Protecting Your Chicken Coop with a Camera: Tips and Tricks

Chickens can be great sources of food and a lot of fun. You can raise them for meat, fresh eggs, pest control and natural fertilizer–plus they can help reduce the amount of waste that you produce by feeding them food scraps and they can be companions that help reduce anxiety and depression.

That said, chickens, like all animals, do need regular attention. They need a consistent supply of fresh food and clear water, and ideally a way to leave their coops and roam. On top of that, coops need cleaning and regular health checks.

Keeping a watchful eye on your chickens requires time and dedication–something that can be easier with a wireless cellular outdoor security camera. A security camera for animals like chickens can act as your eyes and ears, keeping you updated on conditions with your flock and offering peace of mind and valuable insights into your flock's daily life, from hatching to maturity. Let's look at how to use a wireless security camera to monitor your flock and coop, no matter how big or small it is.

1. Predator protection: Real-time monitoring in a convenient app so you can see predators approaching a coop, and alerts and notifications when motion is detected.
2. Health monitoring: Keep an eye on the health and behavior of your chickens over time, identifying any signs of illness or distress early on.
3. Egg production: You can check for eggs without entering the coop, making collection a breeze and minimizing disturbance to your chickens.
4. Monitor outdoor access: Have an automatic door? Positioning a camera to see the automatic door can tell you when it opens and closes, and let you have peace of mind that there are no malfunctions or obstructions. Plus, you can make sure the entire flock is safe inside the coop at night before the door closes.
5. Daily check-ins: With a security camera, you can monitor daily activities even when you are away to get insight into feeding and social interactions.
6. Entertainment: Watching your flock is fun, and checking in on them during the day to observe their movements, interactions, and behaviors can be better than TV.
7. Nighttime surveillance: Low-glow IR capabilities in the Tactacam DEFEND Camera allow you to monitor your chickens after dark to ensure their safety.
8. Documentation and evidence collection: Should something happen to your chickens, your wireless surveillance camera will allow you to review motion-activated images.
9. Food and water levels: Cameras can be positioned so they can help you monitor feed and water supplies.

The correct camera placement goes a long way when setting up your coop. How many cameras you have and where you position them will be determined by the size and placement of your coop, and what you are trying to see with your cameras.

• Outdoor run: Install a security camera with a view of the outdoor area so you can  watch for predators before they get in. This also helps you observe foraging behaviors.
• Hatching and brooding: Position the camera above the brooder box or incubator for a clear view of eggs and newly hatched chicks. Note the need to monitor the location of the heat lamp.
• Growing chicks: Mount the camera in a corner so you can see feeding, drinking, and social interactions. Adjust the camera so it has a view of the entire floor space and any perches or play areas.
• Adult chickens: If your coop is large enough, place the camera so it faces the nest boxes so you can see when eggs are laid (ideally the camera should be several feet away from the areas you want to monitor). A camera can also be positioned so it captures imagery from roosting bars, feeding areas, and pop doors.

• Mount cameras at a height that allows you to view your animals. One or two cameras should be sufficient for watching the coop from multiple angles.
• Mount a camera outside the coop to keep watch for any predators.
• Ensure the coop door is in one of the camera’s fields of view to make sure it opens and closes and that there aren’t any chickens outside after the door shuts at night.
• Ensure there are no obstacles in the field of view.
• If using a solar panel, ensure it is placed so it can receive direct sunlight.
• Use weatherproof cameras for outdoor installations.
• Keep motion detection on but change notifications so you don’t receive alerts all day. Consider turning motion detection on at night, or for the outside camera, so you can be notified if a predator approaches.

Depending on where your coop is and where you live, predators may be one of your most pressing problems. Raccoons, coyotes, foxes, possums, skunks, snakes, owls, dogs, rats, badgers, owls, and birds of prey all prey on chickens. And let’s not forget bears.

Wireless cellular security cameras can act as your low-cost around-the-clock security team, keeping your flock safe.

1. Motion detection: Position a camera outside the chicken coop to capture any predators approaching, especially at night.
2. Turn on motion activation and push alerts so you get instant notifications if someone or something approaches the coop.

Optimize your camera settings: The DEFEND has customizable app settings, meaning you can customize multiple features to fit your chicken coop security needs day and night.

For large coops:

• Use several cameras to cover different areas such as nesting areas, roosting areas, and the outdoor run.
• Use at least one camera outside the coop to guard against predators approaching.

For small coops:

• A single well-placed camera inside may suffice. Position it to capture the entire interior.
• Consider using a camera outside to guard against predators approaching.

Wireless cellular surveillance cameras offer unprecedented insight into your flock and coop. From the ability to check water levels to the wonder of watching the miracle of a hatch, security cameras for chicken coops provide valuable information and peace of mind.