5 Best Automatic Chicken Coop Doors – Real-Life Testing (2023)
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Automatic chicken coop doors are the greatest invention since sliced bread! We’ve tested all major brands of chicken coop doors ourselves for several months in real-life situations. With so many doors available, varying in style, design, and price, finding the one that matches your needs can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help you make that choice!
Let’s start by addressing our top choices to buy in 2023. All doors in this list (and others) were tested on various chicken coops in real situations.
BEST AUTOMATIC CHICKEN COOP DOORS
Chicken Coop Door Reviews: Real-Life Testing
We’ve tested multiple brands in real-life situations, and these are our findings!
We ordered many major chicken coop door brands to try and review them thoroughly. All products were installed and tested for several months during various weather circumstances. We followed instructions as mentioned in the manual and carefully reviewed whether these instructions were clear or not.
1. Best Overall: RUN CHICKEN
Run Chicken sells two door models and tries to improve them with every update. The T50 is their standard coop door model and was updated in 2022. They’ve recently added a solar powered coop door to their webshop, with the same benefits as the T50, but runs on two AA NiMh rechargeable batteries, charged from a solar panel.
- Pre-assembled door
- Sturdy and high quality
- Works with an app
- Light sensor & timer
- Quality batteries or solar panel included
- Impossible installing the sensor on outside, while door is on inside
- Only runs on batteries or solar, no DC power supply
- Fairly expensive
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Overview
Our number one ‘Best Overall’ chicken coop door is the Run Chicken T50. Run Chicken is a young business founded in 2018 and sells its automated coop doors worldwide. The company has two chicken coop doors on the market, the T50 and the E50.
The E50 Run Chicken door has all the benefits of the T50 but works on rechargeable batteries that are charged by a solar panel. The T50 Run Chicken door works on AA batteries. Both doors are exactly the same, except for their power supply method.
They are both easy-to-install automatic doors available in several colors and patterns. The door is constructed from solid aluminum, and the metal is finished with a high-quality colored powder coating. All Run Chicken doors are waterproof and designed to endure harsh weather circumstances.
Run Chicken differs from most chicken coop doors on the market because their door is completely pre-assembled. You don’t have to do anything more than screw the door into place, install the app, and you’re ready to go.
Installation
All automatic door manufacturers claim their door is easy to install and pre-assembled. But it usually takes a couple of hours to install an automatic chicken coop door, especially if you’re not used to it. According to Run Chicken, installing their doors only takes 30 minutes; we didn’t need that much time.
It took us only 15 minutes to mount the door to the coop and install the app. But even if you don’t install the app, the door will function in default mode. This means it will close automatically 20 minutes after sunset and open 20 minutes after sunrise. It’s the only door of popular coop door brands that provides an app.
Best Features
The Run Chicken is a high-quality door with many specific and unique features. We’ll address the most important qualities.
- Safety Stop. So your chicken doesn’t get trapped while the door closes
- Batteries are included in both the T50 and E50
- Works with the Run Chicken App; easy to use and programs the door
- The Run Chicken is also programmable without using the app if you prefer not to download it
- Timer & Light sensor
- Delay in opening and closing
- GPS Mode: No need to set the time; the door automatically detects your location and time zone
- Light sensor excludes artificial light sources, no need to worry about bright street lights
- Completely pre-assembled
Possible Drawbacks
Although the Run Chicken door has many good qualities, some things may be important for you and your flock.
- Doesn’t work on main power supply, only on batteries
- Difficult to mount the door inside the coop as the controller and door come in one piece and can not be separated.
- Opens by sliding upwards, so you’ll need at least 10″ above the coop opening
Bottom Line
The Run Chicken automatic door is a sturdy, high-quality chicken coop door with many unique features compared to its competitors. Its easy installment is refreshing, and so is the Run Chicken app. You can use your phone to program the door.
If you prefer a solar-powered door, take a look at the E50 Run Chicken door, sold exclusively on their website.
2. Best All-Purpose: CHICKENGUARD
- Easy installation
- Rigid aluminum door
- Clean design
- Light Sensor & Timer
- Difficult to read the display in sunlight
- The door is small for giant breeds
- Batteries in the box drain quickly
- The screws in the box tend to rust
Overview
The ChickenGuard chicken coop door is our favorite ‘All-purpose’ door because of its versatility. To accommodate a wide range of poultry flocks, ChickenGuard ships automatic chicken coop door openers with timers, light sensors, and door openers for heavy doors and extreme weather conditions.
You can order the door opener separately to attach the opener to your own chicken coop door or both the door and opener.
