Baby monitor - need info

[gila_dog]

I saw a post by Speckled Hen about using a baby monitor in the chicken house to hear when predators are bothering the chickens. I would like to look into this. Can anybody suggest which product(s) are good, and which aren't. Any other info about this?

Thanks.

 

[Godiva]

I use a Safety first monitor in our chicken tractors and it has been awesome. I have learned which sounds to wake up for and which ones are just chickens. I use it during the day when the weather is cold or hot and the house is closed up so I can't hear what is going on outside. I just have it on in the living area of the house so that I will hear anything too interesting. I love it! I could not sleep after the dogs got into our chicken tractors and killed a number of our chickens. Now I can even hear something prowling around in the woods nearby and this is not an expensive fancy monitor. It is a good few years old and the basic model. I actually bought a 'nicer' one recently to use for my toddler since the chickens have got his old one and the new fancy model didn't work!

I highly recommend a monitor if you have predators around and want to keep an ear on what is going on. At least you know there is something going down instead of stumbling across bodies later when you can do nothing bout it. Good luck finding one that works for you. We just tuck our monitor inside the tractor so the rain and elements can't damage it.

 

[justusnak]

I have a "safety first" as well. I love mine. My coops are several hunderd feet away from the house...and they work great! I have learned the "good" noises fromt he "bad" noises. Like a baby....you will understand thier "cries" hurt, mad, or content.

 

[speckledhen]

Of course, the first few times a rooster crows directly in your ear at 4 a.m., you'll get quite a jolt, but you get used to it.

 

[TreyClark281]

a 2 way baby mon. would be good.
my neighbor has one and it works good to keep the kids in bed lol.
you could use it to scare off the critters.

 

[gila_dog]

Do these gizmos have a "squelch" control on them, like a 2 way radio? What that does is block any sounds that are too quiet. Only louder noises are heard. I don't think I want to listen to every little sound that's coming from the barn all night long.

 

[MandyH]

Good Lord, you hear everything the first few nights. You get used to "normal" chicken noises and learn when to jump up and grab the shotgun. I have a Sony baby monitor that I used like twice with my daughter. I like it because it has a setting where you hear nothing unless it is a certain loudness. Also it is waterproof. It has been hanging on the fence near the coop for two years and still works perfectly.

 

[Picco]

WOW... I don't know how you guys could sleep with those things. I have 4 roosters who crow all night, I wouldn't be able to get a wink! Its a really awesome method of protection though. I have a friend who has a surveillance camera in is horse barn which plays the video and sound on a small TV in his living room. It works great, he can monitor pregnant mares without having to sleep in the barn.

 

[Xtradust]

I was thinking about getting one of those security cams for the coop. Harbor Freight sells them for $40 or less. They are color and have night-vision and a built-in microphone, 100 ft cord that carries the video and power, so you don't have to have power at the coop.

Then I saw the same set up at Frys Electronics, also on the web, for $27!

I'm trying to use some restraint, but this is almost too much.

Matt

 

[gila_dog]

Quote:
Thanks Kristen. Can you tell me more about your Sony baby monitor? That sounds like the one I want.