1) How to calibrate the door opener in automatic mode?

Our automatic openings for chicken coops Chickenguard are preprogrammed in automatic calibration.

You will find the procedure for this programming in this video.

2) How to calibrate the door opener in manual mode?

All Chickenguard automatic door openers are preprogrammed in automatic calibration, but it is possible to calibrate it like the older generations of door openers, in manual mode.

In this video, you will find the procedure for calibration.

3) How to change the type of calibration?

All automatic coop openings after June 2022 are preprogrammed in automatic calibration. It is sometimes necessary to use manual calibration, for example when using intermediate pulleys between the box and the door.

In this case, you need to remove the small plastic bead on the string and follow the steps in the video below.

4) How to set the clock?

5) How to switch from 12/24 clock setting to 24/24?

6) How to select the language?

7) How to manually unwind the string?

In this video, you will see how to manage the winding or unwinding of the string manually.

Very useful when mounting on the coop.

8) How to test the light sensor?

9) How to configure the automatic door opener?

In this video, you will find the procedure for configuring your automatic door opener during its first use or whenever you need to change the batteries.

10) How to perform a complete reset of the door opener?

The Reset is useful for resetting the door opener to factory settings.

It is sometimes necessary when the device is blocked. To access the video menu, you need to hold your finger on the central button for 10 seconds. 11) How to adjust the lux setting of the Chickenguard? It is sometimes necessary, depending on the situation of your chicken coop, to modify the Lux setting to make the sensor more or less sensitive. 12) The best setting in summer! When the days are long, it is ideal to program the door opener to open in Sensor mode in the morning and to close in lux plus mode in the evening. This way, the door will open in the morning thanks to the Sensor and close in the evening thanks to the combination of the Sensor and the timer with the lux plus option. 13) The best setting in winter! In winter, when the days are shorter, it is advisable to work with the timer and set an opening and closing time. 14) What to do if "Front cover missing" is displayed? 15) What to do if "motor missing" is displayed? Whether it's setting the time to be encoded in the unit, encoding the opening or closing time, or selecting the program with the light sensor so that the door opens and closes based on daylight and night-time brightness, it's more pleasant to see the procedure rather than pressing all the buttons and risking messing everything up... That's why the ChickenGuard door opener programming expert at the King of the Chicken has updated a whole series of short videos that will help you easily program your door opener! Thanks to these videos, programming your ChickenGuard door opener will be child's play! What do we mean by frequent breakdowns? Your door opener may malfunction, but don't panic! We have prepared a whole series of videos that will help you solve frequent breakdowns of ChickenGuard door openers. - The screen lights up and nothing happens - The door opens a little less each day - The motor malfunctions after changing the batteries If you encounter the case of the door being constantly open or closed and the door opener shows no malfunction, open the door opener to check the condition of the string! It may have just slipped off the pulley or a small knot may have formed. Simply untangle the knot or put the string back on the pulley! The importance of good batteries Be careful with the choice of batteries, as it is important! Here are some tips: - Do not use rechargeable batteries or Duracell, as they do not withstand the cold - Use 4 batteries of the same brand rather than one or the other of different brands          Recommend Panasonic, Energizer, or Varta brand batteries          Warning: Always ensure that your screen turns off when making a change in the menu, because if your screen remains on, your batteries will be drained within just a few days!

Good to know about freezing periods

The portiers have a good tolerance to frost if the ambient air is dry but if the air is humid and it freezes, it’s a different story…

The moisture in the air will freeze the hinges and the portier may end up open non-stop or closed non-stop! We therefore advise you to be vigilant about humidity during freezing periods for the well-being of your protégés!

Chickenguard User Manual

Portier Power Supply:

• Batteries: Place the 4 batteries in the designated compartment.
• Main Power: Plug the power adapter into a 230-volt outlet and connect the USB/jack plug to the portier’s bottom right slot.
• Solar Panel: Attach the solar panel facing due south, either on your chicken coop or on the support stake provided for this purpose. Place the lithium battery in the battery box and plug the connector into the portier. Be sure to place the battery box in the shade, for example under the panel. Do not put batteries in the ChickenGuard portier when it is powered by the solar panel.