ChickenGuard is one of many chicken keepers’ go-to brands for chicken coop doors worldwide. We took their doors to the test to ensure this favorite brand meets up to the standards.
The door is a guillotine-style aluminum gate that slides smoothly and is guided by two plastic runners. Compared to some of its competitors, the door has an elegant and discreet design.
The ‘Standard’ ChickenGuard chicken coop door and opener are versatile enough for most people, but there are also ‘Premium’ and ‘Extreme’ versions available, with different features. We’ll address all three versions and their differences.
Installation
Overall, the installation was relatively easy, although the instructions were not always that obvious. It took some time to understand all the steps that needed to be taken. It took us about 1.5 hours to mount the door and opener and to install the settings.
The ChickenGuard door and opener come in two packages:
- The ChickenGuard Coop Door: the actual door
- The ChickenGuard Coop Door Opener: the motor unit opening and closing the door
First, you install the door; then, you attach the motor. What’s unique about ChickenGuard is that you can buy the door opener separately to attach it to your own chicken coop door. If you want to do this, ensure you know the weight of the coop door so you know which version to purchase. We installed the default ChickenGuard door, made from sturdy plastic & aluminum.
ChickenGuard Opener Series
ChickenGuard sells three different versions of their door opener: Standard, Premium, and Extreme. The Standard and Premium models are versatile enough for most chicken keepers, but to ensure you make the right choice, we’ll shortly pinpoint the differences between these models.
- ChickenGuard Standard: Basic unit door opener with only timer function, no light sensor
- ChickenGuard Premium: Basic unit + an adjustable light sensor
- ChickenGuard Extreme: Premium unit + extra powerful motor + built to endure extreme weather
ChickenGuard used to have an eco-model, but it isn’t available anymore.
Best Features
ChickenGuard is a well-known manufacturer of chicken coop openers and doors. Here are some good reasons to buy a ChickenGuard door:
- Safety Stop. Your chickens won’t get hurt if the door closes while they’re blocking the door.
- Works on batteries and mains
- Clean design
- Can be operated manually, on a timer, or light sensor (Premium & Extreme)
- Separate door and controller
- Different from most other coop doors as the controller and door can be bought separately
- Versatile: can be installed in different ways and can be attached to your own door
- Self-diagnosis mode: the door detects problems and shows a message on the screen
Potential Drawbacks
All ChickenGuard doors are high in quality and built to last, but there may be some disadvantages compared to other doors:
- The included batteries drain quickly (after +- 4 months)
- Included screws tend to rust easily
- Cables for main power supply are not included
- Small door opening for large breeds
- Requires enough space above the coop opening for the door to open and to mount the controller
Bottom Line
You can’t go wrong with a ChickenGuard coop door. They are sturdy and high in quality, built to last a very long time. Installation is fairly easy, but if you’re not handy or used to installing coop doors, the whole procedure can be tricky. Read our ‘ChickenGuard Instruction Manual‘ to be fully informed about the installation procedure.
→Read our full review of the ChickenGuard coop door to learn more
3. Best Sliding Door: OMLET
Omlet is a well-known company that sells chicken products, including their automatic coop door. It differs in many ways from other doors on the market because it opens and closes like a sliding door, from left to right, rather than up/downwards. There’s only one version available of the Omlet Auto Door, but it comes in two color varieties.
- Sturdy and high-quality door
- Easy installment
- Sliding door
- Light sensor & timer
- Special design and look
- Batteries not included
- Rather expensive
Overview
Omlet only has one chicken coop door on the market, available in two colors. It differs in many ways from other doors on the market because it opens and closes like a sliding door, from left to right or vice versa.
This makes the door easier to install on coops that don’t have much space between the coop opening and the roof.
The door can be installed on the Omlet Eglu Cube chicken coop, a traditional mesh-style or wired run, or any other wooden coop. Please note the door can NOT be installed on the Eglu Go, and Eglu Go Up coops.
The Omlet door has a very recognizable and typical look; you either love it or hate it. There is no way in between, as the color and style are rather unique. The door is made of ABS, short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, an opaque thermoplastic known for its rigidity and strength.
The door itself looks and feels sturdy. It’s designed to endure harsh weather and can stand temperatures up to -4°F (-20°C), which is more than most standard automatic chicken coop doors. We tested it on many winter nights (10°F / -12°C), and it did not fail.
Installation
The Omlet auto door is quite easy to install as it comes almost pre-assembled in the box. But, there are some steps you have to take before mounting the door in place and trying out the controller.
