Chicken Coop

[sandplum]

I need to secure a swinging door on a large chicken coop in such a way that it is difficult for a raccoon to open but easy for a human to open. (I think this might be easier to do if it were the other way around)

It also needs to open easily from the inside, so the human doesn't accidentally get locked in (you would be surprised how many people this has happened to!). The door is made of 2x4s, so there isn't much wood to insert a mortised lock.

I have alot of ideas about what might work, but I would love hear from some other people who might have more experience with this situation than I.

Thanks!

[Legion303]

I would put a sliding bolt on the inside of the door, point it down a hole in the floor deep enough to resist pulling, add a strong spring to it and attach it to a wire and thumb loop through the front of the door. Ideally the spring would be too strong for a raccoon to overcome but easy enough for a human to pull. Say 20-25 lbs?

-steve

[GWiens2001]

I would suggest two smaller spring loaded latches, set about 3 feet apart vertically along the door. The springs don't have to be too strong. This way you need to be able to have a 3 foot spread in your reach to open them. You should have to pull both latches at the same time to open the door. But the above reply has a lot of merit, especially if your hands will be full.

[raimundo]

your trying to keep racoons out, if the coop is made of wood, they will rip right through it.
Guy I knew back a while, was trying to keep them out of his garbage cans, so he kept the cans in the garage, they chewed a hole in his garage door.
theres a reason they wear those black masks.

[raimundo]

@ gweins2001
racoons is nearly always plural, they work in teams and they're smarter than we are. they would cooperate to open two latches simultaneously

[sandplum]

@ Legion303 and GWeins2001

That's an interesting idea. I like it. But I think the raccoons are strong enough to pull the strings.

[sandplum]

your trying to keep racoons out, if the coop is made of wood, they will rip right through it.
Guy I knew back a while, was trying to keep them out of his garbage cans, so he kept the cans in the garage, they chewed a hole in his garage door.
theres a reason they wear those black masks.

Raimundo, you are right! It's only a matter of time before the raccoons get into that coop. The raccoon paw print on the door tells me they have already been there. When they do get in, I would prefer it if it wasn't by opening my latch. No guarantee, though... they are smart and determined... like most good lock pickers I know.

[MBI]

Hmm... if it's legal in your area some might suggest using night vision gear and a suppressed 22 to "secure" that door.

[Wizer]

I don´t know about intelligence of raccoons, they don´t live here, but wouldn´t a simple lever do the trick?
You could install it upside down so you have to lift the lever to open the door. Maybe put it higher than normal, like 1,5 m (5foot) high.

[Wizer]

... and MBI, you can´t solve all your problems just by shooting it with a rifle.
Raccoons look nice, and I´ve even feeded them some bisquits when I was in California.

[GWiens2001]

Wizer is correct, MBI, you can't solve all your problems by shooting them with a rifle. However, there are very few personal problems that can not be resolved with a suitable application of high explosives.

[MBI]

Did I say rifle?

...there are very few personal problems that can not be resolved with a suitable application of high explosives.

Uncommon Valor, 1983?

[2octops]

Just use a hasp and padlock with a spring loaded catch if you want to keep the door shut while you are inside.

Mount the has with long bolts with wing nuts on the inside that you could easily remove if locked inside.

You can also use a regular deadbolt if you cut a thin 1/4" plywood spacer for one side of the door to give you the correct thickness to mount it properly.

[The Lock Artist]

When they do get in, I would prefer it if it wasn't by opening my latch

Couldn't you just use a simple padlock, unless your raccoons have lockpicks that should stop them, that is until they rip right through the wood like Raimundo said.

you can´t solve all your problems just by shooting it with a rifle.

True, but raccoons are one of those problems you can solve quite easily with a rifle. That is what I would use anyway.

[Raymond]

First Idea. For the ease of everyday use, I would recommend the spring loaded bolt. The opening handle can be connected with a wire or cable so it is not close enough that the critters will accidently pull on it. Remove the normal slide knob and they won't have anything to grab.

Second idea. Use a heavy spring to pull the door closed while you are inside just to keep the chickens in. Use a large enough vertical slide bolt, going into the ground, that they cannot move or pull it up to release it. It must be of the type that has to be rotated to the correct angle to slide up and while up will stay until rotated back to the slide position. If need be, this L-shaped bolt handle can be further secured turned to the side.