DIY $25 Smart (wifi) Automatic Chicken Door Opener! 

Hey Everyone! I made a 9 month update video where i added a counterweight! Check it out here if you are interested: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pIWNi0sIbE0.htmlsi=DhfWJKP3DqtqYvXP

Best video I have seen on chicken doors. Many thanks!

You sir are a genius and we all thank you. Those of us that live in poverty and can't afford a $200 door. Thank you so much man

This is brilliant and way cheaper than any chicken door out there Just an update I received my valve today installed it and it works great

I did this exact thing. I bought the linked valve switch and made the few mods and it works great. The only issue I had was the switch failed to work the second day. I tried it about ten times and it started working slowly, then fully. It is working now, but I'm probably going to replace it. It's a pain for me because I have to get inside of our tiny coop. But I don't want to find out that it failed when I really need it (when I'm away). Thanks for this post. It's not only at least 83% cheaper than all the packaged solutions out there, it is BETTER solution. For me, I already have a heavier wooden door in the channel. This works perfectly as a retro-fit without scrapping any existing parts or functionality. I was able to keep my existing manual string as a backup. And the Google Home integration is so much better than the simple timer. Shooting for 15 hours of daylight, I turn the light on 9 hours after sunset. But the door has to be closed or they chickens will just go outside in the dark when the light comes on. I'm going to follow you in case you post any other improvised solutions to anything. I love it. ru-vid.comL2pfQvRmlmM?si=B_AO-duliVQRnYZz

This is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to find on my quest to automate my door. Thanks for sharing! I had an interesting system in my previous coop - I attached the roosting pole to a pivot with jugs of water attached to the other side matching the weight of my hens so when they all were on the roost it caused the door to close and then open again when one of them jumped off. Pretty nice, power-free system as long as all your hens sleep on one roosting pole.

I would of NEVER thought of this, absolutely will try this out.

We just disposed of an old baking pan at the recycle center, and now I wish I had kept it ! Very smart !!!

Love the cookie sheet idea! I used an old automatic car antenna but I'm definitely using a cookie sheet for the door! Thanx!❤

I think the fact you're using a cookie sheet is what really sold this to me 😂 my kind of diy!

This is an awesome idea. Been looking at getting an automatic door but thought price is ridiculous and so happy I did a RU-vid search. Just ordered the smart water valve and can’t wait to set it up!! I got my very first flock of chickend in feb so Im new to a lot and appreciate the hack 😊

Just finished my water valve coop door, this find was a gem 💎.

Very good ideas, thanks for sharing. By the way, that overhead netting is a must! We lost a chicken to a hawk a few months ago, and after hanging netting and ribbons, it seemed to solve the problem.

I've got an ESP32 flashed with Tasmota to run a shutter function. Haven't hooked it all up yet, but soon. Your design is right off the shelf. Good job!

Lifesaver, I was just about to get started on an Arduino and stepper approach myself!

I put auto doors on my two coops where I could set the clocks and really liked them. The other kind wouldn't have worked because there is flood light on a pole in the back yard. I did have to change the batteries several times a year, and once in awhile they'd malfunction. They all have their pros and cons. Even with the wifi ones isn't always the best option because when the internet or power goes down, none of them will work. I also put up Wyze cams inside my coops as well as in the corners of the run, so I'd have visual access from all angles. I, too, put up bird netting. That was a must. I'll have to try out what you did as well. It might be a good idea to have two doors, with one being a backup in case the other goes down. Thanks.

This is amazing! You are amazing! In the past, I researched, and all I found was people using actuators. Need one of these real bad. Thank you so much.

It be cool to hook it to a small solar generator that you can recharge from time to time.

I am so happy you uploaded this video sir. Exactly what I was looking for! This is brilliant! Unbelievable they want $180 for a smart chicken door.

