Raspberry Pi Chicken Door & Feeder Controller

Complete project to control an automatic chicken door and feeder with a Raspberry Pi. Includes physical buttons, mobile web interface, scheduling, reed-switch protection and software safety features.

Features

Physical buttons for Open / Close / Feed
Mobile-friendly web interface (works well on iPhone)
Live GPIO status + live log viewer
Reed switch stops the door when fully open
Log-based protection prevents closing when already closed
Force Open / Force Close overrides
Systemd service (auto-starts on boot)
Cron-friendly API for scheduled actions
Centralised logging

1. Hardware

Raspberry Pi (any recent model)
3-channel relay module (active-low)
3 × momentary push buttons
1 × reed switch (fully-open position)
5 V power supply and wiring

GPIO Pinout (BCM)

Function	GPIO	Notes
Door Open Relay	17	Active Low
Door Close Relay	27	Active Low
Feeder Relay	22	Active Low
Open Button	5	To GND when pressed
Close Button	12	To GND when pressed
Feed Button	16	To GND when pressed
Reed Switch	26	LOW when fully open

Wiring: All buttons and the reed switch are wired between the GPIO pin and Ground. Internal pull-ups are enabled in software.

2. Installation

Install packages

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-gpiozero python3-flask -y
pip3 install requests --break-system-packages

Create the two main files

nano /home/pi/door_service_web.py
nano /home/pi/index.html

Paste the contents from the sections below, then:

chmod +x /home/pi/door_service_web.py

3. Systemd Service

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/door_service_web.service

[Unit]
Description=Door & Feeder Web Control Service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=pi
WorkingDirectory=/home/pi
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/door_service_web.py
Restart=always
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable door_service_web
sudo systemctl start door_service_web
sudo systemctl status door_service_web

4. Cron Helpers (optional)

These small scripts call the running service so you never have GPIO conflicts.

# Example crontab (crontab -e)
30 6 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/open_door_cron.py >> /home/pi/door_service.log 2>&1
0 20 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/close_door_cron.py >> /home/pi/door_service.log 2>&1
0 8,17 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/feed_cron.py >> /home/pi/door_service.log 2>&1

5. Main Service – door_service_web.py

#!/usr/bin/python3
import time
import datetime
import signal
import sys
import threading
from flask import Flask, jsonify, send_from_directory, send_file
from gpiozero import OutputDevice, Button

# ================== PIN CONFIGURATION ==================
RELAY_OPEN = 17
RELAY_CLOSE = 27
RELAY_FEED = 22
BUTTON_OPEN = 5
BUTTON_CLOSE = 12
BUTTON_FEED = 16
REED_PIN = 26

OPEN_TIME = 12.0
CLOSE_TIME = 12.0
FEED_TIME = 1.0
IGNORE_TIME = 3.0
HOLD_LIMIT = 1.5
LOG_FILE = "/home/pi/door_service.log"
# =======================================================

pending_web_action = None
current_action = "idle"
status_message = "Ready"

app = Flask(__name__)

relay_open  = OutputDevice(RELAY_OPEN,  active_high=False, initial_value=False)
relay_close = OutputDevice(RELAY_CLOSE, active_high=False, initial_value=False)
relay_feed  = OutputDevice(RELAY_FEED,  active_high=False, initial_value=False)

btn_open  = Button(BUTTON_OPEN,  pull_up=True, bounce_time=0.05)
btn_close = Button(BUTTON_CLOSE, pull_up=True, bounce_time=0.05)
btn_feed  = Button(BUTTON_FEED,  pull_up=True, bounce_time=0.05)
reed      = Button(REED_PIN,     pull_up=True, bounce_time=0.05)

def log(msg):
    timestamp = datetime.datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
    line = f"{timestamp} - {msg}"
    print(line)
    try:
        with open(LOG_FILE, "a") as f:
            f.write(line + "\n")
    except:
        pass

def is_reed_closed(samples=5):
    count = 0
    for _ in range(samples):
        if reed.is_pressed:
            count += 1
        time.sleep(0.01)
    return count >= 3

def get_last_door_action():
    try:
        with open(LOG_FILE, "r") as f:
            lines = f.readlines()[-150:]
        for line in reversed(lines):
            if "Door Open completed" in line:
                return "open"
            if "Door Close completed" in line:
                return "closed"
            if "Over-travel detected on close" in line:
                return "closed"
            if "Open requested but door is already fully open" in line:
                return "open"
            if "Close requested but door appears already closed" in line:
                return "closed"
    except Exception:
        pass
    return "unknown"

