Are automatic chicken coop doors predator resistant?

Have you considered reinforcing your flock’s setup and thought: are automatic chicken coop doors predator resistant? The short answer is yes, but not all automatic chicken coop doors are created equal. Adding an electronic door to your hens’ house can help prevent predator break-ins – if you choose the right one. We’ll highlight the distinctions between the types of automatic chicken coop doors, and why they make a difference in protecting your flock from unwanted visitors.

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Why your chicken coop needs an automatic door

Automatic chicken coop doors offer an extra layer of security between your flock and the chicken predators that will try to break into their chicken coop. The doors can be programmed to close your flock in for the night, even while you’re away. In the morning, automatic chicken coop doors can let your hens out for you so that you don’t have to rise as early as your flock. Other benefits of an automatic chicken coop door include:

Better chicken coop insulation
Automation of your flock’s schedule
Increased coop security to prevent accidental door openings

Technology has permeated the chicken-keeping world, making it more convenient than ever to care for your chickens. Automatic chicken coop doors are your first step in creating a smart chicken coop, allowing you more freedom and offering more security to your flock. But choosing the right automatic chicken coop door is important.

What makes an automatic chicken coop door predator resistant?

Automatic chicken coop doors are considered predator resistant because they have a motorized opening and closing method that make your chicken coop or chicken tractor more secure. Once closed, the gears that move the door hold it closed, making it more difficult to open from the outside. Good automatic chicken coop doors should create a seal once they’re closed, which also improves coop insulation.

Most automatic chicken coop doors open vertically. This poses two main issues:

Vertically opening doors can be pried and pushed up by predators relatively easily. They use their paws and claws to create a gap along the bottom of the door, and are then able to push the door up and slip through.
A coop door malfunction can cause the door to fall on one of your chickens, which can pin or seriously injure them.

Horizontally closing chicken coop doors are much safer for your hens. They’re harder for predators to pry open, and since they don’t rely on gravity or pulleys, won’t accidentally fall on your chickens.

Omlet’s predator-resistant Autodoor for hen houses

Omlet’s automatic chicken coop door (dubbed the “Autodoor”), was designed to give chicken keepers more freedom and peace of mind. The Autodoor tucks hens in for the night even when their owners aren’t home – ensuring they’re safe from predators that move in the cover of darkness.

The universal fit of the Autodoor allows it to be attached to any chicken coop or chicken run. This highly versatile design allows the Autodoor to be installed on virtually any setup. Install on an existing chicken wire run, wooden chicken coop, or on one of Omlet’s chicken runs by choosing from the appropriate installation kits. The Autodoor also integrates seamlessly with the Eglu Cube, without needing to remove the existing door.

The Autodoor is made from heavy-duty materials that are designed to last a lifetime, and opens on a horizontal coil mechanism. Once closed, the Autodoor keeps your hens safe inside their home from both predators and the elements.

Program the Autodoor with either a schedule based on light or a specific time. Most chicken predators are most active at dusk and shortly before dawn. The Autodoor can keep your chickens safely closed in their coop until the desired daylight or time has been reached.

Common chicken predators in the US

Depending on your area, some of the most common chicken predators flock raisers will encounter are:

Racoons
Foxes
Coyotes
Neighborhood dogs and cats
Snakes
Hawks

The most widespread and infamous chicken predators are raccoons and coyotes. They are found all across the US and are some of the most persistent and crafty of predators. Omlet has taken these (and other) predators into consideration when we designed our chicken coops, runs, and the Autodoor.

All of our chicken runs have anti-dig skirting to help prevent predators from tunneling in. And, the lower panels of the Eglu Cube’s attached run feature a tighter mesh to prevent raccoons from reaching through. And, new for spring 2023 are the t-locking handles that make the Eglu Cube even more raccoon-resistant.

Combined with the Autodoor, the Eglu Cube and its attached run is the best setup when creating a predator-resistant chicken coop, ensuring your hens stay as safe as possible from predators.

4 additional ways to protect your flock from predators

In addition to having a coop concierge to close your chickens in at night, you can take precautions to keep predators at bay. Make sure you have a strong chicken coop and a sturdy chicken run to house your flock. Additional considerations to make your setup predator-resistant:

Install motion lights around the perimeter of your chickens’ space to scare off approaching animals
Pick up any leftover chicken feed at the end of the day to avoid attracting rodents that may draw predators in
Keep chicken feed in airtight containers
Install hardware cloth around the bottom 4 feet of your chickens’ run

Protecting your flock with Omlet

Omlet’s chicken tractors and large chicken coops can be reinforced with the Autodoor to make them more predator-resistant. All of our hen houses have been designed with safety and functionality in mind. Have peace of mind while you sleep in, knowing that the Autodoor is taking care of your flock around the clock.