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The chicken run wi-fi door.This wi-fi chicken door is mainly a woodworking project and two doors were installed, one in the main run and the other in the adjacent chook run annex. Should also be suitable for larger coops and chook sheds. If you already have the timber which is likely then total project cost is about $50 dollars. From the start I expected problems with a sliding timber door inside a timber frame due to weather conditions; swelling, bowing, warping etc - but went ahead anyway! I suggest first buy the Kmart Cookie Tray and base all your measurements around that and... wherever you see photos of a sliding timber door imagine that's your cookie tray.
A home 2.4 GHz wi-fi network is required and the Smart Life app installed on phone/tablet with Android/Apple - I use Android.
The Wi-Fi Water Valve aka Smart Valve is compatible with Alexa/Google - I use Alexa.
Materials
Kmat cookie tray.
Wi-Fi Water Valve akak aka Smart Valve.
(Broken link? search Amazon for 'Wi-Fi Water Valve')
Timber... see the photos to get some idea or make a start with 64 x 19mm and 42 x 19mm standard pine.
25mm Wood dowel (smart valve mount)
Hanging pot plant chain.
Some fishing line.
S Hooks.
Tools
Table saw and/or Table Router
Ozito NSG-5000 brad nailer & stapler
Syneco 480 Piece Assorted Nuts And Bolts Set (0351481)
(Or select smaller packs).
Stahl 250 Piece Assorted Washer Kit (2432158)
Steps
Step 1
Door Frame.
Find some timber for the door frame sides and rip/route a channel in each one for the sliding door and use your cookie tray from now on.
Add top and bottom and ensure all square. Allow for gap between tray edge and timber channel so door doesn't jam and check for smooth operation by pulling up and dropping door. Clamp to temporary base for testing, 90 x 45 has two screws from bottom. Drill holes in the cookie tray top corners about 30mm in from edge and attach fishing line. Connect door to actuator arm with chain using S-hooks.
Step 2
Initial testing to see if we are on the right track.
See Step 5 for Smart Valve servo actuator build.
For initial tasting I screwed the Smart Valve (servo actuator assembly) to the side of my 14" bandsaw (I will post a project about that).
Create two Alexa Routines to open & close the door.
I also have the Amazon Echo Show 8 smart hub.
OK... let's keep going.
Step 3
Smart Valve (servo actuator).
Warning: The Smart Valve (servo actuator) has a lot of torque, keep kids away and if a finger gets caught in there (I did) between servo arm and body do not turn off power adaptor, do not pull the DC plug... you must press the power button which will reverse the motor.
The purpose of these devices is to remotely move the ball valve lever handle 90 degrees to turn off the water supply.
Handle in line with water pipe - Supply ON
Handle at 90 degrees - Supply OFF.
Step 4
Make plywood extension arm.
Bolt to servo arm. Oh...drill holes along the bottom edge they will be used later on with S-Hook to adjust chain length.
Step 5
Smart Valve servo actuator build.
Using the supplied hardware thread a length of dowel through the C-clamp and tighten up. I used conduit saddle clips to secure to base.
This is what it looks like.
Step 6
Installation.
I installed the door next to the internal chook run gate.
First I screwed a length of 90 x 45mm to the plinth board then screwed the bottom of the door to that. With the door location fixed I then added a 90 x 45mm frame.
Went around into the annex and with small bolt cutters cut out the wire mesh. I came back later to staple the wire mesh.
Chicken run door is installed now to fit the annexe door inside the annex gate.
Door installed inside the annex gate.
Testing to ensure smooth operation - NOTAs mentioned the timber doors were affected by the weather conditions and I finally gave up on them. I came up with the cookie tray idea and both doors ended up back in the workshop to reduce the frame width!
Step 7
Changeover from timber doors to cookie trays.
Crikey... we have to remove both doors!
A frustrating painful task sitting on a low kids stool or kneeling on the ground and seemed to take forever... why is that?
In 2016 I purchased the NSG-5000 brad nailer & stapler and so happy with the product went back and got another one just for brads. Removing 20MM narrow crown staples from MGP10 took about one hour because of rest breaks.
Step 8
Basically rebuilt the doors and added another feature to prevent Mr Fox lifting the doors from the bottom
Both sides of each door.
Step 9
Random build photos.
Step 10
Release the beasts.
Ruby & Rosie starting another day after taking care of egg business.
