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Run-Chicken sells its popular automated doors globally. We’ve tested their Made-in-the-USA battery-powered and solar models to see if these high-quality doors live up to the hype.
RUN-CHICKEN COOP DOORS
Run-Chicken T50
Standard model, AA batteries & Bluetooth Use code chickenfans15 for a 15% discount
Until recently, Run-Chicken also had a door with a separate solar panel, but it’s no longer available. The solar panel is now built into the controller.
Made in the USA
While Run-Chicken has its roots in Europe, its most popular products, such as the T50 and Eternal series, are now 100%Made in the USA.
This commitment to local production ensures higher quality control, a local product, and faster shipping for US customers.
RUN-CHICKEN COOP DOORS
Run-Chicken T50
Standard model, AA batteries & Bluetooth Use code chickenfans15 for a 15% discount
We’ll start with the standard T50, the original model that launched the company. The flagship model, as you might say!
The Run Chicken T50 is an easy-to-install automatic door, available in several colors and patterns.
The packages we received contained an aluminum door, two alkaline AA batteries (already in place), screws, safety precautions, the instruction manual, a warranty code, and a thank you note from Jure Markic, owner of Run-Chicken.
We were surprised to find so few components in the box. No rails, no separate controller box, and no rods or cords.
Run-Chicken claims a 30-minute install, but it took us less than 10! The door was mounted and ready to use in minutes.
App-Only Control: Current models have no manual buttons and require the Run-Chicken app for installation and opening and closing. Tip for secondhand buyers: Older units (before 2025) include a physical button, but all new models rely strictly on the Bluetooth app.
Design
The door and controller come in one piece but are actually two separate parts screwed together. It’s recommended for both the T50, GIANT, and Eternal models to unscrew the control box to check all batteries are correctly in place before use. This is a safety precaution.
Here’s how that looks:
It only takes four screws to unscrew the controller box if you need to change the batteries.
Door materials and look
The door is constructed from solid aluminum and features a quality powder coating with color. All Run Chicken doors are designed to endure harsh weather circumstances and are waterproof.
The door feels sturdy and only weighs 2 lbs. (0.907 kg). The design is simple and minimalistic, yet you can choose your preferred color or print.
Available colors are grey, red, brown, mint green and black, but the company also sells doors with a fun print: USA flag color, camouflage, pastel colors, or a limited Christmas, Halloween, or Easter edition.
As mentioned before, current models of the T50 no longer have a manual button.
RUN-CHICKEN T50
Run-Chicken T50
AA batteries & Bluetooth Use code chickenfans15 for a 15% discount
The newest member of the Run-Chicken family is the solar-powered automatic coop door, the Run-Chicken Eternal. This is great news for those wanting to live off the grid completely!
Currently, only one model is available. Run-Chicken has discontinued the version with the separate solar panel.
Equipped with pre-installed and fully charged rechargeable batteries, the Eternal requires just seven days of sunlight to generate enough power for an entire year of operation.
Simply activate the batteries by pulling the plastic band, and the door will operate in its default factory mode. The batteries are pre-charged, so your door will work immediately.
the ‘old’ Eternal+ with separate panel is no longer available
RUN-CHICKEN ETERNAL
Run-Chicken Eternal
Built-in solar panel & rechargeable batteries Use code chickenfans15 for a 15% discount
All Run-Chicken doors are solid and sturdy. There is no way a predator can bite their way through, and once the door closes, it’s firmly kept in place.
As the door is pre-assembled, it already fits perfectly, and there’s no wiggle room or openings where smaller predators can get through.
Specific Features
As with all automatic chicken coop doors, their main purpose is to protect your flock from nighttime predators. The door closes at dusk and automatically reopens at dawn. They make your life much easier as you won’t have to remember to open and close the coop.
But the Run-Chicken coop door has other features worth mentioning:
Automatic Stop
If anything obstructs the door while closing, the motor automatically stops the door so no animals will get hurt in case of a trapped chicken. After the emergency stop, the Run-Chicken door will reopen and close again after a few seconds.
Alkaline Battery Power Supply
Run-Chicken provides two quality (Duracell or Panasonic) AA batteries with your T50 purchase. According to the manufacturer, the batteries should last one year. Run-Chicken doors last longer and have fewer batteries than other big brands.
The door has no visual display showing the time or other information, so it only uses power when opening and closing.
However, swapping to a DC power supply instead of batteries is impossible as the door does not provide this power usage. Only batteries can be used.
A red blinking light means the batteries are (almost) empty and need to be replaced. When the batteries are completely empty, the door won’t reopen after closing and will remain closed to protect the chicken coop.