def do_open(force=False):
    if not force:
        if is_reed_closed():
            log("Open requested but door is already fully open – aborted")
            return
        if get_last_door_action() == "open":
            log("Open requested but door appears already open (from log) – aborted")
            return
    log("Activating Door Open..." + (" (FORCE)" if force else ""))
    relay_open.on()
    elapsed = 0.0
    while elapsed < OPEN_TIME:
        if is_reed_closed():
            log("Reed switch triggered – fully open reached. Stopping.")
            break
        time.sleep(0.05)
        elapsed += 0.05
    relay_open.off()
    log("Door Open completed")

def do_close(force=False):
    if not force:
        if get_last_door_action() == "closed":
            log("Close requested but door appears already closed (from log) – aborted for safety")
            return
    log("Activating Door Close..." + (" (FORCE)" if force else ""))
    relay_close.on()
    elapsed = 0.0
    while elapsed < CLOSE_TIME:
        if elapsed >= IGNORE_TIME and is_reed_closed():
            log("Over-travel detected on close – stopping for safety")
            break
        time.sleep(0.05)
        elapsed += 0.05
    relay_close.off()
    log("Door Close completed")

def do_feed():
    log("Starting Feeder")
    relay_feed.on()
    time.sleep(FEED_TIME)
    relay_feed.off()
    log("Feeder finished")

class PollingButton:
    def __init__(self, gpio_button, name, action_name):
        self.button = gpio_button
        self.name = name
        self.action_name = action_name
        self.last_state = False
        self.press_start = None

    def update(self):
        global pending_web_action, current_action
        pressed = self.button.is_pressed
        if pressed and not self.last_state:
            self.press_start = time.time()
        elif not pressed and self.last_state:
            if self.press_start is not None:
                held = time.time() - self.press_start
                self.press_start = None
                if held < HOLD_LIMIT:
                    if pending_web_action is None and current_action == "idle":
                        pending_web_action = self.action_name
                        current_action = self.action_name
                        log(f"{self.name} button pressed ({held:.2f}s) – queued")
                    else:
                        log(f"{self.name} button ignored – service busy")
                else:
                    log(f"{self.name} button held too long ({held:.2f}s) – ignored")
        self.last_state = pressed

buttons = [
    PollingButton(btn_open,  "Open",  "open"),
    PollingButton(btn_close, "Close", "close"),
    PollingButton(btn_feed,  "Feed",  "feed"),
]

def cleanup(signum=None, frame=None):
    log("Shutting down – forcing all relays OFF")
    for r in [relay_open, relay_close, relay_feed]:
        try: r.off()
        except: pass
    log("Service stopped cleanly")
    sys.exit(0)

signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, cleanup)
signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, cleanup)

log("=== Door & Feeder Service Starting ===")

@app.route('/')
def index():
    return send_from_directory('.', 'index.html')

@app.route('/status')
def get_status():
    global current_action, status_message
    try:
        door_pos = "Fully Open ✓" if is_reed_closed() else "Not fully open"
        return jsonify({
            "timestamp": datetime.datetime.now().isoformat(),
            "current_action": current_action,
            "status_message": status_message,
            "door_position": door_pos,
            "last_action": get_last_door_action(),
            "gpios": {
                RELAY_OPEN:  {"name": "Open Relay",  "mode": "OUT", "display": "ON" if relay_open.value else "OFF"},
                RELAY_CLOSE: {"name": "Close Relay", "mode": "OUT", "display": "ON" if relay_close.value else "OFF"},
                RELAY_FEED:  {"name": "Feed Relay",  "mode": "OUT", "display": "ON" if relay_feed.value else "OFF"},
                BUTTON_OPEN: {"name": "Open Button", "mode": "IN",  "display": "Pressed" if btn_open.is_pressed else "Released"},
                BUTTON_CLOSE:{"name": "Close Button","mode": "IN",  "display": "Pressed" if btn_close.is_pressed else "Released"},
                BUTTON_FEED: {"name": "Feed Button", "mode": "IN",  "display": "Pressed" if btn_feed.is_pressed else "Released"},
                REED_PIN:    {"name": "Reed Switch", "mode": "IN",  "display": "Fully Open" if is_reed_closed() else "Not triggered"},
            }
        })
    except Exception as e:
        return jsonify({"error": str(e)}), 500

