Owning chickens can be a lot of fun, and you can also make money or feed yourself on meat and eggs. However, you will need to keep your chicken safe if you want to collect the spoils. One of the key components of keeping your coop free from predators is a high-quality door. However, there are many doors to choose from, and a new owner may not know how to choose one suitable for their coop.

We’ve chosen 10 different brands of automatic chicken coop doors to review for you so you can see the difference between them. We’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we look at how these devices work so you will know more about what to look for while you shop.

Join us while we discuss lifting capacity, ease of setup, size, and more to help you make an educated purchase.

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Quick Glance at the Winners of 2024

RatingImageProductDetails
Best Overall
Winner
ChickenGuard Waterproof Automatic Chicken Coop Door ChickenGuard Waterproof Automatic Chicken Coop Door
  • Easy to use
  • LCD screen
  • Durable
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Run Chicken Model T50, Automatic Chicken Coop Door Run Chicken Model T50, Automatic Chicken Coop Door
  • Aluminum doors
  • 2-year battery life
  • Easy to program
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    JVR Automatic Chicken Door JVR Automatic Chicken Door
  • Programmable timer
  • Safety sensor
  • Large LCD screen
  • KEBONNIXS Automatic Chicken Coop Door KEBONNIXS Automatic Chicken Coop Door
  • 3 operating modes
  • Easy to program
  • Aluminum door
  • CO-Z 66W Automatic Chicken Coop Door CO-Z 66W Automatic Chicken Coop Door
  • Light sensor
  • Aluminum construction
  • Backup remotes
  • The 10 Best Automatic Chicken Coop Doors

    1. ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door – Best Overall

    ChickenGuard Waterproof Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The ChickenGuard Waterproof Automatic Chicken Coop Door is our pick as the best overall automatic chicken coop door. It’s extremely easy to use, and the convenient LCD screen lets you make adjustments without struggling. It features light detection as well as a timer so that it will open and close at the proper time for your birds, and the large 10” x 12” door is big enough for most coops. It’s extremely durable and comes with everything you need to set it up. We were able to use it for close to 6 months before we needed to change the batteries.

    We enjoyed using the ChickenGuard Waterproof Automatic Chicken Coop Door and found it reliable and safe. The only problem we had was with the setup. The directions are not as clear or complete as we would have liked, which left us doing some guesswork during the install.

    Pros
    • Easy to use
    • LCD screen
    • Light detection and timer
    • Durable
    • Big door—10” x 12”
    Cons
    • Difficult setup

    2. Run Chicken Automatic Chicken Coop Door – Best Value

    Run Chicken Model T50, Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The Run Chicken Model T50, Automatic Chicken Coop Door is our pick as the best automatic chicken coop door for the money. It features aluminum doors for fantastic protection from intruders, and the drive sprocket is aluminum as well and is durable enough to last many years. It’s one of the easiest models to install, only requiring a few screws, and two AA batteries can last up to a year without needing to be changed. It’s also easy to program with no difficult sub-menus to navigate.

    The Run Chicken Model T50 is a fantastic door that is well worth its low cost. If you live in the southern states, this could be all you need. However, we noticed his door doesn’t work as well in colder weather, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on it in the northern states to make sure your chickens get in and out on time. We also felt that the door size is a little small at 8” x 10”, though our chickens used it and didn’t seem to mind.

    Pros
    • Aluminum doors
    • 2-year battery life
    • Easy to program
    • Aluminum drive sprocket
    Cons
    • Doesn’t work well in winter
    • 8” x 10” door

    3. JVR Automatic Chicken Door – Premium Choice

    JVR Automatic Chicken Door Coop_Amazon

    The JVR Automatic Chicken Door is our premium choice automatic chicken coop door. It has a large 11 13/16” x 12 9/16” door that is perfect for any size chicken, and it has plenty of strength for opening and closing the door. It has a versatile timer that allows you to set it when you want to open and close the door. You can also open and close it manually with the press of a button. The large LCD screen is easy to read while you are making adjustments, and there is even a safety sensor that stops the door from moving if it detects chickens in the doorway to prevent injury.

    We liked the JVR Automatic Chicken Door, but the installation and setup instructions could be a little easier to follow. They don’t explain some of the mounting brackets clearly, and the instructions didn’t seem to match the picture.  Also, the complex timer system is handy, but if you don’t set it up properly and completely, the door could open at the wrong time.

    Pros
    • Large door—11 13/16” x 12 9/16”
    • Programmable timer
    • Safety sensor
    • Large LCD screen
    Cons
    • Difficult to install and setup

    4. KEBONNIXS Automatic Chicken Coop Door

    KEBONNIXS Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The KEBONNIXS Automatic Chicken Coop Door is another model that features an aluminum door. It measures 9.85” x 10.65” and seems to be comfortable for the chickens. It installs easily with a few screws and operates on four AA batteries. There are three operating modes for opening the door. You can use the light sensor, timer, or both together, and it’s easy to program. A closed-door indicator flashes so you will know when the door is closed up to 100 yards away.

