earlier:The schematic can be used so that you are programming each component to the correct I/O pins of the micro-controller and I/O expander.
DIY Automatic Chicken Door Electronics BOM Parts List
Part# | Qty | Manufacturer | Mfg Part | Description | Cost | Ext. Cost |
1 | 1 | Coop Tender | CT168 | Metal Faceplate | $24.99 | $24.99 |
2 | 1 | Coop Tender | CT181-THT | Coop Tender PCB | $9.99 | $9.99 |
3 | 1 | Microchip Technology | ATMEGA328-PU | IC MCU 8BIT 32KB FLASH 28DIP | $1.96 | $1.96 |
4 | 1 | Microchip Technology | MCP23008-E/P | IC I/O EXPANDER I2C 8B 18DIP | $1.05 | $1.05 |
5 | 1 | Texas instruments | SN754410NE | IC HALF-H DRVR QUAD 16-DIP | $2.52 | $2.52 |
6 | 1 | Various | DS1307 RTC | DS1307 RTC Module | $7.99 | $7.99 |
7 | 1 | Texas Instruments | LM7805CT/NOPB | IC REG LINEAR 5V 1A TO220-3 | $1.54 | $1.54 |
8 | 1 | ON Semiconductor | LM317BTG | IC REG LIN POS ADJ 1.5A TO220AB | $0.65 | $0.65 |
9 | 1 | Mean Well USA Inc | EPS-15-15 | AC/DC CONVERTER 15V 15W | $8.53 | $8.53 |
10 | 1 | Various | 1602 LCD | LCD Module | $7.00 | $7.00 |
11 | 1 | Adafruit | 419 | Membrane 3x4 Matrix Keypad | $7.36 | $7.36 |
12 | 7 | Harwin Inc | M20-1160042 | CONN SOCKET 22-30AWG CRIMP GOLD | $0.10 | $0.70 |
13 | 10 | BusBoard Prototype Systems | SA180x24 | SA180 Adhesive Standoffs | $0.80 | $8.00 |
14 | 2 | Various - Schmartboard, Inc. | 920-0172-01 | CONN HEADER VERT 40P 2.54MM 3PC | $2.50 | $5.00 |
15 | 7 | Various - Vishay BC Components | K104K15X7RF5TH5 | CAP CER 0.1UF 50V X7R RADIAL | $0.23 | $1.61 |
16 | 1 | Various - Keimet | C330C334K5R5TA | CAP CER 0.33UF 50V X7R RADIAL | $0.83 | $0.83 |
17 | 1 | Various - Nichicon | UVR1H470MED1TD | CAP ALUM 47UF 20% 50V RADIAL | $0.28 | $0.28 |
18 | 1 | Harwin Inc | M20-1060200 | CONN RCPT HSG 2POS 2.54MM | $0.16 | $0.16 |
19 | 2 | Harwin Inc | M20-1060400 | CONN RCPT HSG 4POS 2.54MM | $0.20 | $0.40 |
20 | 4 | Harwin Inc | M20-1060600 | CONN RCPT HSG 6POS 2.54MM | $0.27 | $1.08 |
21 | 1 | Harwin Inc | M20-1060800 | CONN RCPT HSG 8POS 2.54MM | $0.36 | $0.36 |
22 | 1 | Harwin Inc | M20-1061000 | CONN RCPT HSG 10POS 2.54MM | $0.44 | $0.44 |
23 | 2 | Various - Bel Fuse Inc. | 5MF 1.5-R | FUSE GLASS 1.5A 250VAC 5X20MM | $0.21 | $0.42 |
24 | 1 | All Electronics | HS-7139 | Clip on Heat Sink | $0.99 | $0.99 |
25 | 1 | Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp. | 110-99-628-41-001000 | CONN IC DIP SOCKET 28POS TINLEAD | $1.35 | $1.35 |
26 | 1 | Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp. | 110-99-318-41-001000 | CONN IC DIP SOCKET 18POS TINLEAD | $0.88 | $0.88 |
27 | 1 | Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp. | 110-99-316-41-001000 | CONN IC DIP SOCKET 16POS TINLEAD | $0.78 | $0.78 |
28 | 4 | All Electronics | HLED-5 | Clips for T1 (3mm) LEDs | $0.25 | $1.00 |
29 | 4 | All Electronics | LED-67 | T1 Red/Green LED 3 Legs | $0.35 | $1.40 |
30 | 1 | Littlefuse Inc. | 57150-000 | MAGNET 1.125"L X 0.259"W PLASTIC | $2.66 | $2.66 |
31 | 2 | Littlefuse Inc. | 59150-010 | SENSOR REED SW SPST-NO W LEADS | $2.88 | $5.76 |
32 | 1 | Advanced Photonix | PDV-P8103 | PHOTOCELL 16-33KOHM | $0.89 | $0.89 |
33 | 1 | Bourns Inc. | 3352E-1-103LF | THUMBWHEEL POT 10K OHM 0.5W TOP | $1.85 | $1.85 |
34 | 1 | All Electronics | LCAC-60 | 6' BLACK 18/3 IEC DETACHABLE POWER CORD | $3.50 | $3.50 |
35 | 1 | URBEST | JB | Male Power Socket 10A 250V Inlet Module Plug 5A Fuse Switch | $7.99 | $7.99 |
36 | 2 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC220R | RES 220 OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.20 |
37 | 1 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC22R0 | RES 22 OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.10 |
38 | 3 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC4K70 | RES 4.7K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.22 | $0.66 |
39 | 1 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC3K30 | RES 3.3K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.10 |
40 | 3 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC10K0 | RES 10K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.30 |
41 | 4 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNF14FTD1K00 | RES 1K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.40 |
42 | 5 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC2K00 | RES 2K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.50 |
43 | 2 | Vishay BC Components | MBB02070C4708FRP00 | RES 4.7 OHM 0.6W 1% AXIAL | $0.22 | $0.44 |
44 | 10 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC680R | RES 680 OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $1.00 |
45 | 4 | On Shore Technology Inc | OSTTE020104 | TERM BLK 2POS SIDE ENT 3.5MM PCB | $0.73 | $2.92 |
46 | 2 | Vishay Semiconductor Diodes Division | 1N5819-E3/54 | DIODE SCHOTTKY 40V 1A DO204AL | $0.46 | $0.92 |
47 | 1 | DGZZi | TSDS18B20-1M | Digital Temperature Probe | $7.59 | $7.59 |
48 | 1 | ON Semiconductor | PN2222ATA | TRANS NPN 40V 1A TO92 | $0.25 | $0.25 |
49 | 30 | Various | Various | F-F 1P 20cm Connector Wires (30) | $0.14 | $4.20 |
