So our friends from Omlet sent us an Autodoor to try out, which is their automatic chicken coop door. I have to admit, I am pretty impressed.
Check out our video review on our YouTube channel. Also make sure you hit that subscribe button.
I really like the automatic chicken coop door from Omlet. It is sturdy and easy to install. Since this door uses batteries, you can use it for a chicken coop without having to run electricity. It is an awesome addition to any backyard chicken set up.
Backyard Chickens Are HOT!
If you are not aware, backyard chickens are extremely popular! People all over the world are more interested in knowing where their food is coming from and even having a part in producing it.
When the order confirmation came from Omlet, the delivery date for the door was almost a month out! Lucky for us, Omlet must have gotten more product in stock because the automatic chicken coop door was delivered fairly quickly.
Shipping and Handling
We don’t hear shipping and handling very often anymore do we. Anyway, the email that we got next from Omlet was the shipping confirmation email. It had the tracking number and the expected date of delivery. We ended up getting the delivery a day earlier than their expected date so kudos for that!
The package came in just two days without any damage. The door was packaged very well. The packaging has custom cardboard cutouts for each part of the door. This helps the contents to not shift during transportation. Oh, and shipping was FREE!
Unboxing
Everything you need to mount the automatic chicken coop door is in the box. The only thing not included is four AA batteries. You have the instruction manual, the door, the control panel and the hardware to mount the door. You have everything you need so you won’t have to make multiple trips to the hardware store. Perfect!
Installation
The installation part was the part that had me…not worried, but a little apprehensive. I think that is just my personality. When all was said and done, there really was not anything to be apprehensive about.
The Autodoor can be installed in different scenarios. The most obvious one is installing it onto the Eglu Cube, available from Omlet. But you can also install it on wire fencing on your chicken run or probably most common, onto a wooden chicken coop.
The coop at Grandma’s is the style with the ladder coming down from the floor of the coop leading to the ground level. We installed the door and then they are wrapping chicken wire around the rest of the bottom level. All we had to do was screw in boards to make a frame that the automatic chicken coop door could be screwed or bolted to. The door comes with bolts and wing nuts but Ron just used some screws into the four holes to hang it.
The installation was really, really simple. All we had to do install the gear that turns with the motor, attach a couple retaining brackets, screw or bolt the door to the coop, hang the bracket for the control panel, put the batteries in the control panel, plug it in, and hang up the control panel. If you can use a screwdriver and a drill with a screwdriver bit, you are golden! It really was that easy.
Operation
The door has three modes you can use it in:
Manual
It is pretty easy to manually open and close the door. So if your plans change and the ladies need to be put up early, it will be easier to close them in than it will be to round them up and get them in the coop.
Light Sensor
The control panel has a light sensor on the front of it. You are able to customize the settings quite a bit. The main setting you can adjust is what level of light will trigger the opening and closing of the door. You can also adjust how long the door stays open after that level is reached.
So example: the door will close automatically thirty minutes after dusk. Your happy flock has thirty minutes after dusk to get their rear ends to bed.
This option is great because as the seasons change and the days get shorter or longer, you do not have to keep changing the time that the door opens and closes. It will take some trial and error to get it set, but once you have it figured out, it is set and done.
Time
If you want to, you can set the door to open and close at a specific time. I talked to Grandma about this option for their chicken run. Sometimes they like to let their hens out of the run and let them roam the backyard. The suggestion was to put a door on their run that is set to open every afternoon about 6:00 PM and then close at dusk, or in the winter maybe like 4:00 PM until dusk. That way the chickens have some time in the backyard but don’t have all day to get into flower beds and such.
BONUS
Our friends at Omlet gave us an offer I was not expecting while we were emailing back and forth. They offered all of you a promo code to save 10%. AWESOME!! They have chicken coops, treat caddies, chicken runs, etc. They also have stuff for dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, etc. Check them out and use the promo code “HQ” at checkout. Coupon code can be used on their US/UK/IE/& AUS website.
Conclusion
So here are my thoughts on the Autodoor.
Pros:
- Installing this door was actually really easy. You do not need construction experience to do this. It’s an easy DIY.
- I like that the door is sturdy. Chickens going in and out, bumping against it, maybe a few squabbles is not going to damage this door. It seems like it will handle weather well. Since the motor and wires are all encased, you won’t have to worry about it getting gummed up.
- This is, in my opinion, the number one PRO, it’s battery operated. Running electrical to a chicken coop can be really expensive or even not physically possible. So being able to put batteries in and go is awesome.
Cons:
- I’m not exactly sure I like the green color. This is not really a big deal. I’m sure with the right set up it will blend right in and look great. The door is available in grey, so that is something to consider as well.
- Not sure what maintenance will be required. You might need to wipe down the door frame and rails to make sure the door can slide without interruption. I don’t know this for sure, but just a thought.
BUY THIS DOOR!!! TODAY!!!
I really do like this door. I like it so much I just might have to steal it back from my mom when we build our new coop. Ok, that probably sounds terrible, but I do like it. There are many days that I get home late. Then it is time to say goodnight to little boys and make sure they are settled in bed. Say hello to my wife and the older kids and help with what they need. Then eventually get some dinner. Knowing that the chicken coop gets closed up automatically equals peace of mind.
This doesn’t even mention that I am not a morning person. If there is snow or a lot of rain, getting out of my warm bed to let chickens out is quite the chore. I just might be willing to get out of my bed to watch the door automatically open from my window though.
THANK YOU Omlet for making a user friendly product. From the ordering to the installing and operating, it really was a great experience. And thank you for the “HQ” coupon code.