6 Best Poultry Door Springs For Automatic Closure That Keep Predators Out
Protect your flock with reliable automatic closure. This guide reviews the 6 best poultry door springs designed to keep predators out of the coop for good.
We’ve all had that moment of panic, sitting up in bed late at night. Did I close the coop door? An automatic door opener provides peace of mind, but the opener itself is only half the system. The humble spring is the muscle that ensures the door closes securely every single time, turning your coop from a potential target into a fortress.
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Why Spring Tension is Key to Predator-Proofing
A door that simply drifts shut is a welcome mat for a raccoon. Predators are incredibly persistent and surprisingly strong. A door that closes gently without positive latching pressure can be nudged, pulled, or worried open by a determined predator with all night to work on it.
The key is positive closure. The spring needs enough tension to not only close the door but to hold it firmly against the frame or engage a lock. This eliminates the small gaps a weasel could slip through or a raccoon could get a claw into. A good spring snaps the door shut with authority.
Think about the real-world conditions of a chicken coop. Bedding gets kicked into the doorway, mud and ice build up in the tracks, and a stiff wind can push against the door. A weak spring will fail in these conditions, leaving the door partially open—an engraved invitation for trouble. The right spring has the power to overcome these minor obstructions and secure your flock.
Finally, the tension has to be just right. Too little, and the door is insecure. Too much, and you risk damaging the door, the frame, or even your automatic opener’s motor over time. The goal is a swift, secure closure, not a destructive slam.
National Hardware V1345: The Reliable Classic
This is the workhorse of coop door springs for a reason. It’s a simple, adjustable extension spring that is readily available at almost any hardware store. Its design is straightforward and incredibly effective for most common coop door setups.
The V1345 excels on lightweight to medium-weight vertical drop doors or small, swinging pop-hole doors. Its primary advantage is its adjustability. You can easily change the tension by moving the attachment point, allowing you to dial in the perfect closing force for your specific door’s weight and friction. This means you can get that satisfying "thunk" of a secure closure without putting excessive strain on your system.
Made of steel and typically zinc-plated, it holds up well to the damp, dusty environment of a coop. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it component that you can trust to do its job night after night. For the majority of DIY coop doors, this spring is the perfect starting point—reliable, affordable, and easy to install.
Everbilt Self-Closing Gate Spring Kit for Wood
If you have a larger, side-swinging door on a walk-in coop, a simple extension spring might not be the best tool for the job. The Everbilt Self-Closing Gate Spring Kit is designed specifically for this application. It uses torsional force to swing a door shut smoothly and consistently.
Instead of pulling the door shut from a single point, this type of spring mounts near the hinges and twists to provide closing power. The result is a more controlled closing motion that is less jarring on the door and its frame. This is especially important for heavier wooden doors where a sharp pull could eventually loosen the hinges.
These kits often come with all the necessary mounting hardware and an adjustment tool, simplifying installation. They provide a clean, professional look while delivering reliable, automatic closure. It’s an excellent choice when you want the closing action to be as smooth as it is secure.
Prime-Line Torsion Springs for Pop-Hole Doors
Torsion springs are for the builder who loves to tinker and optimize. While not as common for simple coop doors, they are the secret weapon for more complex designs like horizontal sliding doors or flip-up "awning" style doors. They work by twisting, storing and releasing energy in a rotational motion.
Their main advantage is providing powerful, compact force. A torsion spring can be used to counterbalance the weight of a door, making it much easier for a low-power automatic opener motor to do its job. For a flip-up door, a torsion spring can do most of the heavy lifting, allowing the motor to simply guide it into place.
The tradeoff is complexity. Installing a torsion spring correctly requires a good understanding of mechanics. You have to "pre-load" the spring with the right amount of tension, which can be tricky and requires careful handling. This isn’t a beginner’s option, but for the right custom door design, it’s the most elegant and efficient solution.
Producer’s Pride Gate Spring for Heavy Doors
Sometimes, you just need more power. If your coop is a converted shed with a heavy, solid-core door, a standard pop-hole spring won’t even make it budge. This is where a true gate spring, like those from Producer’s Pride, comes into play.
These are long, heavy-gauge springs designed to close full-size chain link or wooden farm gates. They have the raw pulling power needed to overcome the significant weight and friction of a large, heavy door. When you need to be absolutely certain your massive door will close against wind, ice, or debris, this is the kind of spring you reach for.
Be warned: this is not for your average plywood pop-hole. Using a spring this powerful on a lightweight door is a recipe for disaster. It will slam the door with enough force to splinter the wood and destroy the frame over time. Always match the spring’s power to the door’s weight.
Century Spring C-696: Heavy-Duty Extension
Similar to the farm gate springs, the Century Spring C-696 is all about brute force. This is a high-tensile steel extension spring designed for industrial applications, which makes it perfect for the most demanding coop door jobs. It’s built for durability and a long cycle life under heavy load.
This spring is the ideal choice for a very heavy vertical drop (guillotine) door made from multiple layers of lumber or steel. It provides a strong, consistent pull along a linear path, ensuring the door seats properly every time. Its robust construction means it won’t stretch out or lose its tension after a few seasons of heaving a heavy door up and down.
Think of this as a specialized tool. While a general gate spring provides a strong pull, a heavy-duty extension spring like this is engineered specifically for linear pulling applications. If you’ve built a truly predator-proof door that weighs a ton, you need an equally robust spring to operate it reliably.
SpeeCo S07095700 Zinc Plated Gate Spring
The SpeeCo gate spring is another excellent, widely available all-rounder, much like the National Hardware model. It’s a testament to a simple design that just flat-out works. You’ll find these in nearly every farm supply store, and they are a go-to for quick repairs and new builds.
This spring is a fantastic choice for most medium-weight swinging or sliding doors. It’s zinc-plated for good weather resistance and provides ample force to snap a door shut and keep it there. There are no fancy features here—just a reliable spring that does its job without fuss.
Its value is in its simplicity and availability. When you’re building a coop, you often need parts that are dependable and easy to source. The SpeeCo spring fits that bill perfectly. It’s a cost-effective way to add a critical layer of security to your coop without over-engineering the solution.
Matching Spring Type to Your Coop Door Design
The best spring is the one that’s right for your door. There is no single "best" option, only the best fit for your specific design. Thinking about the door’s motion is the key to making the right choice.
Here’s a simple framework to guide your decision:
- Vertical Drop (Guillotine) Doors: Your best bet is an extension spring. The spring pulls the door straight down its track. For lightweight doors, a classic like the National Hardware V1345 is perfect. For heavy, fortified doors, you’ll need a heavy-duty extension spring like the Century C-696.
- Side-Swinging Doors: For small pop-holes, a simple gate spring from SpeeCo or National Hardware works well. For larger, heavier walk-in doors, a self-closing gate spring kit like Everbilt’s provides a smoother, more controlled action that is easier on the hinges.
- Horizontal Sliding or Flip-Up Doors: These are the most mechanically complex. A simple extension spring can work for a slider if angled correctly. However, a torsion spring like those from Prime-Line is often the most efficient solution, especially if you need to counterbalance the door’s weight for a small motor.
Ultimately, the spring must do two things: close the door completely and hold it shut against pressure. Start by analyzing how your door moves, then select a spring designed for that specific action. A little forethought here prevents a lot of frustration—and potential tragedy—later on.
Choosing the right spring isn’t just a minor detail in your coop construction; it’s a fundamental part of your predator defense plan. It’s the difference between a door that looks closed and a door that is secure. That small, inexpensive piece of coiled steel is what lets you sleep soundly, knowing your flock is safe.
