Install a Retrofit Soft Close Cylinder Kit on a Ratproof Chicken Feeder

A short video showing how to install the latest version of the soft close door retrofit kit. Used to make a ratproof chicken feeder door safer for small birds and making the feeder quieter and to make training easier. This works well if you have tiny birds like bantams or silkies and a few larger birds to work the feeder while the little ones eat from the side.


It says 1/8" gap between the door crank and the bottom of the soft close case in the video but you are better off with at least 1/4". if you go too close the door might not close all the way. There is a lot of competition for space under that front cover and tweaking one thing might prevent the door from closing all the way.

There is a second video showing how to adjust the door crank if things don't line up.


You can buy these feeders at ratproofchickenfeeder.net They do stop rodents and wild birds and sometimes squirrels, as long as there is just one or two and you keep the spring set pretty tight.