50 | 4 | All Electronics | 1125 | 1/4 Inch Quick Connect Female | $1.00 | $4.00 |
51 | 6 | All Electronics | WN-11 | Waterproof Wiring Nuts Blue 22-12 AWG | $1.30 | $7.80 |
52 | 3 | All Electronics | 20BK-100S | 20 Ga Black Hook-up Wire solid 100' | $10.00 | $30.00 |
56 | 1 | All Electronics | Con-1200 | 12-Pin Connector | $3.70 | $3.70 |
58 | 1 | All Electronics | HSB-24B | Heat Shrink Tubing Assortment | $3.95 | $3.95 |
59 | 4 | Wire Ties | $0.00 | |||
60 | 2 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC10R0 | RES 10 OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.20 |
61 | 1 | All Electronics | FHP-72 | Inline GMA Fuse Holder | $0.90 | $0.90 |
62 | 1 | Stackpole Electronics Inc | RNMF14FTC200R | RES 200 OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL | $0.10 | $0.10 |
63 | 4 | JST Sales America Inc. | SVH-21T-P1.1 | CONN SOCKET 18-22AWG CRIMP TIN | $0.11 | $0.44 |
64 | 7 | Harwin Inc | M20-1160042 | CONN SOCKET 22-30AWG CRIMP GOLD | $0.10 | $0.70 |
65 | 1 | Visual Communications Company - VCC | CLR_301_CTP | LENS CLEAR PANEL MOUNT SNAP-IN | $0.73 | $0.73 |
66 | 1 | Visual Communications Company - VCC | SPC_125 | CLIPLITE SPACER | $0.50 | $0.50 |
67 | 1 | Various | 12 Volt Gear Motor | $29.99 | $29.99 | |
68 | 1 | Baden Steelbar and Bolt Corp | 5/8-8 Acme | 5/8-8 Acme threaded Worm drive assembly | $29.99 | $29.99 |
Totals | 176 | $254.49 |
If you want to delve into the electronics engineering aspect of your DIY Automatic Chicken Door, you can access all the design files on our Jumpshare file sharing site.
The shared folder contains:
Standard HTTP:
http://cloud.cooptender.com/zjnLrzf
Secure HTTPS:
https://jumpshare.com/b/Q1UiEKKeAlqIw4xtPthA]]>In this article, we’re going to provide all the information that you need to build your own Automatic Chicken Coop Door.
You learn about a solid and simple solution to opening and closing your coop door. You’ll also learn about the tools, materials and parts which you will need.
Our approach is to provide a modular DIY approach to building your own automatic chicken door. Specifically, if you are good at woodworking and have access to most of the basic woodworking tools, then you can use these plans to build the wooden cabinet and door controller enclosure. If you are good at working with electronics and writing the micro-controller firmware code, then you will learn about the key aspects which will help you design your own solution.
With these plans, you will build your own Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Door. This door is the #1 Rated Automatic Chicken Door and has been on the market since 2014.
The electronics do require some special tools including a micro-controller programmer. Coop Tender® offers most of the parts you might need, including a pre-built and tested automatic coop door controller.
There are basically 3 major components to an automatic chicken door.
In an ideal solution, each of the 3 components will work together to provide a durable operating experience. Physical dimensions, precision woodworking, drive mechanism and electronics working together within designed specifications to provide a durable, long lasting solution.
The size and weight of the door has the most impact on overall design considerations. Each of the other components are designed with these and other physical operational aspects in mind.
The size and weight of the door assembly will have an impact on how powerful the drive motor and associated electronics will need to be. These chicken door plans will provide your chickens with an opening which is about 10 inches wide x 10 inches high. This is more than large enough for most chicken breeds.
The door frame with motor housing door controller enclosure will be 13 ½ inches wide x 26 ½ inches tall when complete. The unit will slide into a rectangular cutout or opening of the same size in your coop. There is no need to frame the coop opening since these design plans include an integrated door frame.
The mechanism which will open and close the door is simple, efficient and very durable. Essentially, a threaded rod is fitted to the end of a motor shaft such that the motor directly turns the door drive shaft (the threaded rod) to open and close the door.
One of the key benefits of this design is that there isn’t a predator alive that can open the door when it is closed.
Coop Tender® uses a 5/8 Inch Acme Threaded Rod and a high torque permanent magnet gear motor for our automatic chicken door drive mechanism.
You can use threaded rod which is available at your local hardware store. These will have more threads per inch (TPI) than an Acme Threaded rod, so the door will open and close more slowly. You will also need to drill two holes into the threaded rod, one at the end for the motor shaft and one through the diameter of the shaft for a cotter pin to secure the drive to the motor shaft. If your motor doesn’t have a cross hole in the shaft, you will need to drill this too.