If you don’t feel comfortable using the included manual (like us), Omlet has some excellent installation videos on YouTube that are easy to follow. It took us less than an hour to mount and install the door.
You don’t have to own an Omlet chicken coop to use their automatic door. The door can also be installed onto traditional wooden coops or mesh fencing. You don’t need any extra ‘attachment sets’ to mount the door to a wooden coop or a new Omlet chicken coop.
But you do need to purchase an attachment kit to install the door onto an older Omlet Mk1 coop and mesh fencing.
Best Features
The Omlet AutoDoor is a high-quality chicken coop door, that’s very popular with many chicken keepers. The door has some unique or special features we would like to address.
- Safety Stop. Your chickens won’t get hurt if the door closes and they block the entrance
- Sliding door. Perfect for coops that don’t have much space above the door opening
- Works on batteries and mains
- Can be operated manually, by timer or light sensor
- Easy installment
- Built-in Failsafe system, so the door can be opened manually if there is ever a problem
- Choose which side the door opening goes
- Endures cold weather, the Omlet door has been tested in extreme conditions of -4°F.
Potential Drawbacks
Things to keep in mind when purchasing the Omlet coop door:
- Remarkable look and design, not for everybody’s taste
- Batteries and many extras are not included
- Main power cord not included
- Rather expensive
Bottom Line
The Omlet chicken coop door is a high-quality and easy-to-install chicken coop door. It distinguishes itself from other coop doors on the market because it is a sliding door that opens and closes from left to right instead of upwards. You don’t need an Omlet chicken coop to install an Omlet autodoor, it can be easily installed onto a traditional wooden coop.
→Read our full review of the Omlet coop door to learn more
4. Best for Small Coops: CHICKCOZY
The Chickcozy automatic chicken coop door is a high-quality and competitively priced option for those looking for a low-maintenance, easy-to-install coop door. Its unique opening design, which slides horizontally like a curtain, sets it apart from other doors on the market. The Chickcozy has two color options, lime green and dark goldenrod.
- Pre-assembled
- Sliding door design
- Light sensor & timer
- Quality batteries & power cord included
- Special design and look
- Impossible installing the sensor on outside, while door is on inside
- Rather expensive
Overview
Chickcozy is worth mentioning on this list because it is a very high-quality, easy-to-install chicken coop door that will fit perfectly on smaller coops.
This coop door differs from others on the market because of its unique elevator-opening design. It opens and closes sideways, like a curtain or elevator door, with two sides sliding toward each other.
Unlike upward-opening doors, you don’t need much space above or around the coop opening. This is the perfect automatic coop door for those with smaller coops or less space above the door opening.
Chickcozy sells its chicken-keeping products worldwide. They strive to design products that help chicken owners to care for their flocks.
Installation
The one-piece design of the Chickcozy automatic coop door allows easy installation. By screwing the door into place and following the set-up instructions for the opening and closing modes, the door can be made operational with minimal effort.
Installing the Chickcozy automatic door is a breeze compared to many other doors on this list. It comes fully pre-assembled; you only need to align it to the coop opening and fasten it with screws. It’s as easy to install as the Run Chicken. There’s no need to perform complicated measurements or additional tasks.
All items are pre-assembled, and you can’t really mess up. It took us about 10-15 minutes to install the door and operate the control panel.
Best Features
The Chickcozy automatic door is a sturdy ABS coop door that’s incredibly easy to install. Here are some other features worth mentioning:
- Safety Stop. So your chickens won’t get hurt when the door closes
- Horizontal opening and closing
- Works manually or on light sensor or timer
- Batteries and power cord are included in every purchase
- Completely pre-assembled
Potential Drawbacks
- Difficult to mount the door inside the coop as the controller and door come in one piece
- Special design and look
Bottom Line
The Chickcozy automatic chicken coop door is a high-quality and competitively priced option for those looking for a low-maintenance, easy-to-install coop door. Its unique opening design, which slides horizontally like a curtain, sets it apart from other doors on the market and makes it the best option for those with smaller coops or less space around the coop opening.
→ Read our full review of the Chickcozy coop door to learn more
5. Best Affordable Alternative: VEVOR
VEVOR is a worldwide supplier of tough machinery and tools. Their VEVOR Pre-Assembled Automatic Coop Door is designed for easy installation with its one-piece design. It’s larger than most automatic doors, making it suited for larger breeds. It also has a lower price than most quality coop doors.
- Sturdy and quality door
- Easy installment
- Light sensor & timer
- Suited for large breeds and other poultry
- Special design and look
- Batteries not included
- Batteries drain quickly
We understand that paying around $200 is a lot to spend on a chicken coop door, but we advise avoiding cheap alternatives, as most won’t work properly or can be dangerous for your chickens.
