Somebody actually did that?

[canesisters]

I was poking around looking for ideas to make an automatic chicken door for the coop and came across this: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-A-Blanket-Door/step5/Step-5-Pulling-the-Door-Open/

FIVE steps to making a blanket door.

(love the comment "Can't use it, no instructions on how to close it"

 

[lcertuche]

 

[so lucky]

Haha! Did they have any instructions on how to boil water?

 

[Beekissed]

This guy's a genius! The blanket door guy, however, is not.

 

[seedcorn]

So did you find one you liked?

 

[baymule]

What about Sheet Drapes? You just nail up a sheet until you get drapes....or not.....

 

[canesisters]

This guy's a genius! The blanket door guy, however, is not.

I've seen this one and I think it's so clever. However, with 30 birds, can you imagine the counter weights I'd have to figure out? LOL

 

[Nyboy]

Bay I was in a friends apartment who had sheet drapes, was also the filthiest home I had ever been in.

 

[seedcorn]

Yes, you wouldn't want it closing until last bird was in. Then what happens if one decides to not roost with the rest?

 

[Beekissed]

I read about one once that an old farmer had rigged up....it was a wind up alarm clock and he set it for when he wanted the door to open. When the alarm went off and key went around, it would wind up a string that would tighten and then open the pop door. When he gathered eggs that evening, he'd feed, reset the clock and shut the birds all inside for the evening.

I never shut my pop doors unless I want to keep the flock confined for the day for nest retraining or some such, so I've never had the need for door openers and closers, but there seem to be quite a few DIY type gadgets that work.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/717940/my-diy-automatic-chicken-pop-door-opener-closer

http://makezine.com/2011/11/17/how-to-automate-your-chicken-coop/