How to Make a Sliding, Self-Locking, and Predator-Proof Chicken Coop Door (2020)

Want a secure flock, but don't feel like hand locking a latch or padlock on your coop door every night? Well look no farther! This vertical door slides easily with the small tug of a string that is conveniently located outside your coop. Most importantly, the coop door self locks from the inside as it is lowered, making it IMPOSSIBLE for those darn predators to even TOUCH the lock. If that wasn't enough, this design eliminates the ability to externally lift the door from its bottom.

Look like something something you want to build? Then let's get to it!

Step 1: Gather Materials You Will Need I used these materials, but they may change depending on your specific design spin and coop setup. Tools: Please also have a jigsaw, drill, and table saw ready!

Step 2: Find the area inside your coop that you would like your door to be. If there is a vertical support beam already in the coop, this would be an ideal place! If there are none, secure one ~30 in. long 2x4 vertically to the side of your coop wall with wood screws or corner brackets.

To measure your doorway size, place your shelf in between the shelf tracks and to the side of your first vertical beam. Mark where the shelf tracks lay, and draw the outline of your doorway. Make sure the opening is at least 1 inch smaller in width than your door (12 in) on each side, and is located 3 inches from the ground.

Step 3: Remove all materials except your outline paper from the wall and use a drill holes to mark the doorway outline. Use a jigsaw (or preferred saw) to create your doorway opening!

Step 4: Place your shelf track against your 2x4. Use screws to secure one shelftrack to the vertical beam, ensuring the screw head is flush with the track. Once the first track is in place, insert the shelf and the other track. Mark where the other track ends, install a second vertical 2x4 beam, and screw in the other side of the track.

Step 5: Take your shelf and cut it so that it is 3 inches taller than your opening. Screw your door latch onto the door so that the hinge bends to face you and lands parallel to the floor when bent. Place the door in the track and make sure it can slide easily.

Step 6: Screw in a piece of wood above the door hinge. You want to ensure the latch will hit the wood if in the lock position "parallel to ground" but also has enough room so that it can be lifted upright and slide in between the wood and the wall.

Step 7: Tie a counterweight (composing of a washer and string/metal string) to your door hinge. This weight will ensure your latch moves into the "lock" position when the door slides down.

Step 8: Attach the string to your door hinge in the middle hole and thread it through eye hooks leading to where you would like to pull the string from. Install the coat hook where you want to pull from.