Spring Roost Releases Poultry-House Door Latch
The Door is Opened Automatically When the Fowl Leave Their Roost
Those in the habit of shutting their poultry houses at night to prevent disturbance or loss by night-prowling animals, will be interested in a contrivance that makes this unnecessary. The principle of the mechanism, as illustrated is that the opening to the poultry house is closed after the fowls have gone to roost, and in the morning when they descend from the roost, the door automatically opens, and they are free to go out. The spring door opens inside with hinges at the side, and a suitable bumper. The spring has just sufficient tension to cause the door to open when the catch is released.
The roost is fitted up as shown in the detail. One end is held by a bolt, while the other rests on a coil spring compressed by the weight of the fowls on the roost. A cord is attached at the spring end, passing through pulleys to the door, where it is fastened to the end of the bolt catch. The door is closed after the fowls are on the roost. The spring end is compressed to a level position, by their weight. The instant the birds leave the roost, it rises and pulls the cord, releasing the catch, and permitting the door to open.—George S. Brown, Norwich, Conn.