For the motor, you will need one which takes relatively low power under load, generates enough torque to turn the threaded rod and operate the door with enough speed. Ideally the motor should be rated to operate at 12 volts DC with a current rating less than 600 milliamps with torque of 2 inch – lbs. or higher. You’ll want the motor shaft to turn around 100 RPM. This opens and closes the door in about 1 minute when using 5/8 inch - 8 TPI Acme Threaded Rod.
To complete this automatic chicken door design, we’ll top it off with a motor housing to protect the motor and has plenty of room inside to place the electronics, including a 12 volt 5 Amp Hour Sealed Lead Acid battery.
When considering how to power your door, determine if it may be beneficial to operate with solar power. If you have a tractor chicken coop which you move around and are unable to get conventional household electricity to it, you will want to ensure that your door will operate using a battery power source and solar energy to charge and maintain the battery. The power ratings and power requirements of the electronics is even more critical when deciding to operate using solar energy. In short, if your solution consumes more than an average of about 50 milliamps, you will need to design a larger battery and solar panel into the solution.
If you intend to plug your door into standard AC electricity, be sure that your AC/DC converter will provide enough voltage to keep a backup battery charged, in case AC power fails for some reason, it would be good to know that your chickens will still be secure at night. You could also use one of those computer UPS backup power supplies to operate your door. You still need to plug it into an AC power source, but if power should fail, the backup power supply will be able to operate your door.
Whether you decide to power your door with AC electric power, or solar power, it will be beneficial to incorporate a battery charge controller into your power design considerations as well. Connecting a small 12 Volt 5 Amp Hour SLA backup battery to your door can operate it for several days but will need to be charged and maintained at proper voltage and current to extend the life of the battery.
What you use to control your automatic chicken door can be left to your imagination. You can find several resources on the Internet which can help to give you a start in designing your own custom solution. If you have the time and talent or desire to learn micro-controller firmware coding and electronics, this will be a great project for learning.
Whether you roll your own or purchase a chicken door controller, be sure to consider whether Internet Wi-Fi connectivity is important to you. If you have a wi-fi network which extends to your chicken coop, why not let your door send you alerts when it opens and closes. Maybe even monitor, program and operate your door from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and browser.
Coop Tender® can help if you’d rather not delve into the highly technical aspects of the door controller. The Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Coop Door Control Panel Assembly is plug-and-play. All you need to do is follow the wiring diagram for the 12-pin connector by connecting the motor, limit switches and power. It’s also Internet Wi-Fi Enabled. This means that the firmware has been programmed to communicate with an IoT based Coop Door Wi-Fi Micro-Controller Module. So, connecting your door to the Internet is also plug-and-play.
Below are the 3 basic components of building your own automatic chicken door.
If you are cutting and drilling your own threaded rod
You can get the motor and drive shaft components, all pre-drilled and ready to go at Coop Tender®. Point your Internet browser to: https://cooptender.com/collections/diy-automatic-coop-doors. Or, go to CoopTender.com and select Automatic Coop Door Products > DIY Coop Door Parts from the website menu.
If you plan to design and build your own door controller
Coop Tender® offers a couple of solutions which may be helpful.
First: You can buy a completely assembled and QC tested Control Panel Assembly from their website. This solution gives you all the advanced technology which is currently available on Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors.
Second: If you are interested in assembling and programming your own electronic micro-controller based solution, you can access the schematic, PCB design files and parts list for the same thru hole (THT) technology which went into earlier models of Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Doors. The designs provide for all input and output devices which are used in a Coop Tender Auto Door.
Example Connections - Device and External:
The circuit boards are designed for thru-hole components, so you only need basic soldering tools.
The DIY Automatic Chicken Door Woodworking and Assembly Plans are available to view, print and download in PDF format by pointing your web browser to the following URL:
Standard HTTP:
http://cloud.cooptender.com/BILkge0
Secure HTTPS:
https://jumpshare.com/v/fizEpLxfLpnAKCfwfgdX?b=Q1UiEKKeAlqIw4xtPthA
If you want to delve into the electronics engineering aspect of your DIY Automatic Chicken Door, stay tuned. In our next post, we’ll provide you with a schematic, parts list, pcb design and instructions to build your own automatic coop door controller.
]]>A little over half of the states in the U.S. experience sub-freezing temperatures during winter. Although chickens can generally handle colder temperatures better than us humans, freezing temperatures can have a negative affect on their health and well being.
If you have lived in the same area for a couple of years or more, then you have a pretty good idea what winter conditions are like. It is important to note that your area may experience extreme or record-breaking low temperatures at any time, so be prepared in case this happens.
If you are new to the area where you are raising your chickens, do some research to determine what average and extreme low temperatures can prevail.
If you already have chickens, find out how well the breed(s) you have tolerate freezing cold temperatures. This will help to ensure that you are prepared to provide an environment which helps to keep them healthy and happy.
If you are just starting out and don’t have your chickens yet, you can choose chicken breeds which are known to be hardy for the conditions in your area. Be sure that you know both heat and cold extremes and choose accordingly. Having the right chicken breed for your area will help to minimize distress during summer and winter.
One of the most common issues which chickens can experience during winter is frostbite. This can occur on the fleshy parts of the chickens such as their combs and waddles.
Frostbite is not likely to kill your chickens but can lead to infection. It is most important to prevent frostbite, but if it has already occurred be sure to treat it immediately.
Most chicken owners who have chickens during winter are typically keeping them for egg production. Chickens for meat production are normally butchered before winter.
Shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures and lower food intake can reduce or completely halt egg production. If it is important that your chickens continue to lay eggs during the winter, you will need to ensure that these factors are as close to optimal as possible.
Another consideration during the winter months are nighttime predators, especially if snow is covering the ground. Your chickens will be an ideal target for nighttime predators which are having difficulty locating food.
