Category: Chicken Door Openers

Setting up the chickenguard asti premium door opener with a self locking door.

Here’s a short video to show how easy it is to calibrate the opening and closing points for a chicken guard door opener.  In this video we use an ASTi Premium door opener and a hen size self locking door but the process is the same for all the Chicken Guard Door Openers and all doors whether self locking or not.

The whole calibration process takes under 2 minutes.

Once you have the basic door calibration you can just leave the unit as it is or you can further refine the process with time control as an option as well as adjustments for the light level for opening or closing.  If you need you can even leave the open or close process to be started with the the push buttons.

 

 

 

Which is the best automatic chicken door opener?

It’s not quite as simple as “which door opener is the best?” but which is the most suitable for you.  Below we have compiled a quick comparison of the main models available.

Considerations when selecting an automatic chicken door opener

Do you want a single operation mode?  Automatic chicken door openers that operate in only one mode have limitations although they are also cheaper. The limitation of a single mode automatic door opener is that it will need adjusting according to the seasons so the door shuts at the optimum time – you don’t want it to open too early or late as this will put your hens at risk from predators.  The ideal method would be to open according to time so you can open the door once it’s light and there is human activity and then close according to light level as the hens will normally go to bed at the same light level every day. Some models have both functions as standard, others have it as an optional extra.

Do you want manual controls?  It sounds a good idea initially but if you have some that have stayed out a little late you can just lift the door up.  This is quicker and easier than the motor will open the.  The only excepting is for occasions when you want to put them in earlier.

Do you want a remote light sensor?  If you want to operate the automatic door opener according to light levels but want to mount the control box inside you’ll need one that allows you to use a remote sensor.

 

Model	Timer	Light Sensor	Weatherproof	lifting capacity	manual controls	low battery warning	Price	remote light sensor	remote control
Chicken Guard Standard	yes	no	yes	1KG	yes	no	£97.20	N/a	no
Chicken Guard ASTI	yes	yes	yes	2KG	yes	yes	£111.60	no	no
Chicken Guard Extreme	yes	yes	yes	4KG	yes	yes	£132.84	no	no
VSBb	optional extra	yes	yes	3KG	no	no	£119.95	optional extra	no
TItan automatic door opener	yes	no	yes	1KG	no	no	£96.96	N/a	no
Chuxaway	yes	no	motor yes, control box no.	0.75kg	yes	no	£69.95	N/a	no
Titan with timer/light sensor	yes	yes	yes	1KG	no	no	£108.28	no	no
dawntilduskdoors	no	yes	yes	no data	no	no	£67.99	no	no
hen safe	yes	yes	yes	5 kg	yes	yes	£129.99	optional extra	no
JT-KS	optional extra	yes	yes	3KG	optional extra	no	£99.99	optional extra	optional extra