I bought a cheap plastic one and it was a complete waste of money

@thehomesteadengineer-1

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, I pretty much did the same thing. Sorry, you didn't see this video first.

@morehn

11 ай бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1 the wheel didn't grab the notches. $40 down the drain. I'm glad to see your video now. I'll try and find one on a reseller website.

Nice review! I also did a comparison of a cheap knock-off brand and the Run-Chicken model. The quality, fit, and finish between them are like night and day. I also thought the front-accessible battery compartment was a nice feature on the cheaper one, but after using it for a month or two I realized the rear-access is better because it makes it harder for rain and snow to get in. On the cheap one, my batteries died after just a couple of months and when I opened the compartment, it was all rusted. Also, you did a great comparison on the motors of the two models. It's clear why after 2+ years I'm still using the original batteries that came with my Run-Chicken door. I now have 2 Run-Chicken doors and I sleep well at night knowing the chickens are safe in their coop.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! Totally agree. I hear so many people with the same story. I’m trying to warn people that saving $50 on the cheaper one is really going to cost them $100 when they throw it away and buy the Run-Chicken door.

Thank you for mentioning the flood light thing! I have a motion light as well and that was my biggest concern.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Ай бұрын

Glad I could help

Love the red colour to the door blends better to your coop

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Ай бұрын

Agreed!

I bought the cheapy door like yours. It was impossible to install with all of the screws because it had a crimp somewhere. It never really worked right. I had to install it sideways and it finally worked great until the shavings clogged up the bottom track. If it was higher it would have been ok. Now I own the solar powered one that has an aluminum door that rolls up. Not a straight door but a shudder type door. I think its price was very good and better quality than both the ones you have here. I think prices are coming down on these so you and everyone else can have one too. Good review thank you.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for the comment. I’ve had the run chicken door for a year now and have had zero problems. I’m glad the roll up one is working for you.

@woodworkerroyer8497

4 ай бұрын

What is the one you got that's better? How does it work in the rain and cold?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

3 ай бұрын

@woodworkerroyer8497 that’s my concern with those roll up doors. When you get ice, do they lock up easier.

Nice dude

@thehomesteadengineer-1

8 ай бұрын

Thanks?

Hi, I bought the Chicken Run like 4 months ago. This morning the door was closed (it is set by timings). Can it be that batteries needs to be changed already? Is it because screws are too tight like in your video comment? I did not saw a red light.... Thx for feedback. ps: great video !

@thehomesteadengineer-1

9 ай бұрын

If the batteries need to be changed already then you overtightened the screws. Back them off a half turn and it should be better. I haven’t replaced my batteries yet and it has been 5 months. They should last a year. When you manually push the button does it open?

@Heatrsin

2 ай бұрын

Any luck?

@Heatrsin

2 ай бұрын

@vincianeprudhomme9211 any luck ?

Run-Chicken is good, but they are overpriced. I bought my door for 65 dollars from the Hen Hut, and I have been impressed with the quality and reliability. I would definetly recommend The Hen Hut to people looking for an affordable and quality automatic door.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Жыл бұрын

I thought the same thing. I originally bought a door that was almost half the price. I had many problems with it not closing at night for one reason or another. I decided that if failed once and a fox got in a killed even a couple of chickens it wouldn’t be worth the cheaper door. Respectfully, the reliability is worth every penny I spent.

@TheChickenTender

Жыл бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1 So far it has worked well for a few months and it feels much higher quality than previous ones I had bought for 20 dollars, but I will make sure to keep an eye out for any issues it may have.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Жыл бұрын

I had the same experience. After about three months it started glitching. The batteries only lasted about 2 months. I had a security camera and I checked the door every night. By the end of the year it was 50/50 on whether or not it would close properly. Just keep a close eye on it. That’s all. Good luck!

Do you have black eyes or is that the lighting?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

4 ай бұрын

It’s a little of both. I have naturally deeper eyes and when I don’t get great sleep they get dark circles really easily. Plus when the lighting is at my back or directly overhead it makes it look worse than it is.

How dangerous are stray cats to the chickens? Can they kill them? The only predators I have in my area are stary cats and a lot of them 10+ come to my yard, and coyotes but they dont jump the fence.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

9 ай бұрын

I have lots of stray cats as well and have never had them even attempt to hurt the chickens. I do have a rooster, and honestly I think that rooster would do more damage to the cat then the cat could do to it. I wouldn’t worry about the cats at all, as long as the chickens are full grown. My own cat actually spends a lot of time with the chickens and they seem to like each other.

@SH-jy6lc

9 ай бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1 Thanks! Good to know! Im planning to get few chickens next year.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

9 ай бұрын

Get a rooster if you can

@Bobcagon

7 ай бұрын

I have a neighbour who has Siamese cat that always stalks my hens. Can’t say for certain but I believe it was responsible for killing one of my hens . I know what a raccoon kill looks like and this wasn’t a raccoon kill. Nor weasel. More like a thrill kill and scoot out.

I love how there's a chinese bot on this page commenting negative stuff.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

5 ай бұрын

That’s how you know you’ve made it as a KZreadr. lol!

Step 1. is having a run predators can't access.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

11 ай бұрын

I free range my chickens. I only have a run in case I need to contain them for a short time. My run is to keep the chickens in, not to keep predators out.