Run-Chicken App
All Run-Chicken doors are operated exclusively through the Run-Chicken app. There is no manual button on the door itself; therefore, all settings, as well as manual opening and closing, must be handled within the app.
It’s an easy-to-use, uncomplicated app you can install on your phone. It is available on Android and iOS.
Programming the door after installation, setting the opening times, or choosing a closing and opening delay can all be done quickly using the Run-Chicken App on your phone.
The app includes a feature that automatically detects what time zone you’re in. So you don’t have to set the time.
The app connects directly to the door receiver through Bluetooth, so you don’t need WiFi in or around your coop.
Delay opening and closing
Choose the delay in opening and closing after sunrise or sunset. By default, the door closes 20 minutes after sunset and 20 minutes after sunrise. You can adjust the delays to 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, or 120 minutes using the Run-Chicken App.
Timer instead of light sensor
Next to using the light sensor to open and close the door, you can open and close the Run-Chicken each day at the same time, regardless of the season or the hours of daylight.
By default, the door uses the light sensor to open and close. Use the Run-Chicken App on your phone to change the opening and closing mode from the light sensor to the timer.
GPS mode
The Run Chicken coop door has a GPS mode that can be activated with the app. By default, it’s not activated.
By activating the GPS mode, you overrule the light sensor for opening and closing at dusk and dawn, and instead, the GPS will calculate the time for sunrise and sunset at your location.
Light Sensor
The unit comes with a light sensor, so the door closes each day at dusk and opens at dawn. The default settings are that the door closes and opens 20 minutes after sunset/rise, which can be adjusted by using the app.
The light sensor is unique in that it excludes artificial light sources. The Run Chicken door will close even if your neighbors are having a party with bright lights or if there are bright street lights near the coop.
Completely Pre-Assembled
The Run Chicken door is ready-to-use in the box; you only need to screw the door into place and try it out.
According to the manufacturer, installing the Run Chicken door only takes 30 minutes.
It took us a bit longer because we had to adjust the coop entrance size to fit the door. The door installation itself barely took us 10 minutes. All we had to do was screw it on, test it, and install the app.
Size
The Run-Chicken T50 and Eternal model are the same size and measure 9.4” x 1.6” x 13.8” (L x W x H). The door opening itself measures 8″ x 10″, and that is the hole size that’s required to install the door.
The brand new GIANT model is bigger, measuring 25.2 × 16.5 × 1.8 inches.
The door slides upwards to open. Ensure at least 12” of space for the standard models and 15″ for the GIANT, above the upper edge of the door to open properly.
Also, avoid having wood or screws sticking out because the door slides very close to the coop’s surface.
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RUN-CHICKEN COOP DOORS
Run-Chicken T50
Standard model, AA batteries & Bluetooth Use code chickenfans15 for a 15% discount
The Run Chicken automatic door is one of the easiest installments we’ve ever done. The door is completely pre-assembled, and you won’t have to do much more than fit the door to the opening and screw it in place.
Even if you don’t download the app or program the door, the door will still work! The door uses the factory default program once the batteries are activated.
Even if you don’t do anything after mounting the door, it will close automatically 20 minutes after sunset and open 20 minutes after sunrise.
What’s in the box?
The Run Chicken door is nicely packed in a flat box. There aren’t many loose items in the box as the door and door opener are pre-assembled, and the batteries are already in place.
The box contains:
An aluminum door
6 wood screws
Alkaline AA batteries (already in place) for the T50
Rechargeable batteries (already in place) and a solar panel for the E50
Safety precautions
Instruction manual
Online warranty code
Thank you note from Jure Markic, owner of Run Chicken
The Run Chicken door does not contain/include:
Power cords or DC power supply as this door only works on batteries
Remote controls, as you can download the app
Manually opening and closing
If you ever need to open or close the door manually, you must use the app!
On models released from 2025 onwards, there is no longer a physical button on the door itself. However, if you have an older model or bought one secondhand, you will likely find a white button under the controller that you can press to operate it.
Additionally, you can program the door NOT to open/close automatically by selecting ‘manual mode‘.
While this requires you to manually trigger the door every day, which somewhat defeats the purpose of an automated system, it is a useful feature if you have a sick flock or need to keep your chickens inside for health or safety reasons.
This video shows you how to operate the Run Chicken door using the button.
Noise
The door itself is pretty quiet. It makes less noise closing than opening. The chickens don’t seem to mind and aren’t scared of the opening or closing sound. For some chickens, it may take some getting used to.
The aluminum door is 0.039” (1.5 mm) thick and also does a good job of blocking outside noises. However, it’s no sound-blocking material, so you’ll still hear noises from outside once the door is closed.
