Cat flap pop hole?

[Snadger]

This is going to sound daft I know it is but..........cripes that chillie was hot!! Sorry about that folks but whilst writing this I am polishing offf the remains of the Sunday lunches roast beef and I thought I'd add a few Jalapenos's to spice it up....... Just a minute til I wipe the sweat off my brow!

Right........I digress......the nib ogf my query was:- Instead of having just a small pop hole with a drop down sliding door which will let a draft in, could I use something similar to a cat flap with a double hinge on top? I haven't got a cat but I imagine thats how they work!

I've just spent all day hopefully fox proofing my run so I got to thinking that if for some reason I couldn't get on an evening to shut the pop hole, as long as the run was secure it wouldn't matter too much. The only problem would be the chooks would get a draft through the pop hole, hence the question.

Before anyone mentions them, I know about the ones that work by a light sensor, but I'm a bit pink lint at the mo and can't afford one!

Wipes sweat from brow again...........it's no good, the red wine won't quell the fire I'll have to go for a drink of orange!

[TPeers]

I have no idea! I do know that when I have hens in the little arc I sometimes just push the door to of an evening (side hinge) and the hens push their way out in the morning - so I suppose the theory is sound.

I'd be inclined to put some sort of plastic strip curtain up - like you see near the walk in freezers to keep the cold in - use it as a 'training aid', once the birds were used to that replace it with a solid plastic square and if they cope progress on...

Would a wooden flap be too heavy for them?

Cats prefer a flap they can see through as they can then judge if the way is safe for them, I would think that hens would also prefer this.

[Snadger]

I have no idea! I do know that when I have hens in the little arc I sometimes just push the door to of an evening (side hinge) and the hens push their way out in the morning - so I suppose the theory is sound.

I'd be inclined to put some sort of plastic strip curtain up - like you see near the walk in freezers to keep the cold in - use it as a 'training aid', once the birds were used to that replace it with a solid plastic square and if they cope progress on...

Would a wooden flap be too heavy for them?

Cats prefer a flap they can see through as they can then judge if the way is safe for them, I would think that hens would also prefer this.

Thanks for the reply! I was cosidering a perspex flap with a strip of thin rubber matting ( a 3 inch strip cut off an old car floor mat!) fastened to top with screws and a couple of latts either side fasrtening it to the perspex. Theoretically then, it should pivot both ways?

[samw04]

i put a flap in for my dogs yesturday funnyest thing trying to train them to use it they soon got the hang off it but i think if ever i locked it they would still be able to force it as would maybe a fox, to totally lock them you have a second piece of plastic that you slid in on the inside so would have to be there. you should go see one to see if you think it would be strong enough.

[Snadger]

i put a flap in for my dogs yesturday funnyest thing trying to train them to use it they soon got the hang off it but i think if ever i locked it they would still be able to force it as would maybe a fox, to totally lock them you have a second piece of plastic that you slid in on the inside so would have to be there. you should go see one to see if you think it would be strong enough.

Hopefully the run is fox proofed so I shouldn't need to worry about foxes getting in the pop hole! Fingers crossed!