Automatic doors

[Sue]

I know there are some people on this group who have automatic doors. Can you tell me whether you have ever had any problems with them. I've had mine since March and haven't had any problems until this morning when the door opened an inch and stopped. My hens were frantic at 6.30 this morning when I went down, as they had usually been out and about for hours! It's not the batteries. We've contacted the person who we bought it from and they're getting a new one sent to us from the manufacturer in Germany, but this is going to take at least a week I would have thought. Don't fancy having to get up at 4.30 for a week!!!!

 

[foxy]

We have quite a few of them, basic problems are jamming and batteries going flat. If it has stopped at an inch and other reasons have been eliminated, it could be the switch itself is jamming, and thinks that the door is closed. This the switch at the bottom of the unit which recognises "knot" in the cord.
I have to say we have rarely had a problem, and most minor issues we have been able to sort out.

 

[Marigold]

Don't fancy having to get up at 4.30 for a week!!!!

Whether you can just leave the pophole open depends on how secure you feel your run is. The hens don't need it shut at night unless there's the risk of predators in the run early in the morning when they naturally emerge. In my secured run, I only shut ther pophole in the most bitter winter weather, by which time they're getting up at quite a civilised hour anyway! Certainly in summer, if possible, it's good to leave it open because it gives more air and better ventilation.

 

[E3lx]

I dont use automatic doors, they can be useful, but can also jam, bats can go flat and chooks can get locked out at night. This means they become a tasty grub for the passing fox. I prefer to do things manually. And as for getting up at 4;30, i dont think thats necessary, 7;00 will do fine They will survive with a week out of routine...

 

[Sue]

In reply to E3lx - mine have never been locked out at night, mainly because they have all gone to bed anyway long before the door closes and I always check they're in after the door closes anyway, when the dogs go out last thing at night. Even if they were locked out, mine are in a foxproof run so they wouldn't get eaten. As for the batteries, they are supposed to last for 12 months, but it's advised to change them every 6 months, so as long as you remember to do this, the batteries shouldn't go flat. If I didn't let mine out until 7am they would be hammering on the door!! The replacement part has now arrived and works perfectly, so I can now have a lie in until 6am!!!

 

[Tim]

I have 3 automatic doors made by AXT Electronic (Germany) - I've had them for 7 years or so and only had 2 issues - flat batteries, the cord wearing thin on a house with a big, heavy door.

They are very reliable. I make a note on my calander to change the batteries once a year and it lifts a big door - 14 inches x 10 inches and 18mm thick chipboard!

I can't fault their customer service - the one time I contacted AXT in Germany with a 'fault' they sent me a new board before I sent the old board back. After returning the board, they notified me of the problem...

I had wound the cord on the wrong way