Thanks for the great idea. I tried a commercial opener before and it was flimsy so I had to return. I got this opener for $27 on Amazon and it works perfect now. I like the timer to schedule for open/close. I am using a piece of plywood (about 1x1 foot) for the door and am afraid the motor may not stand the weight in the long run. Thinking of finding some light material for it. I used a shower rod to attach the opener to my chicken coop and some trimmer line that was around for connecting between the opener and the door. So no extra cost.

I don't have a table saw, or router. However, the money I'll save on diy door opener, it will help pay for the table saw/ router.

Omg thank you so much! Saw this video and had to try it out!auto doors are so expensive but this is amazing and I love how it connects to my phone!

Thanks a lot... it's good idea to use water valve. You changed my plan about my chicken coop door. thank you

I'm glad I looked at the video. Who wants to spend $200. Thanks a lot great video

This is brilliant, thank you so much, just installed mine this week, and it works like a charm!

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing this life hack that is actual better and less expensive than those ripoff $150 models

haha, you can see the chickens confused by the down door when you were demo'ing it. so now we need AI to translate " Alexa, open the door" from chicken-speak.

This is GREAT !!!! Going to work on getting this setup this weekend. Thanks

You made my life so much easier! Works perfectly! Thanks a lot 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Super smart idea, easiest and most effective on the web thanks for sharing. I m working with ESP32 diy smart chicken door, I can customise little more and battery life is good if you optimise the code, but the smart part as you said is giving issues. Can you measure and share the power consumption? I will hav.e to run on battery and solar panel Thanks

So simple an functional. Thanks for the video.

What an absolutely brilliant hack. I've been working (so far without success) on an Arduino based solution which reads UCT from GPS and then uses a math formula to calculate sunrise & and sunset for any latitude/longitude but this is so much easier. Thank you. You're a genius.

Simple and elegant solution. Thanks.

Wow super awesome Idea, I've been using a pulley system with pumps and water in two different containers hooked up to a smart plug but this is so much simpler, so cool. Im going to be building a new coop and totally going to use this idea!

Hi, thank you for this great idea, I used it to build an automatic door opener for the basement door (normal 90 ° house door ). We have a cat door on the outside door, but she often brings us presents, that i dont want in the house. She also often takes a nap in this room, and then is waiting for me to let her into the rest of the house. So I hooked up am older indoor wifi cam, to see if the cat is "alone" and didn't bring a mouse. Also, when she wants to go outside, i can just open the door for here from my phone 😀 I just needed 10 cm of opening, so that the cat can squeeze through. The water valve motor (with zigbee) is strong enough to pull the door open, against the spring force from the other side. Im closing the door automatically with an mechanical spring powered door closer with a pullong cable. When I unhook the pulling cable, I can use the door normally like before. That is the reason why I didnt use a stepper motor.

Sir is that a cookie sheet??! Friggen genius!! I miss These kind of YT videos

I posted a video of how I had it. But I gave in and ran the cable through the wall and installed the opener in my garage so it won't be so cold and fail. I'll let you know how it works out.

Genius idea! I've been racking my brain for the best way to do my door affordably. It's a side hinged door that opens 90 degrees. This should be perfect! Thx again.

This is the best video on youtube. thank you

thank you very much. I've been looking for a long time to do something like this!!!! bravo!!

Thank you! I've been trying to figure out how to automate our chicken drawbridge. This is exactly what I was trying to do, but couldn't think of an easy motor system to do it.

They have these for sale on Temu now. I'm thinking about putting one in my garage to vent out the heat.

Smart Idea! Thank you for making this video. Keep them coming. Forney, TX😄

Cool invention but the Run Chicken door is still better, easier to setup and only takes double A batteries instead of directly connected to your power and is only $75 more.

Works like a dream, Thanks for saving us $$$$$!

I don't have wifi. I wish they had a timer version of this valve. I didn't see any on Amazon.

thank you so much

First of all, thanks for sharing! I bought and installed one of these three months ago after viewing your video. Kudos on the ingenuity. I too have a real problem with the inflated costs of automatic coop doors. Plus these smart devices are, indeed, smarter schedule wise. Unfortunately, mine already crapped out 3 months in. I contacted the vendor and they were very responsive and immediately refunded me. I'm about to buy a new one to give it another try, but I'm guessing all the ones I see available for purchase will likely have the same build and longevity. Did you have to replace yours yet? Or have you found a different device to use?

