I initially didn’t buy this door because a couple reviews said it closed anytime power was lost, and that was a deal breaker for me since I don’t want my ducks locked out if we lost power during the day. But after trying other doors that just didn’t cut it, I contacted the company and asked about this issue. They told me I could go in the settings and choose what I wanted to happen to the door in a power outage: Open, Close, or just stay however it is. Perfect! So, I bought it and replaced my Vevor auto door, which opened great, but the light sensor always closed it a bit too early so ducks would get locked out. I manually tuck mine in anyway, but still… it was a pain. So, here are all my findings with this new door! Installation: I used my existing Vevor door and just swapped the motor and box, but installing this type of door is very easy. Just cut out your hole, pop in the tracks, slide the door in, plug it in and voila. Installed. Programming: So very easy. I downloaded the app and hooked it up to WiFi. The instructions were great and within 5 minutes I had it set how I wanted it. Programming options: Here is where this thing really shines. Lots of us want the door to open but our naughty flocks need to be manually put in at night because they don’t make it back in time. So like me, you buy the timer door, however sunset is always changing so you’re constantly reprogramming it. And most make you open the box and use those weird little buttons. PIA. Or you get the auto sensor one, but it closes too soon. This door allows you to 1) Set it to only open at a certain time you choose 2) Set it to only open off sunrise and you say how many minutes before or after 3) Set it to both open and close off set times 4) Set it to open and close at a set time before or after sunset 5) Set it to open or close at a set time then open or close based on sunset. 6) No timer and you use your phone to open or close whenever you want wherever you want. The open/close app works from anywhere your phone has internet. It’s brilliant and covers any way you could possibly want to put your flock away and let them out. I’ve got mine set to open 45 minutes after sunrise and then an hour and fifteen minutes after sunset. I have cameras in my coop and they’ve been in 30 minutes after sunset, so I just count heads on my camera, open the app and push the button and voila. Door goes down. Safety: This kind of door can’t be pushed or pulled open by predators. The safety sensor works great and stops if anyone tries to run in when it’s closing. The big bonus of this door vs my other doors is if the safety sensor is triggered, it stops until it’s clear, then it keeps closing. My other door would go up and stay up if anything triggered the sensor. So that meant if anyone hurried in late, the door wouldn’t close all night. This one will close as soon as it’s clear. I’m still wildly paranoid about a duck getting killed, so that’s why I set mine to auto close only well after I know they are in safe. But I also like to do a head count then just close it myself with the app. Reliability: So far it’s working perfect. I get a notification anytime it opens or closes, which is awesome. The first night I had manually closed it with my phone, then 20 minutes later it opened. My phone notified me, I had a heart attack then barely slept all night worried it was going to randomly open again and something would slaughter my kids. However, it turned out when I chose to have it close an hour and fifteen minutes after sunset, I had selected ON. On actually means open and OFF means closed, so I fixed it with a click and now it’s perfect. I run mine off an extension cord I sometimes need to unplug and it stays in whatever position it was in when it loses power, and when I plug it back in, nothing is lost. No reprogramming. Easy peasy. I haven’t run it in freezing temps yet, but since I live in the frozen tundra, I installed it inside the coop so it wouldn’t get covered in ice and freeze open or shut. It also has a remote that works about 75 feet out that I *think* still works if the WiFi goes out. I tried it and it worked great, but my WiFi was working, but it’s on my todo list to test that just in case a big storm knocks out the internet. I still need to be able to get them out. Size: Plenty big for my big Muscovy ducks. They’ve got room to spare. All in all, these designers thought of everything. I’m incredibly picky and can’t find a single thing this door is lacking. I can’t testify to longevity since I’ve only had it a couple weeks, but it it goes wonky too soon, I’ll be sure to update this review. Highly recommend this door if you’re looking for lots of flexibility and the ability to control your door from anywhere, or program it so you can sleep in and the flock can get out without you!