But that doesn’t mean there is no way in between. The VEVOR automatic chicken coop door is a good quality door that costs half of the price you pay for the other doors on this list. We thoroughly reviewed the VEVOR pre-assembled door and were pleasantly surprised. The door also receives good reviews on Amazon.
This VEVOR automatic coop door is designed for easy installation with its one-piece design. You can simply screw the door into place and follow the set-up instructions for the opening and closing modes. It’s as easy to install as the Run Chicken and Chickcozy door.
Installation
As the VEVOR coop door is pre-assembled, it’s easy to install, and mounting it onto the coop wall is simple.
You only need to insert the batteries by unscrewing the side screws, putting them into place, and mounting the door to the coop using the six included screws.
Once the door is installed, you’ll need to set up the controller according to your preferences, which can be read in the instruction manual. The process is very straightforward and can be done in just a few minutes.
It took us about 30 minutes to mount the door and set up the controller.
According to Vevor, batteries should last up to one year, depending on how often the screen is illuminated. However, we had to change the 4 AA batteries after only six weeks, without touching the LCD screen once after the installation was completed.
It is too soon to tell whether we just had bad luck with the batteries or if they drain so quickly. We will update the article once we figure this out.
Best Features
- Safety Stop. VEVOR refers to this feature as the “protect function” to prevent your chickens from getting crushed if the door closes
- All-in-one design, no assembly needed
- Light sensor or timer available
- Four control modes: Use a different mode for closing and opening (for example: opens at dawn on a specific time, closes at dusk using the light sensor)
- Price. It’s much cheaper than most quality doors and still gets good reviews
Potential Drawbacks
- Batteries not included
- Does not work on main power supply
- Remarkable design
- Batteries drain quickly
Bottom Line
This VEVOR door is a very good option if you’re looking for a quality door that’s half the price of most chicken coop doors. It’s a pre-assembled, weatherproof, galvanized iron door that is easy to install. The battery-powered controller can be set up in just a few minutes, offering a light sensor or time settings for opening and closing.
→Read our full review of the VEVOR coop door to learn more
Notable Mentions
Following automatic chicken coop doors didn’t make our list, but they are still quality chicken coop doors. So they may be worth considering when looking for a chicken coop door that matches your needs.
Happy Henhouse Chicken Coop Door
This Happy Henhouse door looks similar to ChickenGuard, with a door opener, cord, and the actual door. Happy Henhouse is a local and small business selling coop doors and chicken coop accessories.
It has a self-locking mechanism and a weatherproof controller and uses high-quality components to ensure reliable operation. It’s easy to install and requires only minimal assembly.
The door didn’t make our ‘Best Chicken Coop Door’-list because it lacks a safety stop. These built-in sensors prevent the door from closing if a chicken blocks the entrance. A safety stop offers many chicken keepers the peace of mind that the door won’t hurt their chickens.
CO-Z Automatic Door
The CO-Z automatic chicken coop door is a weatherproof, aluminum coop door that works with a solid actuator rod. This door is larger than most others on our list, making it suited for large breeds.
The door is a guillotine-style aluminum gate driven by a solid actuator rod. Two aluminum runners guide the door on both sides. A door controller box is delivered as a separate unit that can be placed conveniently.
This door did not make our ‘Best Chicken Coop Door’ list because it takes more time to assemble and takes up more space on your coop than the other doors.
Other Notable Mentions
Unfortunately, we could not test the following doors ourselves. But we get great feedback from our readers about these automatic chicken coop doors, so they may be worth considering.
- FarmLite automatic chicken coop door: The FarmLite door is unique as it works on solar power and mains. No other door on our list can connect solar panels to their coop door. FarmLite also provides a battery box (batteries not included) as a power kit.
- Brinsea Chicksafe Eco automatic coop door: Brinsea is a well-known manufacturer of chicken supplies and also has automatic doors and door openers. The Brinsea Chicksafe operates like the ChickenGuard does, with a door opener, a cord, and the actual door, but it is much cheaper. Doors and door openers can be purchased separately, and you can choose between a ‘standard’ version or the ‘advance’ model.
Quality Chicken Coop Door Best Features
Whatever brand best fits you is a decision you can only make for yourself. But there are some qualities that a good and high-quality MUST have to work properly. Most cheap doors lack these features, making them unreliable.
Must-have features for a good chicken coop door:
- Safety stop. Although almost all chicken coop doors (even the cheap ones) claim to have a built-in safety stop, plenty of reviews can be found that claim the opposite on the cheap doors. A quality coop door will always detect an object (for example, a chicken) blocking the entrance and stop closing.
