We just posted some new pictures, and added some info on our coop automation project. It was loads of fun so we thought we would share. Enjoy
Mike
Click here for pics

WOW, Mike, this is a great automation project.
Pity, I reloaded several times but could not get the "Mouse over to look inside (the box)" work?
Could you explain to me what an "Electric baseboard" is?
I am sure you will enjoy the comfort of your automation just as much as I and my hens do ours since one and a half years now and never failed.
Your system looks very professional, it must have cost quite a lot.
Our door automation was made of parts of a broken down photocopier and it runs on a mechanical precision timer we found can't remember where.
Does your system include a UPS in case of power failure?
My system is not supported by a UPS but the timer has a 48 hours automatic rewind system and the door opener/closer has a memory, so whenever a power failure should occur (very seldom and whenever very short) precisely at the moment the door should close or open, it will resume action as soon as power is back.
I'm sure "Heidi" will envy you!!
Congratulations. Anny.

Wow is right! I think I might like to go back to 5 birds and an automated coop! Thank you so much for sharing! CJR

The electric baseboard is just the heater like you would see in a residential house around the outside walls on the floor. you can see it in the picture under the roosts. It wont put out a tremendous amount of heat but enough to keep it above freezing. No backup system, but if we loose power it will just stop in the position its in. And the door takes 60 seconds to to fully close, very slow,so we dont worry about getting a chicken stuck. Cost wasn't too bad, mostly ebay stuff. The funny part is even though its automated we still go out and see them constantly. They are more pets than anything else.Oh and your photocopier door is what inspired me to start this project.
Mike :)

Wow, Dave and I thought your set up was really great! I would love to automate some stuff, especially the heat lamps and lighting. I think our next project will be to make an automatic waterer. Anny's "xerox" door inspired me also but I am just not this clever!

Mike, where did you get the timer? On eBay? I'm going to keep an eye out for something similar.

Great job!

Susie

Smarthome.com has tons of X-10 stuff, also radio shack.
The X-10 stuff is great too, you just plug it in to yor regular outlets and it sends its signals through your existing house wiring. It will control anything electric, lights, appliances. That timer only cost about 30 bucks.
Mike

Wow again, Mike, very neat indeed! We had some problems getting on the Internet yesterday and I only got half of it. Now I have seen it all I am still more amazed. Your video clip is great, I love the smack-smack sound at the end. Very good looking birds!
I have never seen your type of electric baseboard heater around here, I think. Could you please explain its characteristics?
Now Susie brings up a question on waterers. Just a little while ago I saw a TV program about a rescue center for wild animals and in the birds cages they had waterers that looked like upside down bottle necks with nipples. My guess is that a waterer like that would never get dirty. Anybody ever saw, bought, used one like that???
Anny
PS CJR, what would you do all day with just 5 automated birds, get bored???

Mike,
Thanks for the reference. I've been on that website reading up and it sure makes you want to automate everything!! Sounds like a lot of fun. We're definitely going to pursue it. Gotta love electronic gadgets!

Anny,
We have 2 ideas for automatic watering systems. One would be a simple drip system (you regulate the rate) to keep the water buckets full. Another idea (which commerical houses use) is to have little valves on a pipe. The pipe is always "full" of water and the chickens peck the valves to get a drink. Not sure how hard that one would be. I have used rabbit bottles, which sound similar to what you're describing, when we had a chicken in "chicken hospital" -- isolated from the flock. That worked okay but they dripped a lot and I don't like that mess.

When we come up with a final idea and implement it, I'll let y'all know how it's working out.

Susie

I did find this commercial watering system that I really like, but I havent been able to find a source to purchase it. All I would need are a few of the parts like the nipples and valves and I could modify the rest. The tricky part would be to make it freeze proof. If anyone know of a source for these let me know.
Mike

Mike,

That's the type of thing we are thinking about. My husband has some ideas on the valve/nipples. Not sure how it would work yet though. Also, if there are commercial chicken operations around you, (there are here) I frequently see ads in the paper for places that are getting out of the business and selling all their equipment. Most are willing to break it up. I have never pursued that but we might start looking into it. As for freeze-proof, we keep our chicken house above freezing. We have to because it's also our well house and we can't let that equipment freeze. If you're just looking at doing this type of system in the chicken house, maybe you could rig heat tape on the pipe?

If we come up with any ideas or solutions, I'll post them here to you.

Susie

Have a look at this nipple waterer for small flocks