Periodically check around your chicken coop to ensure that there are no openings which would permit a predator to enter. Also ensure that your chicken coop door is securely closed to keep predators from entering and possibly destroying your entire flock in a single night.
Although raising chickens is relatively simple and very rewarding, as a chicken owner it is your responsibility to ensure that the necessary precautions are taken and conditions exist which allow them to thrive during the winter months.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was something which could help automate some of your chicken coop management tasks? There is. It’s called the Coop Tender Automatic Chicken Coop Door System.
The system is a comprehensive solution which was designed specifically to help chicken owners manage their chicken coops with the help of advanced automation technology.
The Automatic Chicken Coop Door opens in the morning and securely closes at night. The door is constructed of solid 1-inch dimensional lumber and operates with a solid steel worm / screw drive connected directly to a high-power gear motor. There isn’t a predator alive which can open the door when it is closed. One of this door’s many features is that it incorporates Freeze Protect technology which will keep the door closed during dangerously cold winter days. The door is fully programmable and allows you to adjust the Freeze Protect temperature to best accommodate the chicken breeds you have in your coop.
The Predator Motion Detection Module automatically arms when the door is closed and will alert you when potential predator motion is detected.
The Chicken Coop Accessory and Heat Control Module will automatically control light, heat and ventilation in your coop. The light will help to extend daylight for your laying hens. Heat will help ensure their comfort during cold winter days and nights.
The system connects to your WiFi network and will allow you to program, monitor and control your door and accessories from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and browser. Even more, you will receive email and SMS alerts from your door and accessories.
Imagine sitting by the fireplace during a cold winter day, knowing that your coop door is securely closed – because you just received an SMS alert from your door. No need to put your boots and coat on to open or close your coop door.
We ask that you check us out online. Our Automatic Chicken Door is Rated #1 out of the top 10 automatic chicken doors you can by and we are the only company which offers an Internet Wi-Fi connected coop management solution.
]]>To save you time, Wiki EZVid (Wiki.ezvid.com) has put together a comparison of the top 10 automatic chicken coop doors currently on the market. You can check it out by searching “Automatic Chicken Doors” on their homepage, or jump directly to The 10 Best Automatic Chicken Doors.
Smart House Today has also taken the time to review the top 6 automatic chicken doors on the market and have posted their automatic chicken door comparison results.
We would like to point out that we did not pay or solicit Wiki EZVid or Smart House Today to include or review our product. It is also worth noting that Wiki EZVid does not accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products or other benefits from the product manufacturers.
You might ask, what is the bottom line? The bottom line is that Coop Tender® Automatic Chicken Door is rated #1 - the best automatic chicken door you can buy. Smart House Today posted this in their Final Verdict:
"The high-tech Coop Tender door is expensive, but it offers convenience and protection from predators that no other automatic coop door currently on the market can match. There is no close second."
We are very appreciative of the time the folks at Wiki EZVid and Smart House Today spent to analyze each automatic chicken door solution. As you might know, it’s not easy to filter through all the information available for each product.
From the very beginning, 5 years ago, our goal was to offer the best, most advanced, most durable automatic chicken coop door available. Our chicken door was designed to be easy to install, ensure that nighttime predators are not able to get into the coop and help protect chickens from dangerously cold winter temperatures.
Our design efforts did not stop there. We felt that a good automatic chicken door should be Internet Wi-Fi enabled so that you can monitor and control your door from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and browser. It took a broad range of computer code and engineering expertise to develop and integrate our Coop Door Internet Wi-Fi Module with our Internet WiFi Enabled Automatic Coop Door. Other companies, and individuals, have tried and failed to bring such an accomplishment to fruition. To do so requires a solid grasp and working knowledge of IoT (Internet of Things) technology, C and C++ programming, Relational database design and management, SQL (Structured Query Language) and stored procedure database coding, REST (REpresentational State Transfer) Internet technology, Mobile device application development technologies - JQuery Mobile, HTML 5, Webhooks, JavaScript, AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) - and good old electronics engineering.
We didn’t stop after developing our Internet Coop Door technology. Next, we felt it important to ensure the safety and comfort of chickens. To that end, we developed a comprehensive solution which provides for Internet enabled coop lighting, heating, ventilation and predator detection for your coop.
As with any highly advanced technology-based solution, we had a few “hiccups” soon after introducing our product. Since we did not rely on any 3rd party to develop our systems, we were able to quickly identify and resolve the issues. It is with sincere gratitude that we thank our customers who may have been affected by a “glitch” for their patience and understanding. We know that without our early customers, we would not have been able to refine our product offerings over the years to achieve the #1 Best Automatic Chicken Door on the market rating.
We hope that you can take the time to look at our product offerings. We think that you will find that we have the most comprehensive and dependable solution for your automatic chicken door needs.
]]>More importantly, you need to ensure that the door is securely closed after your chickens have gone back into the coop to roost. Therein lies the challenge, ensuring that the door is closed before the nighttime predators are out.
Most backyard chicken owners are busy and often go to work at least one day per week (lucky duck). If you are not able to get home before dark for some reason, or you just happen to forget to close the coop door just one night, you could find that your entire flock has been decimated by a nighttime predator. Raccoons are notorious for needlessly killing your entire flock and they are pretty much everywhere. Most areas of the country harbor more than one type of nighttime predator. Check any nighttime predator list online and you’re likely to identify at least two which are in your area.
What I have just illustrated is not a pretty picture, but it is the reality that you need to face if you want to reap the benefits of your free-range backyard poultry flock, whether it be for eggs, meat, fertilizer, entertainment or companionship. Chickens are simple to care for and provide many sustainability and emotional well being benefits.
If you have already had one or more of your chickens killed by a nighttime predator, you know how devastating it can feel. It might be your favorite “pet” chicken, or your best rooster.