- Light sensor + timer. We advise always purchasing a chicken coop door that works on both a timer and a light sensor. Most more expensive coop doors supply both in one or more of their models.
- Sturdy materials. Never purchase a cheap plastic coop door, as it breaks easily and isn’t predator-proof. Most high-quality doors are aluminum or strong thermoplastic.
- Choice in power supply. Not all chicken keepers have electricity near the chicken coop, so keep in mind to purchase a door that fits your needs. Most doors have their models run on both mains and batteries.
- Predator-Proof. You want a chicken coop door to keep your birds safe at night, so it has to be sturdy and trustworthy. Read the reviews online, and you’ll notice the difference between a more expensive and a cheap door.
Careful with Lookalikes / Cheap Doors
Most doors on this list aren’t cheap. With prices varying around $200, they are actually quite expensive. When you scroll through Amazon, you’ll notice plenty of cheap doors are available that look EXACTLY like the high-quality brand doors. So why spend almost $200 on a door when you can get the same-looking door for just over $30?
Main differences between cheap doors and more expensive quality doors:
- Material. The cheap doors are plastic, while the expensive doors are sturdy aluminum.
- Waterproof. As a chicken coop door usually goes on the outside of the chicken coop, you want it to be waterproof. The cheap door is not waterproof. Other, more expensive doors are 100% waterproof, even when submerged.
- Adjustable. The lookalike door isn’t programmable; they are ‘plug &play’, meaning they only work on the light sensor, and nothing can be adjusted. Most high-quality doors can be programmed in multiple ways, including timer, delays, or even stopping the door from closing and opening.
- Durability and use. The cheap doors are made of plastic, so they tend to bend easily, which stops the door from working correctly. Bent doors won’t open. Superior doors are made from sturdy aluminum and work as they should.
- Safety stop. Although all automatic doors, even the cheap ones, claim to have a safety stop that prevents your chicken from being hurt while the door closes, there are plenty of reviews to be found that claim the opposite on the cheap doors. Stories of trapped, hurt, and even decapitated chickens are heartbreaking as you purchase these doors because you only want the best for your flock. The safety stop on the high-quality doors works perfectly without hurting your birds.
- Use in cold weather. Cheap doors tend to freeze quickly in cold weather so that they won’t open or close.
- Predator-proof. A smart predator like a raccoon can easily wiggle their fingers inside a plastic coop door and push it open. It’s not sturdy, nor is the door locked in place. It’s pretty much impossible to force-push the sturdy aluminum doors open.
Many cheap automatic coop doors have up to 60% of 1-star reviews. Plus, you won’t have customer service afterward to complain as most of these manufacturers are masters in hiding their contact information. We understand that $200 is a lot of money to spend on a coop door, but is it worse than $30 down the drain?
How Did We Test?
We ordered all mentioned chicken coop doors to try them out and review them thoroughly. All products were installed and tested for a long time during various weather circumstances. We followed instructions as mentioned in the manual and carefully reviewed whether these instructions were clear or not.
We examine each model, discuss the materials involved, and assess how predator-proof the door actually is. We also tackle the ease of installation, what comes in the box, and how you can use the motor units in several different setups.
Our goal is not to give bad reviews; we only discuss high-quality doors, but to ensure you can make the best decision that fits your needs as a customer. Although all doors mentioned above and in our reviews are very high in quality, we need to address major differences between them.
Let’s go over them one more time:
BEST AUTOMATIC CHICKEN COOP DOORS
Summary
With so many options on the market, choosing a chicken coop door that matches your needs isn’t easy. We tested multiple high-quality chicken coop brands to determine their best features and possible drawbacks so you can make the best decision.
All coop doors on our list are high-quality doors, so you can’t go wrong with any of them; it’s just a matter of preference. We chose our best chicken coop doors because of the following reasons:
Run Chicken: The best overall door because it has everything you need. High quality, ready-to-use, easy to operate, and runs with an app.
ChickenGuard: The most versatile door on this list because you can buy the door separately from the controller, and various controller types are available.
Omlet: A well-known brand of sliding chicken coop door. High in quality and easy to use on coops with less space around the door opening. But the design is not liked by all.
Chickcozy: The best choice for those with smaller chicken coops and with a less remarkable design than the Omlet.
VEVOR: For those looking for a quality door for a fraction of the price. VEVOR brings a decent chicken coop door, ready-to-use and low in price. It’s also a bigger door, suited for large breeds and other poultry.
