Anyone use a baby monitor to listen to their birds?

[gallusdomesticus]

My wife thinks I'm a little psychotic to put a baby monitor in the coop so I can monitor the girls at night in case a predator tries getting in the hen house. Am I the only one 'psychotic' enough to do this? I be interested if there is anyone else out there that monitors their chickens this way.

 

[Destinee's Dozen]

We have a baby monitor in ours too!

 

[teach1rusl]

I don't use one, but I've considered it!!

We did install a motion light right above the area where the run is attached to the coop though....lol. It makes me feel much more secure!

 

[Jonathanq1]

I have also considered this as well for now all I have is a motion light, but I think it's a great idea

 

[ivan3]

gallusdomesticus wrote: My wife thinks I'm a little psychotic to put a baby monitor in the coop so I can monitor the girls at night in case a predator tries getting in the hen house.

I would think it wise to defer clinical judgment unless you start to receive instructions over the monitor from `satan' in the coop, at which time firing away with the Haldol and Cogentin would be indicated.

As it is, if one is awake and at home, a monitor is very useful diagnostic tool for indicating when to go dose the raccoons, etc. with lead.

We've been using a $20.00 Safety First monitor for the past five years. The girls growl/whine, roo gives out with soft barks - time to grab the spotlight and rifle. Monitor is also useful for catching any unusual respiratory issues early (wheezing, sneezing, gurgling...).

Takes a couple of weeks to identify all the `normal' roosting vocabulary (they don't sleep all night - they jockey and growl at one another - they preen, etc.). After a bit it is very easy to identify the unusual.

Probably the most interesting vocalizations we've heard are the chooks `chortling' in unison just before it starts to rain (something about their jungle origin?).​

 

[Msbear]

Really neat info, Ivan

 

[poultrygeist]

I agree with bocomo!

 

[poultrygeist]

Two days in a row they knew something was out there! They made that purring ,cooing sound that tells me, time to roll. Sure 'nough once a great horned owl and once a smaller unidentified as yet hawk. They really don't want to mess with these chicks! SORRY i forgot to mention that I was eves dropping.

 

[8wishbonechicks]

Hey! We have an old baby monitor. We have a privacy fence around our property then a wired fence around the coop. I know this doesn't stop predators from digging under the fence, so the monitor sounds like a good idea. My husband mentioned of an electric fence on the outside of our privacy fence, so our girls are safe on the inside. I like finding good info in these forums, thank you everyone.

 

[TipsyDog]

Who doesn't use a monitor?? Another crazy chicken psycho here

They make so many cute sounds all night. I do wake up and turn it off about 5 AM every morning 'cause that's when it starts getting alittle loud out there!