@randygreen007

6 ай бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1with all due respect if you’re preventing your chickens from leaving an enclosure yet allowing predators access that’s setting them up for a kill. Similar to shooting fish in a barrel. IMO if you’re going to the trouble to create a run they can’t escape it’s equally as important to fortify the enclosure enough to keep predators out. I maintain a similar setup and allow my flock full access to the property but my lot and coop are fortified so as to prevent any predators access.

what's the point of spending all this money on it if you have to reset it manually and check everytime to see if it closed or not?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

3 күн бұрын

Good question! I’ve actually grown to trust it. I didn’t trust the cheap knock off door. There wasn’t a point in having it because it was so unreliable. The run chicken is actually really reliable. I made this video shortly after purchasing it and still didn’t trust it. A year later now, and I rarely check it. I just works. I have a security camera so when I want to check it I can, but I still don’t have to go outside.

Thats almost 300$ I could just buy more chickens for cheaper lol but it is a really great door if you have the funds for it :)

@thehomesteadengineer-1

3 ай бұрын

I’m not sure where you get $300? It’s on sale for $109USD right now and if you use my link you get an additional 15% off. 15% off Run-Chicken Automatic Door: run-chickencom.refr.cc/thehomesteadengineer

Chicken Guard All In One is much better and longer battery life

@thehomesteadengineer-1

5 ай бұрын

Longer than a year?

Not sponsored ...

@thehomesteadengineer-1

9 күн бұрын

I guess it depends on what you mean by sponsored. Run-Chicken has no idea I exist. I signed up for their affiliate link program. I get a commish from people who use my link, but they don’t pay me anything upfront to sell their product. I explain it in this quick video here: 60% Cheaper than Amazon! Direct is WAY CHEAPER! #RunChickenDoor kzread.info/dash/bejne/n2iNzMxml9PMc6w.html

So I'm not understanding how the Run Chicken door has solved your initial problem. You expressed concern that the other door closed on one of your hens, then remained open overnight. Toward the end of the video you explained that the Run Chicken door will also stop if a hen is in the way, and will remain open. Is it just me or are you exactly in the same position now that you've spent double the money?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

4 ай бұрын

The first door opened and closed a half dozen times one evening, which freaked the chickens out and they started going in and out of the door at which point the door closed on one of them and stayed open. The run chicken door closed when it’s supposed to close and opens when it’s supposed to open without spazzing out.

@woodworkerroyer8497

4 ай бұрын

The run chicken will open, then try closing again later. The cheapo one just wigged out and went back ans forth till it tried to guillotine the hen.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

3 ай бұрын

Exactly!

@MrsBadger

Ай бұрын

So the run-chicken door will stop if a chicken is going through and then try to close again by itself? After how many seconds/minutes does it try to close itself again?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Ай бұрын

@MrsBadger I’ve not timed it but it seems about ten or twenty seconds. After a couple of tries it just stays open if you don’t reset it with the button. It’s enough time for the chicken to move if it wants to.

I use Fuzzy Bird's automatic chicken door much better than Run Chicken. How much does Run Chicken give you to make this video?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Жыл бұрын

I’m a tiny channel. Run chicken doesn’t even know I exist.

@IAmNotMitch

Жыл бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1the original commenter is fuzzy-bird….

Probably not going to read😂😂😂

@thehomesteadengineer-1

4 ай бұрын

I did end up reading it, but they are generally useless. LoL!

This is the worst automatic door on the market. Their support is criminal. Save your money. Or be ready to buy a new one inside a year. There are much better options with superior support.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

2 ай бұрын

Which door do you use?

@Heatrsin

2 ай бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1 T50. Worked perfect until it stopped working. The support is criminal.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

2 ай бұрын

@Heatrsin that’s a bummer. Any idea why it stopped working? Does it just not move any more?

@Heatrsin

2 ай бұрын

@@thehomesteadengineer-1 We installed the door ruffly April 2023 then changed the batteries around the end of October, not because they needed to be, but it was recommended before winter. Batteries died in January, then again a couple weeks later then a week later then it stopped all together. Never was any debris in the track or anything stopping the door (besides the odd chicken! ) It worked flawless until it stopped working. Support is disrespectful , automated, call center, and just down right criminal. We are also now finding out that they pay people to give positive reviews! unreal. Thanks for asking tho and we wish you the best.

@thehomesteadengineer-1

2 ай бұрын

@Heatrsin most companies are doing that these days. It’s morally wrong, but it’s happening across the board. I can’t help you get a new one, but maybe it was the way you installed it. If you tighten the screws down it will restrict the door and reduce the battery life significantly. It’s a major design flaw and I plan on making a video about it soon. If you watch my video closely at the end you’ll see the install screws are a little loose. If that’s not the problem then I’m not sure what to tell you. I’ll take your comments into account when I do my year long review. It’s been over a year but I haven’t had a chance to do it yet. I’m still happy with mine.

I use Fuzzy Bird's automatic chicken door much better than Run Chicken. How much does Run Chicken give you to make this video?

@thehomesteadengineer-1

Жыл бұрын

Those knock off brands are not good. I had one and it nearly got my chickens killed. Run chicken isn’t giving me anything. I bought that with my own money.

@RiddleTales

5 ай бұрын

Okay, chinese bot.