Pop Openers - advice and views please

[tlck9]

Hi everyone

I'm thinking about starting to look for auto pop opener. However I would not want it to shut them away, only open in the morning

Is this possible?

And if it is, which one and how - its for my allotment, so I do not have any electricity.

Any suggestions much appreciated

[vicky]

They are battery powered so no problem there.
You can get them to only open/close but I have no idea how! Why wouldn't you want it to close too?


They are fab and well worth the money!

[tlck9]

I go up every night and what to ensure they are in, I have a fear that they will bully Omlet out and leave her outside before I get there.

just me!

Are there any better ones than others?

[Glutton4...]

This is (I think) the most popular one on the market;

VSB b VSBb poultry door opener + timer + duck door on eBay (end time 02-Jan-10 18:36:03 GMT)

I've had mine a year, and wouldn't be without it! Although, they have gone up in price since I bought mine.

[crazywitch]

i wonder if they do a solar opener which operates due to sunlight. sounds like a good idea

[Glutton4...]

i wonder if they do a solar opener which operates due to sunlight. sounds like a good idea

That's what this one is! It takes 4 x AA batteries, and they last for ever. The girls put themselves to bed about 15 minutes before it closes. It is set perfectly well in the factory, but is adjustable if you want to change it.

[chicken_house_man]

The vsb SA version has the facility to be manually shut, either before dark or before the time set by the optional timer

[tlck9]

has anyone experienced any problems with them, eg shutting the chucks out or shutting as they go in....

I have this fear of finding half a chuck inside and half out??

[phil the shed]

They are battery powered so no problem there.
You can get them to only open/close but I have no idea how! Why wouldn't you want it to close too?


They are fab and well worth the money!

battery powered? i use my hands to open my pop!!!!!

[walldanzig]

been thinking about this myself. have always been a bit worried that they wont close and what sort of weight they can lift

[walldanzig]

This one looks good for the money and I think it is the one on Ebay

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acata...or_Opener.html

[tlck9]

I've emailed the site to see what I need and what I dont need, if you email them a picture of your coop they will tell you

[Glutton4...]

has anyone experienced any problems with them, eg shutting the chucks out or shutting as they go in....

I have this fear of finding half a chuck inside and half out??

It won't jam a Chook in 'half-in-half-out' as it stops if it hits anything, giving said Chook time to move. Once your girls are used to putting themselves to bed they will naturally go in about fifteen minutes before it closes.

It takes 4 x AA Batteries, and I've only just replaced mine. The first lot were in there over a year!

In the summer it will open nice and early, so they get a lovely long day scratching around, and you get more eggs. If you're still not sure, buy one anyway, you won't regret it, honest!

[Flummery]

I got one before I got my chooks. It was technically a 60th birthday present. As birthday arrived in January and chooks in April I was well ahead of meself. I really rate it. Good for the chickens, good for me!

[walldanzig]

im going to get one I just worry about them taking free ranging to a new level