If you’re new to backyard chickens and haven’t lost a chicken yet, be extra cautious and ensure that there are backup plans in place to ensure that your coop door is closed at night. You might talk with your neighbor and ask if she would be willing to close the coop door at night if you aren’t able to get home in time. If you have children, this is a good task to assign to them as well.
Another way to ensure that your coop door is closed each night is to install an automatic coop door. An auto door is more than a convenience, especially if the door can connect to the Internet to send SMS and email alerts to you. You would be alerted when your door opens and when it closes. A Universal Web App™ lets you check status of and control your door from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and browser. The Universal Web App™ works on iPhone, Android devices, iPad, notebooks, tablets, personal computers, MACs – anything with a standard Internet browser and connection.
You might be interest to know that Coop Tender® is a company which has been manufacturing Internet WiFi Enabled Coop Doors since 2014. They designed their products from the ground up to ensure the safety and comfort of your chickens. In addition to Internet door control and monitoring, they offer accessories to provide coop lighting, ventilation, heat and predator motion detection.
Another great feature of Coop Tender Automatic Doors is solar operation. The door controller uses advanced low voltage electronics and can be operated with a standard 12-volt battery. A battery charger / maintainer is built into the electronics. Connect a solar panel and your door will continue to operate without electricity.
You can also plug the door in to an AC electric source. If your AC electric power should fail, the backup battery will run your door for up to 5 days, until power is restored. The built-in battery charger will then recharge the battery in preparation for the next time your AC power might fail.
When comparing automatic chicken coop doors, be sure to take durability, safety and comfort features which are available into consideration. You will find that some doors claim to be predator proof, but they’re not. Predators can be very clever. Coop Tender® auto coop doors use a solid steel Acme threaded screw drive mechanism that no predator can open when it is closed. This is true lockdown. No predator access to the inside of your coop from the door.
If you’re raising your backyard chickens for eggs, the comfort of your hens is very important. Too hot and they lay less. Too cold and they lay less. Not enough light and they lay lass. The folks at Coop Tender ® have got you covered. They offer integrated Internet Wi-Fi accessory control solutions which help to ensure the comfort and safety of your hens.
Have a look at the coop management solutions which Coop Tender® offers and check their feedback ratings. You’ll find that they are a great company to work with and customers love their products.
]]>We have spent the past 4 years refining our advanced wi-fi enabled automatic coop door products. You can read about some of the updates which we incorporated into our products by viewing Our Automatic Coop Door Quality Commitment.
Our coop doors are the market leader in advanced technology poultry protection and ease of use.
Early in 2018, we incorporated a "power boost" module into our solar operated doors. This enabled our doors to run on even lower battery voltage, providing even longer operation during extended periods of cloudy and rainy days. Based on the success of the power boost module on our solar operated doors, we began installing them on all doors.
More recently, our woodshop manager engineered a solution to a problem which was affecting about 1% of the doors, excessive door warp - inhibiting proper operation.
Although switching from common to select grade lumber in early 2017 greatly reduced the incidents of excessive door warp, the owner did not consider a 1% defect rate to be acceptable.
Each door we manufacture now have braces built onto the door, preventing warp.
We, and many of our customers, believe that we have designed and manufacture the best automatic chicken coop door you can buy. There simply isn't another auto coop door product which can provide you with such a comprehensive list of safety and durability features.
We have manufactured and delivered thousands of doors and coop management accessories across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. This was achieved with a very minimal staff and no outside investors.
Our many satisfied customers are the key to our business growth over the past 4 years. We are truly grateful and thankful for our customers.
Order your advanced, Wi-Fi enabled automatic coop door today and begin reaping the benefits.
]]>You’ll read a quick background and history and then brief descriptions of changes which we have integrated into our manufacturing and operations.
We started selling our Coop Tender ® Automatic Chicken Coop Doors Coop Tender ® Automatic Chicken Coop Doors in 2014. At first, we only used cedar to manufacture our doors and soon added pine. The pine is treated with a non-toxic wood treatment which never needs to be reapplied. Pine allowed us to offer our chicken doors at a lower price, and provide a long lasting, durable product.
]]>You’ll read a quick background and history and then brief descriptions of changes which we have integrated into our manufacturing and operations.
We started selling our Coop Tender ® Automatic Chicken Coop Doors in 2014. At first, we only used cedar to manufacture our doors and soon added pine. The pine is treated with a non-toxic wood treatment which never needs to be reapplied. Pine allowed us to offer our chicken doors at a lower price, and provide a long lasting, durable product.
We found that the common pine lumber was too inconsistent. This inconsistency led to minor malfunctions in some of our doors.
What we did
Our electronics based controller has evolved substantially over the past 3 years.
Our electronics have migrated from through hole technology (THT) to surface mount technology (SMT). This helped to reduce power consumption of the controller by nearly 50% (~60mA to ~30mA). It also provided the means by which we could increase production without sacrificing quality.
We encountered a few problems with our SMT based technology circuit boards.
What we did
Firmware is the computer software code which runs our automatic coop doors.
Our firmware is currently on version 8.8 and has proven to be completely stable.
Over the past 3 years, we have not encountered any major firmware issues. Most issues we encountered were related to Internet Wi-Fi module integration (e.g. temperature not reporting in wi-fi app when door operates in schedule mode).
What we did
One of the major benefits of our automatic chicken coop door is its ability to connect to the Internet.
Our first Wi-Fi modules were powered by Electric Imp based modules. We then switched to Particle Photon based modules.
Over the past few years we have had a few issues relating to the Wi-Fi module and associated modules (accessory control and predator motion).
A large number of customers were having difficulties accessing their wi-fi networks at the chicken coop with the modules.
What we did
Our goal is to manufacture and deliver the best quality coop door money can buy in a timely manner.
Our first couple of years were quite a struggle for our limited resources. Bill of Materials / Parts management became cumbersome and often caused parts delays.
