The chicken door started because we let our backyard chickens out at about 6pm, then close the door again when they have re-entered the enclosure to sleep.
They have a limited time outside because they tend to wreck the garden and plants if they are left out all day.
Unfortunately we forget sometimes:
Forgotten Action | Effect | Result |
---|---|---|
let them out - sunset | bad for chickens | Chickens hungry and cranky |
close the door - night | bad for garden | Chickens attack at dawn |
So a light based chicken door was called for
Start with a sliding door run on a ball chain drive - motor driven by arduino with motor shield
- run on solar power.
At present using a LDR for the light sensing but will move to solar cell voltage
Later additions would include a chicken feed holder door as well.
To lock up the chicken feed from the attack of the rats. But that is a later project.