The JVR WiFi enabled smart control automatic door is so much more than a chicken coop door. It actually fills a missing niche in pet smart products that customers are looking for. The JVR Chicken/Pet Automatic Door. Customers like me are looking for an Alexa or Google controlled door that can be used for dogs. Now there are doors currently available for hundreds more but these usually require the dog to wear an ultrasonic collar. This means the dog collar will have a signal box on the collar with a battery to monitor, recharge, or replace. I just wanted a door that I could open or close via Alexa, either by voice or by schedule. No collar additions and batteries to monitor. I set the door to open at 7:30am, close at 10:00pm, and when the dogs, yes we have two, need to be kept inside or out I can control the door by simply saying “Alexa, close dog door.” I had earlier hacked a different light activated chicken coop door to be controlled by an Alexa smart plug. I placed this in front of our double-flapped, through-the-wall, dog door. (I have included one picture of the hacked door as info.) This hack worked pretty well but sometimes the door would lose its current position and that resulted in an operation malfunction. This would require personal interaction to reset and it happened too often for me. So I started looking for a better, higher priced, similar chicken door but then I saw JVR’s smart door. This door has everything worked out. WiFi functionality with both a stand alone WiFi app and Alexa link in control. It also comes with two handheld RF remotes if Alexa is having trouble understanding right now. The power failure fallback is like Alexa controlled lighting. When power is restored, the door can be open, closed, or remain in the same position it was in when the power failed. Better if you set it up with a 12v DC power backup. The linear actuator movement is much smoother and quieter than the gear drive of my hacked coop door. The door includes a sensor that prevents it from closing (actually pauses the closing) if something is seen in the doorway. It will resume closing once the doorway is cleared. There has been a few commented issues where the sensor has not seen a chicken but with the size of our dogs, (26 pounds) that has not been a problem. To install, I just removed the old smart door and installed the new JVR door in front of the double-flapped door and it is inside the house so the cold and snow of Montana does not affect the operation. This thing has worked flawlessly – very pleased. My only complaint and not really a complaint but a suggestion. JVR should offer the package with the option of various linear actuator strokes and the option of with or without the door panel. Our dogs are taller than chickens and our dog door flaps are 18 inches high. I actually needed a 16 inch stroke actuator and a larger door panel. The JVR kit only offers a 12 inch panel and a 12 inch stroke. The key advantage of the JVR chicken coop door is the full smart control integration – excellent job. So I used my old solid door panel placed in a centered position so it opens high enough for the dogs and “effectively” closes the door. It leaves a 2 inch gap at the bottom but as far as the dogs are concerned, the door is closed. Excellent product. Good job JVR.

We travel a lot and don't want to burden our neighbors and friends with taking care of our chickens. JVR had the best solution for us. We can set a timer AND/OR use the WiFi to open and close our chicken door. We also have WiFi access to the light and a camera in the coop. The light is important because it draws the chickens into the coop at night ensuring that no chicken is left behind. Then the door closes well after dark automatically OR we check the camera and close it manually over WiFi (whether at home or abroad). The instructions for installation we easy to follow. Be careful where you position the safety sensor so that, when in timed closings, the door does not close on a chicken that happens to roost on the threshold. The door closes VERY slowly so no worries about any chickens that are awake. The product is very sturdy and has been very reliable. Be sure to KEEP YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL in the event that you want or need to change your WiFi settings. Since our coop is far from the house we installed a WiFi extender for the best connection. We have a well pump house near the coop that has electricity and that is where we put the WiFi extender.

The door seems to work great. It's only been installed for a few weeks and worked flawlessly. However, the door itself is essentially a slow moving guillotine. The door is a sharp stainless steel that has no force detection. You are provided 1 photo eye that cannot be mounted on the door side due to how the actuator attaches to the panel. One of our girls took a forever nap last night because she laid her head in the doorway. If the door had better safety measures this review would be much better but I refuse to use it anymore

