Automatic pop-holes.

[Polly Fouracre]

Has anyone had any experience of automatic pop-holes? Do they work on a timer? A light sensor? Do they need electricity?

[RichmondHens]

We have used the light sensitive ones, battery operated, in the past. They are great, and certainly saves you getting up in the morning so early to let out, particularly in the summer. We don't use them in the winter as we are up before the chickens! Just make sure they have a fox proof area to come out into.
The downside is that occasionally there is the odd hen that gets shut out as she is prevented getting into the house by a bully, and therefore the pop shuts before she is in, so going to check they are all in at night is still advisable.

[vicky]

They're fantastic!
Work on a light sensor with a battery.
One hen got shut out on the first day we used it but that's the only time (and she was an ex batt out for the first time)
It is great peace of mind if you are as forgetful as me...

[jbalmer]

I just had one fitted with a timer, it opens at 6.30 and closes at 10.00pm its brilliant. expensive but worth the money especiallyif you want to go away overnight cos provided you leave food in and out of coop you dont need a chicken sitter

[Flummery]

We have the light sensitive one. The chickies come out into a strong totally weldmeshed run and have food and water ready for them. I'm assured that adult rats can't get into a run with this gauge of weldmesh although I know mice could. However, they would soon become just another foodstuff!

We had a couple of lock-outs in the early days but now they are all in about 15 minutes before the door closes. I think it's brilliant!

[Hilary B]

Must admit that if I had gone to the trouble of making the adjoining run fox-proof, I wouldn't bother closing the pop-hole at all in summer, but then mine never were actually shut indoors at all, and rarely shut in anywhere until the last few years in Orkney when it was the only way to keep them out of the feedshed (where we needed to use rat poison).
As long as they can get out of the rain and strong winds, have a perch, and somewhere nice to lay eggs, most chooks really are pretty tough beasties.

[Polly Fouracre]

Thanks everyone. I will look into the timer one, this is because my table birds are going up to the field which is five miles away. I don't mind getting up in the morning but in summer I'm often not back from work until 7 30 a.m. and going to work before dusk. I think the timer one would put my mind at rest re. chickens being shut out.

[BilboWaggins]

I just had one fitted with a timer, it opens at 6.30 and closes at 10.00pm its brilliant. expensive but worth the money especiallyif you want to go away overnight cos provided you leave food in and out of coop you dont need a chicken sitter

I'm familiar with the light-sensitive one which Flummery has, but please can you let me know which opener/closer you have?

Many thanks

[Hashette]

I've got the light sensitive one and can't rave about it enough - suddenly we can go out for the evening and not have to either trick them into going into the run, or leave early.