Why the New Chickcozy Solar Coop Door is My Favorite Coop Upgrade Yet
I’ve been using Chickcozy doors for years. The two older models on our coops have done their job like champs. They opened, they closed, they kept my girls safe at night. I was happy. But then the new solar Chickcozy automatic door came along, and now I feel like I’ve gone from a flip phone to a smartphone. Same idea, but a whole lot better.
Right off the bat, it’s got everything I liked about the older ones: a smooth, center-opening design that doesn’t guillotine a chicken, a safety sensor that actually works, and a pretty quiet motor that doesn’t make my hens jump. But this new one? It charges off the sun. No batteries to replace, no cords to plug in. I installed it and haven’t thought about power since. It just works. And that new thicker 1.2-inch door? It adds a real sense of relief. This thing is solid. When it closes, I know nothing's getting in or out without permission. I got this photo directly from Chickcozy to show the improved sturdiness
What I love most:
- The solar panel is built into the controller, which you can mount higher up so you're not crouching in coop dust trying to push buttons
- No track at the bottom. The old doors were great, but I was always clearing bedding out of the bottom to keep them from jamming. This new one glides open every time, even with wood shavings and feathers flying
- It locks when it closes, and I’ve tested it by trying to yank it open. That door is not budging
- I don't have to wake up at sunrise if I don't want to :)
Installing it was quick. Just four screws for the door and two for the solar/control panel. Pop the door unit onto its bracket, run the little cord to the controller, and hang the controller in a sunny spot. Took me maybe 25 minutes, with a toddler "helping." The door calibrated itself, and by sunset that day, it closed on its own like it had always been there.
Here are some photos of the install process, truly simple all you'll need is a saw to cut your hole, sandpaper to smooth the edges, and a screwdriver. That's it!
Here are the simple installation progress pictures:
Step one- prep the 8.15 inches wide by 10.4 inches high entry hole.
Step two- Cut and sand the the hole.
Step three- Mount and connect Solar control panel.
Step Four- Install Door via 4 screws.
Step five- Enjoy peace of mind with your flocks safety overnight as well as not needing to worry about letting them out at the crack of dawn!
After installation.
I set it to open and close based on light, which works great in our setup, I've got a 20 min delay set on mine so just about exactly at the time you'd consider it dark it closes year round. But you can also use a timer if your birds are creatures of habit. Manual mode is handy too. I used it when I needed to wrangle a hen that was being stubborn about coming inside, and it was nice being able to open the door on command without messing up the auto settings.
The fact that it opens horizontally is still one of my favorite features. It just feels safer. I’ve had some pretty feisty chickens, and I’ve never once had to worry about one getting stuck or pinched. The safety sensor is sensitive enough to catch a feather but smart enough not to freak out over dust or wind. Of course i had to test it on my hand.. no pain whatsoever as soon as it "grabs" your hand it lets go and opens. Even if a baby chick was to stand in its way, everything will be just fine!
In day-to-day use, this thing’s been rock solid. Quiet, reliable, and totally hands-off. I wipe the solar panel off every couple days when I remember. That’s about it. Rain or shine, hot or cold, it just keeps doing its job. We actually haven’t had many cloudy days, but I did install it in a spot that gets plenty of light even though it rarely gets direct sun. And still, the door works perfectly. That built-in battery must be doing its thing.
We added a simple ramp to help them in and out
Summary
I’ve never used any other brand of chicken door, but honestly, I don't think ill ever need to. Chickcozy’s been nothing but great for me. This new solar version takes everything I liked before and makes it even better. It’s simple, safe, and just works exactly how I want it to. They also make a phenomenal and affordable 25 egg incubator. We have 3 different brand incubators, and Chickcozy's is by far the best one we have with very close to 100 percent hatch rates on 3 back to back incubations.
Also worth noting, the little things make a difference. I love that I don’t have to squat down to check the settings. I love not needing to mess with batteries. And I really love knowing that if I’m wrangling kids at bedtime, I don’t have to worry about the coop being locked up. The door’s already taken care of it.
Where to get one
If you want to check it out for yourself, (I highly recommend doing so!) here’s the link to the products: https://chickcozy.com
And good news! If you use my code at checkout, you’ll save 5% across the entire Chickcozy site. Just enter: "D&E Eggs" at checkout.
Happy chickens, happy you.