Nice. definitely different. However, I take it that it runs on AC ONLY. What happens if the power goes out and you are not at home. I say it is always best to have everything run on 12VDC and off a battery. No matter if it is Mains power charged or Solar/Wind Charged.

I guess my only drawback to this one is if power goes out there is no backup and also what happens if a chicken is under it when coming down i mean it might not ever happen but we all know chickens are not the brightest sometimes

After seeing your video, I have purchased the exact same one on Amazon. Loaded the app, and it is recognized but sadly it does not open or close. I think it is faulty. Will check your other video

DIY can be fun, but I prefer to just buy one pre-built. I got one from The Hen Hut and it was only 65 dollars. The materials seem good, it was simple to setup, and so far it has been very reliable. DIY can be a good way to go, but if you want to save time I'd recommend buying a pre-built one like The Hen Hut.

awesome ingenuity!

What an Idea !!!!

Can you recommend a diy if you don’t have electricity

What kind of sprinkler valve is this? I'm trying to zoom in but cannot.

Wow! Brilliant! This is great! Couple of questions: What max weight door do you think it could lift? What length of arm did you use for how much of travel? Thanks

Great setup.

I purchased that Smart Controller.... haven't yet installed it,, but am anxious. Can You elaborate more on that camera you have? Maybe a link where you can purchase one? Great Vid... and thanks

Great mod!!! Also, the device is now $33 (Jan 2024).

I'm also trying to figure out which make/model wifi valve you used. All the ones I've found require 120VAC/12VDC power

I’m in New Zealand and I have found the same water valve however it says that it doesn’t come with the copper column valve section. I have no idea what that part is, but can I still make it work with out that part? lol thank you ☺️

When I read the name of your channel, I was required to subscribe. Tell me the story behind this name. But also, I'm gonna do this diy opener. Was looking at the higher end ones and was shocked that they were so expensive and required an additional module to add wifi. Needed a quick win and I think this will do the job!

I've been looking for this 👍.

Do you have a link for the wifi valve.

This "smart valve" works/connects via blue tooth? My wifi doesn't reach out to my chicken coop, so... will it work?

You have to have power to the coop though correct?

Hey, do you know if these valves are waterproof? I wanted to mount it on the outside of a chicken coop but it's out in the rain of course.

Brilliant!

Do you have a link to that valve

That's cool but if there is any water involved in cold climets

How did you connect it to the wifi? I've been trying for hours....

Anyone have any idea what to do , I would love to do this but my WiFi signal doesn't reach out far enough to our chicken coop ( maybe 40m away from router) any help would be appreciated 😊

What if your chicken coupe isn't within wifi range of your house?

well done sir thankyou

this is the greatest thing i have found so far and will be building this any issues with it so far and i def subscribed just because f this video.is it till working good

Can you share the make/model if the smart water valve?

bravo

What happens is the power or WiFi goes out?

Do you have step by step directions

do you have a link to the netting you used?

Amazing hack!

how do you go about programing for sunrise and sunset

Can this be set on a time to open and close since I do not have Wi-Fi near the coop?

Excellent

Has anyone found a 12volt version of this motor in order to hook up to a battery with a split charger?

Did the same thing, unfortunately doesn't work when the weather gets below 30°. Went thru 3 valve motors already.

How much did it cost?

Wi-Fi didn’t work my chicken cage is 50 feet from my house. The Antenor is weak on the machine

link to valve???

Hey what did you use for the arm? Thnx

A raccoon can’t push this up? I don’t understand how it can’t. There’s no upper stop

what a vid!!! you guys are awesome

Gday I’m in Australia what’s the valve called

Brilliant!

Brilliant!