An actuator 1 for opening and closing a hen house door, having a rotatable threaded shaft 2, a motor 5 to rotate the shaft, a running nut 6 which moves along the shaft as the shaft rotates, an arm 7 with a first end 7A connected via a hinge to the running nut and a second end 7B connected via a hinge to a foot 8 for securement to a chicken coop door. There are means to secure the baseplate 4 of the shaft mechanism to a position adjacent the door. There may be a spring-loaded stop 9A, 9B to limit the travel of the running nut on the shaft. Preferably the actuator has a control device 10 to control the motor at predetermined times. The control device may include a light sensor to open and close the door depending on sunlight levels. The light sensor may be set to a threshold level, and the sensor may measure current delivered to the motor. The control device may have a memory to remember if the door was in a closed or open position in the event of a power failure. There may be an external light with a switch.