I waited about one month before posting initial review. Four out of five stars. More time needs to pass for a five star rating. Installation was relatively easy. I had to purchase, cut, and paint a piece of wood to mount automatic door to as the current opening was too large. I mounted the JVR automatic coop door to this new piece of wood and mounted this new piece of wood to the outside of the coop. This actually made installation easier for me. Despite following the big paper templet (thank you JVR!) I had to raise the motor mount to get the door flush with the floor. It was no big deal. My advice for others would be to make shallow screw holes until sure of top positioning of Actuator Rod motor mount height. I had to test opening and closing several times to be sure. Have the remote handy to stop door when closing so it does not buckle or warp if your height measurement is off! I also made a rain/snow cover for the Actuator Rod and Door Rails. I also used exterior moldings to seal from drafts. Metal Door. It was folded for shipping. It is thin (but solid). It was great the metal had a peelable (blue) protective plastic cover. I wish the metal door was a bit thicker and without the very, very, thin gap. I am in Wisconsin and it gets very cold and windy. A thicker door would assist with coop heat retention. IF there is any issue with the horizontal gap I plan on sealing the very thin gap (on the inside) with duct tape to stop air/moisture. Again, that is if there is an issue. The door is firm as it is not movable with the Actuator Rod in closed position. Bears are not an issue where I am. I mounted the Control Box inside and used a surge plug in the outlet. Door Safety Mechanism. I had to mount this on the inside of the coop about an inch from the bottom. Outside mounting of the safety beam was interfered with by the bottom of the Actuator Rod. I do not like that the beam doesn't extend longer. However my chickens do not lay near or in the door. The door closes so slowly I suppose a healthy bird has time to hear and move even if it had somehow extended a small portion out of the area of the door that is not covered by the safety beam. Otherwise the door's closing stops instantly when the beam is interrupted. I hope this the safety mechanism is improved upon to match others doors' pressure sensing mechanisms. To be clear if there is no safety beam to stop the motor then it firmly drives the door down. Do not test on your fingers! WIFI setup and connection was easy. I have a Mesh style router throughout the house & outbuilding. Because I had weak WIFI coverage in the Coop I added an additional Mesh router in the coop, boosting the signal to Good, not Great. After the coop door installation I had random intermittent connection failure to the JVR Door. However it was always temporary. And the door still worked. The fix: For $100.00 and a cup of coffee I hired a local computer repair company and they made a house call. They made it so the JVR Smart Coop Door had a stronger 2.4 GHz connection route. Problem solved! Plus they made some other 2.4 GHz devices work faster! So anyone experiencing WIFI connectivity issues please consider having an expert go into your router settings and make the system adjustments. Smart Life App. Easy to download. I wish some terminology were made more clear in the literature. But it is easy to figure out. You can choose Manual, Timed or Sunrise/Sunset (with programable offsets) for the door. There is a history of door openings and closings in the App. My phone is notified by the App when the door opens or closes. And the App's open/closed symbol is color coded. I did not need to subscribe to the App's subscription email and text notification service. The Remote works from about 100 feet away. That is nice. JVR Support. Five stars! I initially programed the Dawn/Dusk setting with a twenty five minute delay after sunset. The door closed automatically the first night and then the door failed to close most other nights. I could still close the door via timer, manual and with the remote. I reset the system (power off/uninstalled App) but problem remained. I emailed support and sent screen shots. After a few pleasant exchanges I was told the problem sounded like it was with the Controller Box's IC (Integrated Circuit). JVR mailed me a new board and wire harness (it took over a week but no worries as Manual close still worked. I uninstalled the Controller Box and inside a clean area replaced the board and everything now works great! The one other issue has once happened once. The door only opened halfway one morning. It was clear/dry the day prior and clear/dry overnight. The low was around 37 (F) overnight. The hens managed to squeeze through to the outside, even the rooster despite the door only opening halfway. No injuries or trauma. The door worked correctly when I used the manual overrides. No debris or obvious physical reason as to why the door only opened halfway. This was prior to the IC box being replaced. Otherwise I am happy. The door is not perfect. But it is secure and has WIFI. The one minor issue was resolved with some great customer service and a little work on my end. My concerns are more to my area's winter weather conditions and the door's function. I want to see how the door functions during blizzards, cold snaps, or during a severe winter bomb cyclones. To be clear I don't expect total functionality in these conditions. I plan on reprograming the opening instructions and keeping the door closed during these events. I will update my review post winter weather. Initial rating is Four out of Five stars for the JVR Smart Automatics Chicken Coop Door Model HM44P.