@app.route('/action/<name>', methods=['POST'])
def trigger_action(name):
    global pending_web_action, current_action, status_message
    valid = ['open', 'close', 'feed', 'force_open', 'force_close']
    if name not in valid:
        return jsonify({"error": "invalid action"}), 400
    if pending_web_action is not None or current_action != "idle":
        return jsonify({"status": "busy"}), 409
    pending_web_action = name
    current_action = name
    log(f"Web triggered: {name}")
    return jsonify({"status": "started"})

@app.route('/log')
def get_log():
    try:
        with open(LOG_FILE, 'r') as f:
            return jsonify({"lines": [l.rstrip('\n') for l in f.readlines()[-80:]]})
    except Exception as e:
        return jsonify({"lines": [str(e)]})

@app.route('/log/download')
def download_log():
    return send_file(LOG_FILE, as_attachment=True, download_name="door_service.log")

def run_flask():
    app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=5000, debug=False, threaded=True, use_reloader=False)

flask_thread = threading.Thread(target=run_flask, daemon=True)
flask_thread.start()

try:
    while True:
        for btn in buttons:
            btn.update()
        if pending_web_action is not None:
            action = pending_web_action
            pending_web_action = None
            current_action = action
            if action == "open":
                do_open(force=False)
            elif action == "close":
                do_close(force=False)
            elif action == "force_open":
                do_open(force=True)
            elif action == "force_close":
                do_close(force=True)
            elif action == "feed":
                do_feed()
            current_action = "idle"
        time.sleep(0.02)
except Exception as e:
    log(f"Fatal error: {e}")
finally:
    cleanup()

6. Web Interface – index.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Door & Feeder Control</title>
<script src="https://cdn.tailwindcss.com"></script>
<style>
  body { font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif; }
</style>
</head>
<body class="bg-zinc-950 text-zinc-200">
<div class="max-w-2xl mx-auto p-4">

  <div class="flex items-center justify-between mb-6">
    <div>
      <h1 class="text-3xl font-bold">Door & Feeder</h1>
      <p class="text-zinc-400 text-sm">Raspberry Pi Control</p>
    </div>
    <div id="door-badge" class="px-3 py-1 rounded-full text-xs font-medium bg-zinc-900 border border-zinc-700">
      <span id="door-position">Loading...</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-5 gap-6">
    <div class="md:col-span-3">
      <h2 class="text-xl font-semibold mb-3 flex items-center gap-2">🎮 Controls</h2>
      <div class="space-y-3">
        <button onclick="triggerAction('open')" class="w-full py-6 text-xl font-bold bg-emerald-600 hover:bg-emerald-500 rounded-3xl flex items-center justify-center gap-3">
          🔓 OPEN DOOR
        </button>
        <button onclick="triggerAction('close')" class="w-full py-6 text-xl font-bold bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-500 rounded-3xl flex items-center justify-center gap-3">
          🔒 CLOSE DOOR
        </button>
        <button onclick="triggerAction('feed')" class="w-full py-6 text-xl font-bold bg-amber-500 hover:bg-amber-400 text-black rounded-3xl flex items-center justify-center gap-3">
          🌾 FEED
        </button>

        <div class="pt-4 border-t border-zinc-700">
          <p class="text-xs text-zinc-500 mb-2 text-center">Force (only if log is wrong)</p>
          <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
            <button onclick="triggerAction('force_open')" class="py-3 text-sm font-semibold bg-zinc-700 hover:bg-zinc-600 rounded-2xl">
              Force Open
            </button>
            <button onclick="triggerAction('force_close')" class="py-3 text-sm font-semibold bg-zinc-700 hover:bg-zinc-600 rounded-2xl">
              Force Close
            </button>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>

