Older non-laying hens have a habit of returning to the coop to rest sooner than most pullets, but this isn’t always the case. Firstly, though most chickens return to the hutch before sunset it is best that you do some grass roots research into your flock and see what they get up to before the sun goes down. Once you know approximately when the sun is going to rise and fall in relation to the season and your location, you will still need to consider a few more factors before you set the time on your Auto Door. Who knows what chickens will do during a blood moon or a solar eclipse - so you'll have to roll with the punches in a situation like that. Remember, your chooks are living creatures that will adapt and change in different situations, which sometimes will not always fit in with your plans or your conception of how things should be, but that is a part of the fun of caring for these fine feathered friends.Īt what time should I set the Auto Door to open and close? Additionally, chickens may take some cues from the weather, perhaps retiring to their coops earlier on overcast or rainy days. Once again it is important to remember that these figures are average times, which will change to varying degrees across the seasons. Below is a table that will give an average indication of the sunrise and sunset times across all of Australia’s major cities. It is in the best interest of you and your chickens to adjust the times on your Auto Door as the seasons change to correspond with the different sunrise and sunset times. In a nutshell, the Auto Door is the easiest way to ensure that your girls get enough time in the daylight, which will cue their bodies to start making eggs.ĭo I need to reset the timer on my Auto Door during different seasons? That is why in caged hen environments they use heat lamps that basically act as a 24/7 sun substitute, which ultimately causes damage to the chickens health, as even the most prolific laying hens need time to recover from a period of heavy egg production. The science behind this, in very simple terms, is that the daylight triggers a hormonal response inside the chickens that tells their bodies to start producing eggs. That’s why it is of vital importance that your girls spend as much time out of the coop and in the sun to ensure that they get enough daylight to produce those scrumptious eggs we all love so much. Not all Chicken Ladies know that their flock needs 14 hours of daylight to lay eggs at their peak. How on Earth does the Auto Door promote egg laying? Over time, they will begin to understand and appreciate the warmth, wonder and beauty of their Penthouse, Taj Mahal or Mansion chicken coop. If your chickens are having trouble understanding the benefits of sleeping in the coop, simply pick them up and put them into it.
However, if it is a relatively young flock who may not be used to spending the night in the coop, you may need to double check on your girls around sunset to see if they are all wandering back into the hutch. If your chickens are already accustomed to your coop they will have no issue free-ranging all day and returning to their perches before or a little after sundown. As the light slowly fades they will instinctively understand that it is time to return to wherever they normally roost. Will the chickens know when it is time to go back in the coop?Ĭhickens are very responsive to the sun.
This ultimately helps establish a healthy routine that promotes optimum egg laying conditions during the summer months, as well as adding another obstacle against winter predators that might have their eyes on your girls. The Auto Door operates on a timer pulley system that essentially pulls the shutter of the chicken coop open early in the morning and closes it at night. The battery operated Auto Door is an ingenious little device that opens and closes the door to your chicken hutch to ensure that your girls get plenty of access to the outdoors during the day, and that they are safe and secure at night.
#Automatic chicken coop door how to#
On first impression, it may appear to be a gimmicky gadget, however, true chicken aficionados appreciate the Auto Door as a vital tool to help keep the girls safe and sound, as well as being their secret for rapid and regular egg laying. Have a read of this easy guide if you want to find out how to make the most out of your Auto Door. Many a poultry enthusiast prizes their Auto Door as one of their favourite chicken coop accessories.
0 kommentar(er)