I recently purchased the JVR Smart Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener, and I must say it has completely transformed the way I care for my chickens. This product, combined with JVR's exceptional customer service, has exceeded all my expectations. Here's why: First and foremost, the JVR Smart Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener is an ingenious device that takes the hassle out of opening and closing the chicken coop door every day. With its smart automation features, I no longer have to wake up early or rush home in the evening to ensure the safety of my feathered friends. The door opener works flawlessly, reliably opening and closing the coop door at the precise times I've set. It gives me peace of mind, knowing that my chickens are protected from predators while still enjoying the freedom to roam during the day. The installation process was a breeze, thanks to the clear and detailed instructions provided by JVR. Even as a non-technical person, I found it easy to set up and integrate the door opener into my existing coop. The product's quality is outstanding, with sturdy construction and weather-resistant materials. It's evident that JVR pays attention to every detail to ensure durability and longevity. What truly sets JVR apart is their remarkable customer service. From the moment I reached out to them with a few questions, their team was prompt, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. They went above and beyond to address all my concerns and provide me with the information I needed. In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend the JVR Smart Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener to anyone who owns chickens. It's a game-changer that simplifies the daily routine, provides safety, and gives peace of mind. Combined with JVR's exceptional customer service, this product truly stands out from the competition. Thank you, JVR, for creating such an outstanding product and providing an exceptional customer experience!

I'm replacing a ChickenRun door that had issues opening in cold weather. This door uses the type of actuators that have been around for 50 years at least so it should be both reliable and powerful. The app that runs this door seems to be very good, simple to use and does everything you could want. I do like having the Alexa capability also as I can do things like set off a siren just prior to closing the door so the chickens know the door is soon closing. Installation was easy and straight forward. I now am hoping I'm as happy one year from now!

We've only had this installed for a day but I'm very pleased with it! I got this 1 so I can control it from anywhere with my phone. It was very simple to install and super easy to connect with the app. It comes with a stencil so it's super easy to put parts in the right place! I stapled the stencil to the wall and put the parts in there place! Also I was able to connect it with and existing app that I had to control smart plugs and appliances saving me from having to have yet another app!

I got it today and set it up. I have tried a few other varieties of automated doors all with reels and very rudimentary programs if any. They're all way too expensive for what they are and all broke or way too unreliable due to the simple operation. What I mean by that is if the power went out and came back on in the middle of the night the door would open leaving chicks exposed at the worst time when all the predators are prowling.. Anyways.. Here's what I like so far. The price is pretty good. All my junk doors were as expensive or more so with a fraction of the features this has. The smart aspect is great. Having the ability to receive notifications is reassuring. I'm glad I can make schedules based on sunrise and sunset. The safety sensor seems to work great from my tests. I saw some reviews about chicks getting crushed which I just can't see happening with how slow this thing moves. So even if the sensor fails it really doesn't make any sense that birds got caught in it. I would like to know what the heck the people who had that happen did. Are there chickens really old or did they install it incorrectly? I like that it's corded. The last thing I want to do is use a crappy solar panel and have to worry about batteries. I had to run power to the coop anyway to keep the water from freezing in winter so all these battery powered variants are asinine. There's a plug in coop and I'm going to use it. There aren't many things I dislike so far. I'm sure I'll find something and I'll be sure to update this when I do. The only aspects I dislike now are mostly aesthetic. It's not difficult at all to assemble like some others have mentioned, but there's some strange aspects which I can only assume is for the benefit of the seller. The box mounting brackets are strange. They do not look like they should be used the way the instructions shows it. They seem like they aren't even made for this product at all. It's like the just already had them for something else and said screw it we're using them for this too until they're all used up. Lastly there's the hinge on the door. I thought I was misreading the description before I got it because this thing doesn't need a hinge. All it's there for is to hold two halves of the door together instead of just using one piece of metal for the door. It's weird and I think it's just to save space because it can fit in a much smaller box the way it is.

I absolutely love this door! We’ve been using it a few months now and it’s worked great. Love how I know when the door is open or closed with the WiFi. I don’t have to walk out there to see. I do wish it was a bit bigger since I have some ladies with thick thighs. They seem to manage just fine though. Definitely recommend