When you turn on your portier for the first time, simply follow the programming steps one by one, as the portier guides you.
The central button allows you to select an option and confirm your choices, while the arrows allow you to navigate through the chosen menu(s).

Type of Calibration:

By default, your portier is programmed for automatic calibration, which means that during this step it will ask you to press the middle button to then calibrate itself. It detects the bottom of the door to stop in the closed position and locks against the plastic bead of the string in the open position.
Sometimes this type of calibration is not suitable for all situations, such as when using pulleys. In this case, the portier must be programmed in manual calibration and the plastic bead must be removed from the string.

To do this:

• Turn on the portier so that Chickenguard appears on the screen.
• Press the middle button once to enter the main menu.
• Scroll down with the down arrow to find "other options" and enter this menu with the middle button.
• Scroll down with the down arrow to find "calibration type," enter this menu with the middle button, and then press the right arrow (down) to choose manual.
• Use the arrows to find "exit" to exit.

Manually Unroll the String:

It may be useful to know the procedure to be able to unroll (or re-roll) a bit more string to, for example, allow connection to the hatch when using pulleys.

To do this:

• Turn on the portier so that Chickenguard appears on the screen.
• Press the middle button once to enter the main menu.
• Scroll down with the down arrow to find "other options" and enter this menu with the middle button.
• The "Motion Control" tab appears, press the middle button to enter it, and then use the arrows to roll and unroll the string. Press the middle button to exit.
• Use the arrows to find "exit" to exit.

General Portier Programming:

During programming which includes setting the time, calibration, and choosing the mode of closing and opening (twilight sensor = sensor, timer, or manual).
Always go through the "Setup Wizard" tab in the main menu, this will allow you to program everything at once to ensure no step is forgotten.

For example, after changing the batteries or after a complete reset of the portier.

To do this:

• Turn on the doorkeeper so that Chickenguard appears on the screen.
• Press the middle button once to enter the main menu.
• Go up with the up arrow to search for "Setup Wizard" and enter this menu with the middle button.
• First, set the clock using the arrows and each time press the middle button to confirm.
• Continue yes or no, choose yes with the right arrow.
• Door calibration, the doorkeeper may ask you for two different methods depending on the type of calibration chosen.
• If automatic calibration, it will tell you to press the middle button once and the calibration will be done automatically with the small plastic bead located on the string.
• If manual calibration, it will be done in two steps. The doorkeeper will ask you to hold your finger on the arrows to first place the door in the open position, then press the middle button to confirm and then hold your finger on the down arrow to completely close the hatch, then press the middle button to confirm. At this point, the door will open again on its own and the calibration will be completed.
• Continue yes or no, choose yes with the right arrow.
• Opening installation: choose with the arrows "sensor" (twilight probe), timer, or manual, then press the middle button to confirm.
• Continue yes or no, choose yes with the right arrow.
• Closing installation: Same as for opening installation, then press the middle button to confirm.

The doorkeeper will automatically return to the home screen with Chickengard and the time, at this point your doorkeeper is programmed.

In the event of a problem such as a blocked door or other, first check the following points:

• Check the battery status: Main menu, "other options", then battery, there the doorkeeper tells you if the batteries are OK or not. It is very important to use 4 batteries of the same brand and to favor quality batteries like Panasonic, Energizer, or Varta. 
• Check if the door slides well in the rails: It is important not to tighten them too much during assembly.
• Check the string: Open the case to check that no knot has formed in the spool that winds the string.
• Reset the doorkeeper: After checking the 3 points above.

Complete reset of the doorkeeper:

To do this:

• Turn on the doorkeeper so that Chickenguard appears on the screen.
• Hold your finger on the middle button for 5 seconds to switch to a hidden menu in English.
• Continue yes or no, choose yes with the right arrow.
• Search in this menu using the arrows, "Restore defaults", then press the middle button to confirm.
• Continue yes or no, choose yes with the right arrow.
• The doorkeeper will display configuration, then return to the English menu.
• Use the arrows to search for "exit".
• The doorkeeper will turn off, then turn back on and return to the home screen.
• Set the doorkeeper back to French: Press the middle button to access the main menu, then search for language. Choose French.

From this moment, the doorkeeper is reset to factory settings, you will need to reprogram it by going through "Setup Wizard" as detailed previously.