Hello fellow poultry enthusiasts! Today, we’re excited to share how we upgraded our Producers Pride XL Sentinel Chicken Coop. Our feathered friends are now living in the lap of luxury, thanks to the Omlet Door upgrade, some inventive pool noodle additions, and a touch of motion-sensor magic.
Omlet Door Upgrade: A Gateway to Convenience
Our first and biggest upgrade on the list is the addition of the Omlet Automatic Chicken Coop Door. We decided to give our coop a tech-savvy twist, and the Omlet Door was just the ticket. With its automated features, our daily routine has become a breeze. No more early morning wake-up calls to let the chickens out – the Omlet Door takes care of that, allowing us to sleep in and still keep our hens on a reliable schedule.
Motion Lights: Bright Ideas for Coop Safety
We added some motion sensor lights around the coop for a few reasons. To somewhat deter nighttime predators, and for safety. Also for egg collection we doubled the lights by the egg door to make finding eggs in the dark easier. These lights not only enhance visibility during evening coop visits but also act as a deterrent for any unwanted visitors. It’s a win-win for both our peace of mind and the safety of our cherished flock.
Pool Noodles on Overhead Bars: The Cozy Perch Hack
This addition isn’t for the chickens, just for us, we installed pool noodles on the overhead bars inside the chicken run. Why you might ask? This simple yet effective hack provides a softer cushion for our heads in case we bump our noggin on those support bars. After the first four times bumping my head we decided to use bright pool noodles as a cushion but also as a bright orange or pink reminder. No more ouchies.
Hardware
At some point the original hardware of the chicken coop did start to fail. We replaced the latch on the big back door with a new Black 5″ Barrel Bolt. The pin on the front door also came off but since the circle lock still works effectively we haven’t updated that door’s lock mechanism.
Deep Bedding FTW
Finally, we really wanted to do deep bedding for our hens, but with the bedding material falling out it was not possible in this coop. Wood chips were falling out each time the door was opened. The hens were pushing chips to the door and exacerbating the problem and also jamming the door hinge area which made it harder to close the door. We came up with a simple solution of a 2×6 board on a hinge to hold back the tide of chips. We can raise and lower the board for cleaning, but 99% of the time it will hold back inches of bedding material to create a deep bedding environment. Check out our Deep Bedding Short Video to see how we did it. See our full post about our Deep Bedding Upgrade for more details.
Easy upgrades you can DIY
Since we’ve upgraded our Producers Pride XL Sentinel Chicken Coop with the Omlet Door, deep bedding, pool noodles, and motion lights, it has improved our chicken-keeping experience. The convenience, comfort, and safety benefits are undeniable, making these upgrades a worthwhile investment for any poultry enthusiast.
Happy Hens, Happy Homestead
In the ever-evolving world of chicken coops, finding the right upgrades can make all the difference. We’re thrilled with the improvements we’ve made, and our chickens are too. If you’re considering upgrades for your coop, these additions might be just what you need to take your poultry paradise to the next level.
Here’s to happy hens and coop upgrades that make a difference!
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