How Sheridan Couple Invented An Automated 'Smart' Coop For Backyard Chickens

Cowboy State Daily•January 4, 2026•business

Key Points:

Dan and Jenny Berens won the 2025 Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge and a $50,000 prize for their invention, the Hen Hub, a smart-home system that automates chicken coop care through Wi-Fi connectivity and a smartphone dashboard.
The Hen Hub monitors temperature, egg presence, food and water levels, dispenses treats, and controls the coop door, designed to ease daily chores for busy families, travelers, and older chicken keepers.
Dan Berens, an architect with a design background, self-taught technical skills including Arduino microcontrollers and 3D printing to develop the product, which has secured a patent as of October.
The Energy Capital Start-Up Challenge supports local entrepreneurship as part of economic diversification