    <div class="md:col-span-2">
      <div class="flex justify-between items-center mb-3">
        <h2 class="text-xl font-semibold flex items-center gap-2">📡 GPIO Status</h2>
        <button onclick="fetchStatus()" class="text-xs px-3 py-1 bg-zinc-800 rounded-xl">Refresh</button>
      </div>
      <div id="gpio-grid" class="space-y-2 text-sm"></div>
      <div class="text-xs text-zinc-500 text-right mt-1">Updated: <span id="status-time"></span></div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div class="mt-8">
    <div class="flex justify-between items-center mb-2">
      <h2 class="text-xl font-semibold flex items-center gap-2">📜 Live Log</h2>
      <div>
        <button onclick="fetchLog()" class="text-xs px-3 py-1 bg-zinc-800 rounded-xl mr-2">Refresh</button>
        <button onclick="window.location='/log/download'" class="text-xs px-3 py-1 bg-zinc-800 rounded-xl">⬇ Download</button>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div id="log-container" class="bg-black border border-zinc-800 rounded-3xl p-4 h-72 overflow-auto text-xs">
      <pre id="log-content" class="whitespace-pre-wrap break-all"></pre>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<script>
let statusInterval, logInterval;

async function fetchStatus() {
  try {
    const res = await fetch('/status');
    const data = await res.json();
    document.getElementById('door-position').textContent = data.door_position || 'Unknown';
    const grid = document.getElementById('gpio-grid');
    grid.innerHTML = '';
    const order = [17, 27, 22, 5, 12, 16, 26];
    order.forEach(pin => {
      if (!data.gpios[pin]) return;
      const g = data.gpios[pin];
      const active = g.display.includes('ON') || g.display.includes('Pressed') || g.display.includes('Fully Open');
      const div = document.createElement('div');
      div.className = `flex justify-between px-4 py-3 rounded-2xl border border-zinc-700 ${active ? 'bg-zinc-800' : 'bg-zinc-900'}`;
      div.innerHTML = `
        <div>
          <div class="font-mono text-xs text-zinc-400">GPIO ${pin}</div>
          <div class="font-semibold">${g.name}</div>
        </div>
        <div class="text-right">
          <div class="font-mono text-xs ${active ? 'text-emerald-400' : 'text-zinc-400'}">${g.display}</div>
          <div class="text-xs text-zinc-500">${g.mode}</div>
        </div>`;
      grid.appendChild(div);
    });
    document.getElementById('status-time').textContent = new Date().toLocaleTimeString();
  } catch (e) { console.error(e); }
}

async function triggerAction(action) {
  try {
    const res = await fetch('/action/' + action, { method: 'POST' });
    if (!res.ok) {
      const err = await res.json();
      alert(err.message || 'Busy or error');
    }
  } catch (e) { alert('Failed to send command'); }
}

async function fetchLog() {
  try {
    const res = await fetch('/log');
    const data = await res.json();
    const pre = document.getElementById('log-content');
    if (data.lines) {
      pre.textContent = data.lines.join('\n');
      document.getElementById('log-container').scrollTop = 99999;
    }
  } catch (e) {}
}

function startPolling() {
  fetchStatus();
  fetchLog();
  if (statusInterval) clearInterval(statusInterval);
  if (logInterval) clearInterval(logInterval);
  statusInterval = setInterval(fetchStatus, 2000);
  logInterval = setInterval(fetchLog, 4000);
}

window.onload = startPolling;
</script>
</body>
</html>

7. Cron Helper Scripts

open_door_cron.py

#!/usr/bin/python3
import requests, datetime

def log(msg):
    print(f"{datetime.datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')} - {msg}")

log("--- Cron: Requesting Door Open ---")
try:
    r = requests.post("http://127.0.0.1:5000/action/open", timeout=5)
    if r.status_code == 200:
        log("Successfully requested door open")
    elif r.status_code == 409:
        log("Service is busy – request ignored")
    else:
        log(f"Unexpected response: {r.status_code}")
except Exception as e:
    log(f"Failed: {e}")
log("--- Cron finished ---")

Create close_door_cron.py and feed_cron.py the same way — just change the URL to /action/close or /action/feed.

8. Useful Commands

# Live service logs
journalctl -u door_service_web -f

# Restart
sudo systemctl restart door_service_web

# Stop
sudo systemctl stop door_service_web

9. Safety Features

Reed switch stops opening when the door is fully open
Log-based protection prevents closing when the door is already closed
Force Open / Force Close available if the log becomes out of sync
Buttons ignore presses longer than 1.5 s (helps with water ingress)

Important: Only one process should control the GPIOs at a time. Always stop the main service before running any other script that uses the same pins.