Automatic Safety stop
Like all high-quality chicken coop doors, the Run-Chicken door has a safety stop to prevent the door from closing if something is blocking the entrance. We’ve tried out the safety stop several times, and it works perfectly.
How and if the door will reopen and close again after a safety stop depends on the model of the Run-Chicken door you own.
There has been an update to the T50 door in 2022 and 2025; depending on when you purchased your door, it will either stay in the half-closed position until you open it manually or reopen and close again after a few seconds.
Here is a video of the safety stop:
Maintenance and durability in cold weather
Because the design of the door is so simple, it’s easy to clean and low in maintenance. Simply wipe off the door with a damp cloth; warm water is all you need to wash it.
Never use grease or lubricants to oil the rails, as it can damage them. If you notice the door has a hard time opening, unscrew the door opener from the frame for a thorough clean. After cleaning, test the door by using the button.
Cold Temperatures
According to the manufacturer, the Run-Chicken door stands temperatures between −15 °F to 140 °F (−26 °C to 60 °C). We’ve tested the Run-Chicken door in temperatures below their 20s (-8C°), and the engine didn’t seem to have any trouble with the cold.
However, we advise double-checking your flock in the morning after a cold night. This way, you are sure everything is working as it should.
If you live in snowy and icy environments, ensure the door stays dry and ice-free.
Beware of Lookalikes
We have to be honest; the Run Chicken automatic door isn’t the cheapest door on the market. With prices ranging between $130 to $280, depending on the model, they can be quite expensive.
When scrolling through Amazon, you’ll notice plenty of cheap doors that look EXACTLY like the Run-Chicken. So why spend $150 on a door when you can get a lookalike for just over $30?
Run-Chicken is well aware that counterfeit versions of its products are flooding the market.
In fact, they frequently receive complaints from customers who mistakenly believe they purchased a genuine Run-Chicken door.
To highlight this issue, Run-Chicken occasionally runs a unique competition: users are invited to send in photos of their “cheap fake” doors that have failed. The winner receives a brand-new, authentic Run-Chicken door as a replacement!
We’ll explain the difference between the lookalike doors and the Run-Chicken coop door.
Price! Number one giveaway! If it’s only $30, it’s NOT a Run-Chicken door.
Material. The Run-Chicken door is a sturdy aluminum door. The cheap doors are plastic.
Waterproof. The cheap door is not waterproof. The Run-Chicken door is 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. A Run-Chicken door 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. Run-Chicken doors are made from sturdy aluminum and work immediately as they should.
Batteries. Run-Chicken provides 2 AA alkaline quality batteries (Duracell, included) that suppose to last a year. Most lookalike doors need 3 batteries which are not included.
Safety stop. Although all automatic doors claim to have a safety stop that prevents your chickens from being hurt, 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.
Use in cold weather. Cheap doors tend to freeze quickly in cold weather, so 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.
Buying a cheaper lookalike door instead of the Run Chicken is a decision you must make for yourself. But before you press the ‘buy now’ button, we suggest checking the reviews.
Many cheap automatic coop doors have up to 60% of 1-star reviews. Plus, you won’t have customer service afterward to complain to, as most of these manufacturers are masters in hiding their contact information.
Price and availability
You can buy all Run-Chicken coop doors and other products on the Run Chicken website. Run-Chicken provides shipping with DHL and UPS.
Chickenfans-readers can use our discount code ‘CHICKENFANS15‘ for all Run-Chicken purchases!
Use this code and get 15% off!
Currently, the Run-Chicken door comes with a one-year warranty. Run-Chicken accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, GooglePay, and ApplePay.
RUN-CHICKEN COOP DOORS
Run-Chicken T50
Standard model, AA batteries & Bluetooth Use code chickenfans15 for a 15% discount
To receive the Run Chicken warranty, you must complete the online warranty registration within one month after purchase. The warranty card with registration information is inside the box of your purchase.
About Run Chicken
Run Chicken is based in Slovenia, EU, and exports worldwide. Its most popular products, such as the T50 and Eternal series, are now made in the USA. The company also ships from within the USA to American customers, keeping shipping times short.
The owner of Run Chicken, Jure Markic, is proud of his young but fast-growing business. He is an innovative engineer who started producing the first Run-Chicken coop doors in 2019.
In 2021 the current T50 model was launched and received an update in 2022. The company introduced its Eternal solar model in 2023. Their latest coop door model is the GIANT, released in January 2024.
All models received massive updates in 2025 with Bluetooth connectivity.
The editorial team consists of 3rd generation chicken owners Kat, journalist, editor-in-chief, and Nick, working with illustrators and specialists in the field.