    The KEBONNIXS is a good chicken coop door, but the lifting string that pulls up the door is quite thin, and though we didn’t have any problems, we’re not sure how long it will last. The batteries also die quickly and only last a few weeks, likely due to the flashing indicator light.

    Pros
    • Flashing door closed indicator light
    • 3 operating modes
    • Easy to program
    • 9.85” x 10.65” door
    • Aluminum door
    Cons
    • Uses batteries quickly
    • Thin lifting string

    5. CO-Z 66W Automatic Chicken Coop Door

    CO-Z 66W Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The CO-Z 66W Automatic Chicken Coop Door features a light sensor to control the chicken coop door automatically, and it will open when it is light and close once it’s dark. The all-aluminum construction is durable and easy to set up. It has two backup remote controls that allow you to open and close the coop in an emergency, and a safety switch will stop the door from moving if it detects a bird in the doorway. The door is pretty large at 11.8” x 12.7”, so most chickens will get through easily.

    The downside to the CO-Z is that there is no timer, so you can only use the timer or remote control to open and close the door. We also found that it worked very slowly or not at all in cold temperatures.

    Pros
    • Light sensor
    • Aluminum construction
    • Backup remotes
    • Easy assembly
    • Protective sensor
    • 11.8” x 12.7” door
    Cons
    • No timer
    • It doesn’t work well in freezing temperatures

    6. AOUSTHOP Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Kit

    AOUSTHOP Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The AOUSTHOP Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Kit features one of the bigger doors on this list at 12” x 13”, so it’s big enough for most chickens and even geese. An infrared sensor will detect if a bird is standing in the doorway and stop the door so there are no injuries. It runs off a timer so you can select the best time to open and close the coop, and it also comes with a pair of remote controls so you can manually control the door if you need to. We found it easy to use, and the materials seem durable.

    The downside to the AOUSTHOP is that it moves very slowly, which might cause you to become impatient when using the remote control, but it is safer for the chickens. Another problem we had is that it can reopen if there is a movement within 10 minutes of shutting. This feature might allow wandering chickens to get in, but it can also allow predators inside since it moves so slowly.

    Pros
    • Infrared safety sensor
    • Timer
    • Durable
    • Easy to operate
    • 12” x 13” door
    Cons
    • Slow
    • Can reopen and give predators entry

    7. Happy Henhouse ShureLock Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Kit

    Happy Henhouse Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The Happy Henhouse ShureLock Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Kit is a well-built chicken coop door that uses both a light sensor and a timer to open and close the door at the appropriate time. The high-precision actuator makes sure the door opens and closes completely every time, even in cold weather. There is also a safety stop that will prevent the door from closing on a chicken standing in the doorway.

    The downside to the Happy Henhouse is that even though the door is tall enough at 12.5 inches, it’s still fairly narrow at only 9 inches, and some larger birds might have difficulty getting through. We found the batteries died after only a few days, so you will need to change them frequently, or the chickens can get trapped inside. Our light sensor also stopped working after a few months.

    Pros
    • High precision actuator
    • Light sensor and timer
    • Safety stop
    Cons
    • 9” x 12.5” door
    • Batteries die quickly
    • Flimsy light sensor

    8. ChickenGuard Premium ECO Automatic Chicken Coop Door

    ChickenGuard Premium ECO Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The ChickenGuard Premium ECO Automatic Chicken Coop Door is a door that’s easy to set up and uses recycled materials for a reduced environmental footprint. It has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen, and it’s easy to program. A weatherproof casing will help keep moisture away from the control panel, and the door self-lock mechanism prevents predators from lifting the door. Installation takes only a few minutes and requires few screws.

    We like the simple design of the ChickenGuard Premium but found that the door jammed several times when opening and closing. We’re also fearful that the thin lift string would break when it stopped on the way up. The smaller-sized door may also be difficult for some chickens to get through.

    Pros
    • Uses recycled materials
    • Full-featured LCD screen
    • Easy setup
    • Weatherproof casing
    • Self-locking
    Cons
    • Thin lift string
    • Frequently jams
    • Small door

    9. Brinsea Products ChickSafe Eco Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener and Door Kit

    Brinsea ChickSafe Eco Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The Brinsea Products ChickSafe Eco Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener and Door Kit is another simple all-in-one automatic chicken coop door design. It’s a larger door that is 11 inches wide and 13 inches high. It features a safety stop that will stop the door from moving if a chicken is standing in the way to prevent injury, and it has a low battery and door status flashing indicator that you can see from a long distance.