What we did
Our service commitment is to respond to support inquiries within 1 business day.
As Coop Tender has grown, we have also strived to ensure a stronger commitment to ensuring that the needs of our customers are met in a timely manner.
What we did
By far, the most common support requests we receive now are maintenance related. The solution is always quite simple.
Over time, dirt and feather particles can accumulate on the worm drive (long metal screw which operates the door). Liberally spraying WD-40 onto the worm drive after removing the back cover will dissolve the old, dirty grease. Open and close the door a couple of times and be sure to wipe the drive clean as the dirty grease is dissolved. Repeat as necessary and then re-install the back cover (4 screws).
This process should be done once a year. The best time to do it is before winter since the colder temperatures will have more of an impact without maintenance.
We appreciate all our customers. Over the past 3 years we have listened and learned from you. We have taken the best automatic chicken coop door on the market (as reported by our customers) and made it better. We’re happy and grateful for all the orders we have received. We are especially grateful for the patience of those customers who may have been affected by a defect from our earlier production processes. Fortunately, we have always been able to do what it takes to ensure that you have a quality, long lasting, durable and worry free automatic coop door.
]]>Coop Tender wants your chickens to be a happy and healthy addition to your home. This is why we developed our automatic chicken coop door. Our doors operate on a timer, so you can keep your chickens on a schedule, even when you’re not at home. Order your coop door today!
]]>The key to healthy egg production is often found in your chickens’ diets. Good chicken feed will contain the right amounts of protein, vitamins, fiber, and minerals to keep your flock healthy and laying well. Most chickens who are at a laying age require food that contains about 16 percent protein in order to produce a regular supply of eggs.
Like all animals, chickens can become stressed by a variety of stimuli. While obvious stressors like predators hanging around the coop, or dogs constantly hassling the flock can disrupt your chickens’ laying cycles, less obvious triggers may interrupt your egg supply. Even something as natural as a change in weather can cause your chickens to go off their feed, or stop laying until they feel more relaxed. To reduce stress in your flock, give them plenty of shade and areas to cool down in the summer, keep your other animals away from them, and make sure predators aren’t able to get into your yard. Our automatic chicken coop door is sturdy enough to keep out even the most determined fox or raccoon.
If your hens are sick, they’ll likely stop laying or will lay eggs more slowly and irregularly. In fact, a decrease in production may serve as an indicator that something is wrong with your hen’s health. Always check your hens for other signs of illness and if they seem off, or are behaving oddly, separate the hen from the rest of the coop and take them to the vet. Your vet will be able to test for any parasites, illnesses, or diseases and will provide treatment for your feathered friend.
A dirty coop can disrupt a chicken’s laying cycle just as easily as an illness. Be sure to clean the coop regularly to prevent buildup of poop, feathers, and pests. Remember, insects and pests are often attracted to the smell of a dirty coop. Also provide proper nesting boxes for your hens to lay in. While some chickens will lay eggs wherever they deem appropriate, many prefer a nice, clean bed of straw and shavings. While it can be a challenge, try to keep your hens from sleeping in the nesting boxes. Otherwise, you’ll have to clean the boxes daily.
While many of your hens will happily lay in the nesting boxes you provide them with, some will leave eggs in unpredictable places. This can give the impression that some of your hens aren’t laying. This is a perfect time to get your kids involved, too. Send them out to the yard to look for eggs that were laid outside the coop.
Just like people, chickens need to stay hydrated, especially during hot days. Adding ice to their water bowls is an excellent and easy way to help them stay cool. Also, consider adding several small dishes of water around the yard. This will ensure that they have adequate access to water throughout the day, and makes it easier for you to refill the dishes with fresh, cool water.
In addition to their regular feed, chickens always appreciate treats. During the summer, freeze fruit like watermelon, strawberries, and bananas for an easy cold treat they’re sure to love. Be sure to chop them into small pieces so your chickens can easily enjoy them.
If you have lots of shade trees in your yard, you might not need to add additional shade for your chickens. However, if you’re like most of us, you’ll likely have a large part of your yard that’s always exposed to the hot sun. Hanging a tarp across one corner of their coop to a tree or fence post can provide a nice, shady area for them to lounge in when the temperatures rise.
Temperatures are almost always cooler in the morning than they are in the afternoon. Letting your chickens out of the coop earlier in the morning will let them be outside before the heat sets in. If you prefer sleeping in to getting up before dawn, order an automatic chicken coop door from Coop Tender.
Our chicken coop doors open and close on a timer, making it possible for you to let your chickens out before the sun warms up your yard. Browse our selection and order your new coop door today.
]]>Myth #1: Chickens are Dirty
All animals are at least somewhat dirty. After all, they spend the majority of their time outside. However, chickens are no dirtier than your dog after he rolls in your yard. However, chickens can become dirty and smelly over time, especially after periods of neglect. Like any living creature, your chickens will thrive best when kept in clean and well maintained coops and yards. Keeping adequate roosts for your chickens to sleep in and providing areas where they can dust bathe will go a long way towards keeping them clean and preventing disease and insects from running rampant through your coop. Keeping chickens does require some effort!
Myth #2: Chickens Carry Diseases
This is one of the first things many people assume when someone mentions keeping a backyard chicken coop. While chickens do carry different germs than other animals that most people in cities come into contact with on a daily basis, it’s important to remember that germs live on just about every surface you touch. Individuals who get sick easily may want to stay away from a backyard coop, but for most people, simply washing your hands after handling your chickens will be enough to prevent any germs from spreading.
