I have a baby monitor in my chicken barn with the other part on my nightstand. If a predator tries to get in or anything disturbs the chickens, I can hear and investigate. Saves lots of worry.
Gosh this would have been a lot cheaper than what we have. We have cameras on the indoor and outdoor...
I'm working on a project for next summer, i have a bug zapper i got from a garage sale i'm planning on removing the bottom so the bugs fall out when they get zapped and hanging it in my chicken run this summer.
What a great idea. When the hens hear that ZAP, I bet they come running!
4. When building your coop/run, consider creating an area that could easily isolate chickens (sick, new, etc). This is easier done before you have a sick chick than trying to create a separate area and care for a sick bird at the same time. Or will help when you realize you need new chickens...
Use astro turf to line nest boxes. You can shake it out when it gets dirty or squirt it with a hose. The hens don't care that it is plastic and not "natural". So much easier to keep nest boxes and eggs clean!