We've got #chickens and I've got #opinions! On chicken coop doors, specifically 🙂
We used to have the #ChickenGuard door, but while attempting to extend if for smart home consumption, it kicked the bucket and refused to power on (see https://mstdn.dk/@saustrup/115678337209057451), so we ditched it in favor of manual door labor.
Fast forward to us craving that sweet, sweet #automation once again. I check the market, and we're still stuck with #devices that can open and close at a specific time, or when the light is at a specific level. Open once and close once per day.
Honestly, we'd be good if we could just control the coop door remotely, but automating it somehow would also be cool. I'm thinking detecting if chickens are close, perhaps not opening until all chickens have laid eggs and so on.
Enter the #Omlet door: horizontal door in it's own frame that doesn't get stuck, an app and an API for #HomeAssistant etc. Pricey but promising! I'll let you know how this upgrade goes! 😁
https://www.omlet.co.uk/smart-automatic-chicken-coop-door-opener/

Attached: 3 images We've got an automatic #chicken door from ChickenGuard, and since it's limited to opening and closing only once per day, I thought it was a great idea to try to #IoT enable it. I spent THE ENTIRE FSCKING WEEKEND on doing a 3D insert that could hold a #ESP32 based double relay board for "pushing" the up and down buttons remotely. It was a bit of a nightmare, because the CG folks covered everything, including the switches for the control buttons in a great glob of plastic goop. Anyway, I dug out the connections, wired everything up, tested, assembled the box, admired my work, turned it on and.. the CG controller had died on me. I have no idea why - I was being super careful and wired everything up properly. Now I'm looking for a new solution. Something that can pull a string about 30cm and preferably based on an #ESP32 running #Tasmota or something like it. And it has to be weather proof since we're up in the cold and rainy north. #3D #3DPrinting
Never wake up early for your chickens again 🐓
I automated my coop door with Home Assistant + Omlet Auto Door!