    We like the flashing indicator on the Brinsea Products because it’s not always easy to see the door as it gets dark, and the flashing means we don’t need to leave our home unless there is a problem. However, the flashing seems to wear down the batteries faster, and we needed to change ours every week. The door doesn’t lock, so raccoons and a few other predators might be able to lift it, and the door lift string is very thin and could easily break. It worked well most of the time, but we had some occasional jams.

    Pros
    • All in one design
    • Auto-stop safety feature
    • Low battery and door status indicator
    • 11” x 13” door
    Cons
    • Thin string
    • It doesn’t lockdown
    • Occasional jams

    10. Coop Defender Gold Automatic Chicken Coop Door Kit

    Coop Defender Gold Automatic Chicken Coop Door_Amazon

    The Coop Defender Gold Automatic Chicken Coop Door Kit is the last chicken coop door on our list to review for you, but it still has plenty of features worth considering. It has a large LCD screen that is easy to read and allows you to program it with little effort. The installation is also quite effortless and only requires inserting a few screws. You can set it to use the timer, light sensor, or both to open and close the door automatically.

    The downside to the Coop Defender Gold is that it eats batteries quickly, and we needed to change ours at least once a week. The door is tall but narrow at 12” x 9”, so it might not be suitable for some larger breeds, and the door doesn’t lock, and a crafty predator might be able to get inside.

    Pros
    • Fully featured LCD screen
    • Easy setup
    • Timer and light sensor
    Cons
    • 9” x 12” door
    • Does not lock
    • Eats batteries
    • Stopped working

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    Buyer’s Guide

    Let’s look at some of the things you should consider when choosing your next automatic chicken coop door.

    Why Do I Need an Automatic Chicken Coop Door?

    An automatic chicken coop door is a great way to keep your birds safe from predators at night without needing to operate the device yourself. You will need to open the coop very early every day, even in winter, so your chickens can stretch their legs and get some air. Leave it open during the day so the chickens can come and go as they please, but when it gets dark, chickens become blind and paralyzed, so they are easy prey. You will need to make sure all chickens are in the coop, and the door is closed when it gets dark.

    An automatic door will take all of the efforts out of it by opening and closing the door at the appropriate time.

    What Makes a Good Automatic Chicken Coop Door?

    Automatic Chicken Door_ChickenGuard_Amazon
    Image Credit: ChickenGuard, Amazon

    Door Size

    One of the first things you will need to consider when choosing your chicken coop door is the size. The door size will mostly depend on your coop, so you will need to measure it before you get started. Most chicken coops have a 10” x 10” entrance, but some can be as small as 9 inches and as large as 13 inches. If you are building a coop, we recommend a larger size around 11” x 13”.

    Clearance

    You will also need to measure the space above the door to ensure enough clearance to install the mechanism that will raise the door. If your entrance is 12 inches high, you will need at least 12 additional inches above the hole for the door to lift out of the way. You will also need another few inches for the motor. The more space you have, the more choices. If you don’t have enough space above the door, you may need to look for a brand that opens sideways.

    Light Sensor vs Timer

    Light sensors will open and close the door automatically when the sun comes up and goes down. These devices are extremely easy to use because they don’t require any programming. Once you install batteries and turn on the power, you are finished. The downside to a light sensor is that it can open a little earlier than ideal on some days, leaving your chickens open to predators.

    Timers allow you to set an exact time that the door will open and close regardless of how high the sun is. Timers help keep your chickens safer by opening the door a little later than a light sensor when there is a better chance the predators are gone.

    Automatic Door Type

    Most of the devices on this list are the type that uses a strong motor to pull a thick string that raises and lowers the door. The door is in a track on either side, so it stays in position as it opens and closes. Other types might use hydraulics or gears to move the door. The type you choose is a personal preference, but we recommend the string because if it breaks, it’s easy to fix, and this type is usually less expensive and easier to install.

    Automatic Lock

    Many doors on our list of reviews have a locking mechanism that prevents them from opening by lifting it. Many predators, like the raccoon, can lift an unlocked door to get inside. We recommend choosing a locking model, and we tried to point out which ones do in our reviews.

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    Conclusion

    When choosing your next automatic chicken coop door, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. The ChickenGuard Waterproof Automatic Chicken Coop Door is easy to install and operate. It has light detecting and timer capability, so you can use whatever is more convenient. It has a large door and uses durable materials. Another smart choice is our pick for the best value, the Run Chicken Model T50, Automatic Chicken Coop Door. It has a long battery life, a large door, and it’s easy to set up.

    We hope you have enjoyed reading over these reviews and have found a few models you haven’t heard of before. If we have helped you keep your chicken coop safer, please share these 10 best automatic chicken coop doors on Facebook and Twitter.

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