Myth #3: Chickens Are Loud
This is a bit of an overgeneralization. Most hens are relatively quiet. You’ll hear them clucking in the yard, but it rarely gets louder than a normal human conversation. While keeping more chickens will increase the overall volume of the clucking, the truth is hens are quiet creatures. What this myth actually refers to is roosters. Roosters are, indeed, loud. They are known to crow throughout the day, any time they feel that their territory is threatened or they hear a noise they don’t like. If you want a quiet coop, just keep hens. The moment you bring a rooster into the mix, you’ll notice the volume of your backyard coop increases dramatically.
Myth #4: Chickens Attract Predators
Before you get your coop installed, predators may seem absent from your yard and property. While you may think that predators stay out in the country until someone brings in a flock of chickens, nothing could be further from the truth. Predators live everywhere, even in large cities. While your city may be lacking coyotes, foxes, or other commonly thought of chicken hunters, there are a host of other predators that already live there, who may see the coop as a new opportunity. You may notice an increase in the number of predators you spot around your home, but know that they were already there in the first place.
Myth #5: Chicken Coops Are Ugly
This is largely a matter of opinion, as what one person sees as an eyesore may be beautiful to another. The wonderful thing about chicken coops, no matter how large or small they are, is that they’re completely customizable. If you’re not a fan of a wood and chicken wire rectangle with a roof, you can build something that suits your taste. Coop designs are limited only by your imagination, but regardless of the design you choose, your coop can benefit from an automatic chicken coop door.
Coop Tender offers the highest quality automatic coop doors available. Our reinforced design keeps your flock safe from predators and makes it easy to establish a routine. Set the timer for the door to open in the morning as you’re preparing your coffee and schedule it to close in the evening when you’re ready to call it a day. Order your coop door today!
]]>Most people start raising chickens for the purpose of having a steady supply of eggs. While your neighbors might be of the opinion that their eggs come from the supermarket, your kids will learn to understand the hard work producing food involves, giving them a better appreciation of where their food comes from and the importance of the agricultural industry.
Even at a young age, your kids can be actively involved in raising chickens. Teaching them to feed and water the hens on a daily basis instills a sense of ownership and pride in their backyard coop. Over time, they’ll build a relationship with the hens and start to feel responsible for their care and wellbeing. This sense of responsibility can carry into all other aspects of their life, from school and sports teams to family and, eventually, their career.
While no one likes to think about their hens growing old, it does happen. The experience of caring for and losing a friend teaches kids about the cycle of life in a very easily understood way. They’ll gain an appreciation for living things and learn to see that even the simplest creature is a living being. But most importantly, they’ll learn that it’s okay to lose someone you love and still go about your life.
Teaching your kids how to handle and care for chickens can be a wonderful way to help them gain an appreciation for hard work and responsibility. Make the chores a bit easier with an automatic chicken coop door from Coop Tender and know that your chickens are safe inside their coop.
]]>Predators vary based on your location and proximity to urban areas, but hawks, owls, and raccoons are common just about everywhere. Knowing what predators are most prevalent in your area will give you an idea of the signs to look for and can give you insight into the types of precautions you should take around the coop.
Keeping your chickens in a fenced area will protect them from predators like foxes and coyotes, but it’s not invulnerable. Routinely check the perimeter for weak areas. Missing boards, holes in the wire, and dug-out areas are all places predators can enter through. Even small holes can put your chickens at risk from predation by weasels and snakes.
Collecting eggs can become quite the chore, but clearing out the coop daily will keep your chickens safe from intruders looking to steal the eggs. Often, predators only break into the coop to get the eggs, but end up hurting your hens in the process. Collecting the eggs on a daily basis removes the temptation from possible predators.
Hanging reflective things like old CDs and even rear-view hanging disco balls from the branches in your yard can help deter predators. Bright, flashing light can discourage predators from entering your yard as it gives the illusion of more activity in the area. This technique is particularly useful against hawks. Further, hanging reflective objects in your yard can entertain your chickens. If you see them pecking at the objects, don’t worry. In their minds, they’re just toys.
While roosters aren’t necessary to encourage your hens to lay eggs, they can be fantastic additions to coop security. Roosters are territorial and protective. They’ll happily challenge any predator to keep their hens safe from harm.
Acclimating your dog to your chickens is a good idea for a number of reasons. If your dog views the chickens as part of the family, so to speak, they’ll protect them from predators. However, even the most docile dog can ward off foxes and raccoons simply due to their scent. Many predators run away when they smell a dog, letting your hens roam the yard in peace and safety.
Letting your chickens roam during the day is great for their health and happiness. However, to keep them safe, it’s best to secure them in their coop at night. Most chickens will naturally gravitate towards the coop as the sun sets, and our automatic coop doors let you set a schedule for them without having to manually open and close the door twice a day. Simply set the time that you’d like your coop to close for the day, and our system does the rest. In the morning, enjoy your coffee in peace. Our system will open the door at the time you set.
Our Predator Motion Detection Module uses an infrared light detector to view objects in the darkest conditions. Anything that gives off body heat will be visible to the motion detector. Should a predator come close to your coop, the motion detector will pick up the movement and send a notification to your smartphone. You can turn off the notifications if you’re concerned about being woken up in the middle of the night.
Knowing that your chickens are in danger is useful, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t take steps to drive the predators away. If motion is detected, the module will activate flashing red lights at the top of the module to drive predators away. The lights will continue to flash for 30 seconds.
The Predator Motion Detection Module should be mounted near your coop entrance to provide your coop with the most coverage. Ideally, the Module should be placed 3 feet from ground level and should out towards the yard, away from your coop.
Our Motion Detection Module is designed to withstand regular weather variations, including rain, snow, and heat. Be sure to keep the sensor clear of dirt and debris for best results.
Check out our wide range of accessories for your automatic chicken coop door and place your order today!
