New chicken coop

Our chickens (Dora, Dotty and Edna) have a new home. In this video you can see three chickens exiting the chicken coop as the door opens. Read more on my blog entry:
blog.stead.id.au/2010/06/new-c...
I'm using the same automatic door opening mechanism, which is just a modified alarm clock. The design of the clock is documented here:
blog.stead.id.au/2010/01/build...
This house is much larger, so I was able to put the door mechanism on the inside. It is installed to operate vertically now, which avoids friction and dirt build-up.
See more photos of the chickens:
- Dora: picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?u...
- Dotty: picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?u...
- Edna: picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?u...

[@quasimodo5177]

Can you write the technic inside??HOW do you build it, how iş the function thx

[@MarkStead]

This is the same mechanism just at a 90 degree angle. The mechanism is basically just turning on a motor when the alarm is triggered, so the electricity that would have made the alarm sound instead now drives the motor and gears to pull the string. To stop the motor I have a microswitch that gets pushed by the door.
The main problem I had was that the clock wasn't accurate - probably because the motor would drain the batteries. Plus also I think summer/winter temperature extremes affected it too. It was also a hassle because you had to go out every night to unwind the motor to lower the door. It was not hard - just a little bit tricky - you had to make sure you didn't tangle the string. But it was a problem if you went on holidays and wanted to get friends/neighbours to close the door for you.

[@quasimodo5177]

@@MarkStead ok. Thank you. I will try it like you do