Automatic openers

[mandyballantyne]

Hi All,

I am looking for recommendation for an automatic opener.

Does anyone have any good or bad experiences of these?

Many thanks, Mandy

[RichmondHens]

There's another thread on this very subject somewhere, have a search.

We used them for a while a few years back and generally they were fine. Too many houses now to fit them to all, and do bear in mind if you get the photosensitive ones (as opposed to the timer ones) they open at dawn and close at dusk, which means in high summer your hens will be out at 4 am, or earlier. As this is the time you will find Mr Fox about you need to make sure your enclosure is very secure.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Perhaps Mandy is talking about greenhouse vent openers? If so, I have no gripes about my cheappie B&Q version which is the least expensive of the ones I have bought. Best time to buy these is at garden shows close to the time the stallholders are packing up.

[vicky]

We have one from Ascot, a photo sensitive one. Would highly reccomend - esp if you are a bit forgetful like me.... More problems from mr fox if they are left open all night....
(plus my neighbour has some dodgy bloke in a caravan in her garden, parked next to the coop, so mr cockerel out at 4am is good for annoyance!)

[mandyballantyne]

Thanks everyone, yes it's for the chooks! Richmond you made a very good point about the photosensitive ones, I don't want them out at 4am!! I am up for them most days it;s just once a month when i am away for a few days and I am not sure my OH gets up early enough for them!!

Having said that I will look at Vicky's recommendation on the Ascot just in case!

Thank you, Mandy

[Glutton4...]

Perhaps Mandy is talking about greenhouse vent openers? If so, I have no gripes about my cheappie B&Q version which is the least expensive of the ones I have bought. Best time to buy these is at garden shows close to the time the stallholders are packing up.

We're in the Chicken section, Hon!

I have a VSB. Love it. Hate getting my arris out of bed! The foxes round here come into the garden in broad daylight, and are out in the paddock (where the chooks' run is) all the time. So leccy fencing is a neccessity here. Personally, I think it's worth every penny.

[Glutton4...]

Thanks everyone, yes it's for the chooks! Richmond you made a very good point about the photosensitive ones, I don't want them out at 4am!! I am up for them most days it;s just once a month when i am away for a few days and I am not sure my OH gets up early enough for them!!

Having said that I will look at Vicky's recommendation on the Ascot just in case!

Thank you, Mandy

If they get up at 4am they get more daylight, and you get more eggs! My Roos start crowing at 3am anyway, so what the heck...

[mandyballantyne]

We're in the Chicken section, Hon!

I have a VSB. Love it. Hate getting my arris out of bed! The foxes round here come into the garden in broad daylight, and are out in the paddock (where the chooks' run is) all the time. So leccy fencing is a neccessity here. Personally, I think it's worth every penny.

Hi Glutton,

Can you expand on VSB please?? Planning to buy one tonight

Ta, M

[jessmorris]

I have a VSBi too. Just put it into Google and something will come up. Its a unit with a light sensitive cell, a motor and a winder, all in a box that you attach to the henhouse. Once set up it either opens the door with daylight, or, if you buy the timer, when you say. It closes at dusk, or when you set it.
They are brilliant. The only hard thing is undertsanding the instructions which are not translated very well from German.
You get it from poultry places as it comes from Germany so you can't buy direct.
Check ebay for cheapest prices, they are about �100.
Your pophole needs to open vertically not horizontally.
Best of luck,
Jm

[Flummery]

Same unit here. They do open very early in summer but the run is very secure so it's not a problem - the chickens also have a kip in the day in summer to catch up!

[Aberdeenplotter]

We're in the Chicken section, Hon!

Whoopsie, I'll retreat with my tail between my legs but thank you for being so gentle with me in letting me know.

Horrid embarrassed smiley

[jessmorris]

By the way G4, what's your handsome horse called?

[walldanzig]

I have the VSBI and it is great. I have them surrounded by a herris fence panels but it is one of the best things I have bought for the chooks. If they where not secure I wouldn't use one I think free ranging them without protection and using a VSBI is only going to cause you trouble

[Glutton4...]

By the way G4, what's your handsome horse called?

Not telling you, coz you'll laugh! But here is is in the snow.

[chris]

If the run is secure, then why do you need an opener - can you not leave the pophole open all the time? Just curious - I'm planning to do this. My run is almost complete now! Will post some pics later