]]>Elevate Your Coop
We’ve seen it many times: the first time coop builder puts the henhouse directly on the ground, creating a simple frame without any flooring. Yes, leaving your coop on the ground will allow your chickens to peck at the dirt and find the occasional earthworm, but we strongly recommend raising your henhouse off the ground. Foxes, coyotes, possums, and even weasels can dig under the frame of a hen house and steal your chickens without you knowing it. Raising the chicken coop a foot or so off the ground and installing flooring will protect your chickens from unwanted intruders.
Be Picky About Building Materials
Building a chicken coop is a great way to repurpose scrap or damaged wood, but be cautious when you choose materials. Remember, chickens are messy creatures, and rough wood planks are difficult to clean. Be sure to sand down rough patches to make cleanup easier. Avoid creating the entire coop out of chicken wire. Your coop is your chickens’ primary source of shelter from predators and bad weather. It needs to be sturdy and secure.
Temperature Control
If you live in a cold area where the temperature drops at night, you’ll want to add a heating element. In many areas, adding an additional light bulb to the coop will generate sufficient heat to keep your chickens warm during the chilliest days, but some areas will need heating lamps. Regardless of the option you go with, be sure to keep your heating element away from the nesting material and shavings along the floor of the coop. Depending on the temperature of the bulb, these materials can easily catch fire.
Easy Access to Water
Make sure you have ample sources of water for your chickens. Avoid using a heavy bucket placed on the floor of the coop. This type of watering system gets dirty often and will need to be changed frequently. Look for hanging watering options that will keep the chickens from being able to play in it. Remember, chickens, like most birds, love playing in water.
Outdoor Access to Laying Nests
If space is at a premium in your yard, you may not have enough space to build a coop that you can walk through, making egg collection a difficult task. Add an access point on the outside of your coop that will let you collect the eggs without setting foot inside. Access boxes set beneath the laying nests will let you grab the eggs without disturbing the coop itself.
Coop Doors
Your chicken coop needs to protect your chickens from predators and weather alike, and having a strong structure will do you no good if your chicken coop door is flimsy. Remember, raccoons can often sneak into the coop when they’re secured with nothing more than a simple latch. Consider installing an automatic chicken coop door. Our doors are secure, sturdy, and can operate on a timer, giving you peace of mind and an extra hour of sleep in the morning.
Local Ordinances
Always check your local ordinances before you build your chicken coop. Unfortunately, some neighborhoods and cities don’t permit chickens inside city limits. The last thing you want to do is prepare a chicken coop only to find you have to take it down.
Certified Humane works to educate farmers and consumers about ethical and humane farming practices. This involves advising farmers on how to improve conditions for their livestock and helping consumers make educated decisions regarding food purchases.
Certified Humane requires all participating chicken farmers to avoid the use of cages and crates. They require that all chickens be able to move naturally. This includes:
Certified Humane requires that chickens receive high-quality, nutritious feed every day. Approved food cannot contain animal by-products or additional growth hormones and antibiotics. All chickens must be able to feed throughout the day and should have access to fresh water at all times. While conventional practices allow for the cessation of feeding to induce a molting period, Certified Humane farmers are strictly prohibited from the practice.
Free-range hens are required to have access to the outdoors with multiple exits in the chicken coop. These hens should have access to live vegetation in the outdoor area with a minimum size of 2.5 acres per one thousand chickens.
We’re proud to support the welfare efforts of Certified Humane and want to help you raise the happiest chickens possible. If you have questions about our automatic chicken coop doors or coop door accessories, contact us today!
]]>When you start a backyard chicken coop, you’re making an investment in the future of your birds and your home. Chickens are relatively simple to take care of and an automatic chicken coop door will make them even easier to look after. Why worry about heading outside to lock your chickens up every night? With our chicken coop door, you’ll be able to open and close the coop with your smartphone.
]]>Organic eggs come from chickens who were fed only an organic diet, free of genetically modified food and antibiotics. Many conventional chickens are given antibiotics as part of their diet to prevent infections and diseases. With organic chickens, antibiotics may only be administered if the animal has an infection. Further, added hormones to increase egg production are strictly forbidden under the organic label.
In order to receive the organic label, chickens must be raised in a cage-free environment, meaning they have freedom to move around the chicken coop. Organic chickens are also required to have access to the outdoors, though there is no regulation on minimum size of the outdoor pen. By providing outdoor access, the chickens are able to supplement their diets with insects common to the area while also being able to retain their instincts and normal muscle development. Organic practices require third-party inspections and verification in order to maintain the organic certification.
Like organic eggs, cage-free eggs come from chickens who are allowed to move around the chicken coop. Conventional farming techniques confine chickens to small cages, rarely giving them access to areas where they can move around. Cage-free chickens are kept in coops without cages and are allowed to move around. In large henhouses, conditions of the coop may become overcrowded, preventing the chickens from moving easily amongst each other.
Cage-free chickens may have access to the outdoors, but farmers are not required to provide them with an outdoor pen. This means some large-scale operations never let the hens outside the coop. With cage-free eggs, there are no restrictions on the type of feed or antibiotics that the chickens may receive, making it a more attractive and less expensive option for farmers.
Free-range chickens are kept in a cage-free environment, but are required to have access to the outdoors as well as a protected indoor shelter. Many free-range chickens are fed organic feed, but this may not always be the case. The USDA does not place restrictions on the types of feed or antibiotics free-range chickens get. Further, the only required stipulation is that free-range chickens be given access to a fenced patch of cement or dirt outdoors. However, many farmers go above and beyond the USDA regulation, giving their chickens an open and natural environment, full of insects and room to roam.
Most of the chickens you raise at home will fall under the definition of free-range. Even small coops and chicken runs allow access to the outdoors and do not have a way to separate insects from the birds. When you raise your own chickens, you’ll have to lock them in the chicken coop at night to protect them from predators, and open the coop in the morning so they can be fed and go about their day.