My hens are getting ready to lay?!

[iwiw60]

4 chicken about 5 nesting boxes. maybe it can be they need curtains. Other chicken hop in the box and check to see what the fuss is all about lol. but they sit in and move the hay make loud weird noises and then the leave and act like nothing happened lol

With just 4 hens you really only need 2 nesting boxes. Thought I'd mention that just in case you need to make more room in your coop...

 

[iwiw60]

Get a baby monitor and set it in the coop. I got cheap surveillance cameras at Walmart when mine were young…placed one in coop could see who entered nests and hear them…but behind privacy curtains of course. Too much fun, never got any house duties done during those days.

Exactly! That's what I did and I can relate when you said ...never got any house duties done....

Here's a pic of mine:


It's great! I can be on the other side of the house and all of a sudden I'll hear the Egg Song blasting away!!

 

[aart]

Quote: Which brand / model cameras did you get?

 

[sunflour]

Which brand / model cameras did you get?

Uniden---bought them spring 2013 on a close out. came with small 3x5 monitor and 2 cameras/weatherproof. Worked so well, went out of town to another Walmart and bought their last ones in clearance. The monitor screen is small, but you can see detail.

But I also just added an IP Camera, so I can watch them from any location and love it. DH said I only got that to make sure he is on time with daily chicken tending!

IP camera prices are coming down, making them more affordable, and bet the regular surveillance systems have as well.

 

[sunflour]

Exactly! That's what I did and I can relate when you said ...never got any house duties done....

Here's a pic of mine:


It's great! I can be on the other side of the house and all of a sudden I'll hear the Egg Song blasting away!!

Glad you are enjoying it….let the house stay dirty, it will wait….but the EGGCITEMENT won't!

 

[aart]

Quote: Thanks! Do you know which model you have?

I plan on going to Best Buy and find a system that will run thru my router to my laptop instead of the ones that run thru 'the cloud' as I have no signal here and no smart phone or similar device. I want something that has software that will record and has good reviewing capabilities.

Not sure that what I want exists or will be affordable, but I'll ask the pros and find out. I don't understand quite enough to evaluate them by browsing online.

 

[sunflour]

Thanks! Do you know which model you have?

I plan on going to Best Buy and find a system that will run thru my router to my laptop instead of the ones that run thru 'the cloud' as I have no signal here and no smart phone or similar device. I want something that has software that will record and has good reviewing capabilities.

Not sure that what I want exists or will be affordable, but I'll ask the pros and find out. I don't understand quite enough to evaluate them by browsing online.

The Uniden is UDW155 - old model and was closeout, not likely available. But can be attached to play thru windows/pc..not mac compatible. can record video/photos but poor quality, low resolution. use 4 cameras for monitoring while at home --- can tell if all are ok and that coop/run perimeter is not breeched.

My IP camera is SHARX SCNC3905, bought directly from the SHARX folks, was the best price I found and they had a special $100 off…..but the software provided isn't high tech. But resolution for live views is awesome. There are a lot of reviews on Amazon I read before ordering elsewhere. But it has a memory/dvd card in it and you can set it to record video or photos and review, save to computer or delete. The folks recommend you get a permanent ID address from a third party cause some home wireless systems cause it to change. I have not done that, don't wanna. But have been using mine since first of August with no issues. I'm not computer tech savvy, but my husband is, and he was able to get camera up and running with the booklet that came with it.

If you have not done so already, take a look at HENCAM blog…they have IP streaming for public view..awesome. Look at the FAQ , they show what their cameras are and give starting info on what it's all about……but I searched those and they were $$$$$$$, mine was about $300 total for the SHARX.