Security Help? (Camera suggestions)

[rdilbarova]

Hey guys- just had a predator attack and kill four of my hens. Usually the run is pretty secure but with the snow we have been getting, the top netting and part of the fence fell apart. I was going to wait until everything melted to fix it, but I guess I thought wrong- never thought predators were prevalent in my area. Again, was wrong.
Anyway, I woke up to a very confusing scenario- 1 dead body in a neighbors yard, 1 body in chunks all over the yard, 2 missing. I would like to install a security camera with night vision, does anyone have any suggestions that are less than 100 dollars?


Ps. I am thinking coon, but the prints that I found seemed to have 3 fingers, weird.
For now, I cannot do anything to upgrade security too much. I used to have a free swinging door that the hens could open and let themselves out with in the morning but that is over. I attached latches to every door and put a masterlock on the latches (because raccoon's reputations precede them), and I am just keeping the 4 that are left cooped up until something can be done.

 

[blucoondawg]

There should be some lower end game cameras for around that price or less but they likely won't be night vision more like a camera with flash which will do the job for you just fine

 

[jetdog]

Was at dicks sporting goods and they have all game camera's on sale wild game innovation with video and night vision $69 same with the moultrie.

 

[theoldchick]

You'll have to get out there and see what camera does the job you need it to do. The higher the price usually means more options (confusing at times) and quality of photos.










Moultrie camera

 

[rdilbarova]

There should be some lower end game cameras for around that price or less but they likely won't be night vision more like a camera with flash which will do the job for you just fine

How would the flash work? Wouldn't it just scare away anything there?

Was at dicks sporting goods and they have all game camera's on sale wild game innovation with video and night vision $69 same with the moultrie.

Gonna go check that out!

You'll have to get out there and see what camera does the job you need it to do. The higher the price usually means more options (confusing at times) and quality of photos.










Moultrie camera

What camera are those pics from?

 

[4 the Birds]

Cameras can be a fun way to check up on things but I would spend the 100 bucks on a strong mesh for the run top or even add some solid roofing. This way you can keep out predators instead of capturing images of them getting to your chickens!

 

[theoldchick]

You'll have to get out there and see what camera does the job you need it to do. The higher the price usually means more options (confusing at times) and quality of photos.










Moultrie camera

You can see the manufacturer in the lower left of the photograph.

 

[rdilbarova]

Cameras can be a fun way to check up on things but I would spend the 100 bucks on a strong mesh for the run top or even add some solid roofing. This way you can keep out predators instead of capturing images of them getting to your chickens!

Ohhhhh, trust me- I am going all out on the security as soon as this snow gets a chance to melt. Wires dug into the ground, netting on top, everything. Until the snow melts I have them in the coop locked with a Masterlock.

You can see the manufacturer in the lower left of the photograph.

Thank you!

 

[blucoondawg]

The flash may spook off your varmint temporarily but not before getting a picture of it, I have an old Moultrie camera with flash we used for deer hunting and deer are more leary than a chicken predator, we got pictures of deer on it, however I don't care to use a flash camera for deer hunting anymore. If it did scare off you critter for good I guess that would be an added bonus. The modern game cameras have a feature most call blackout which means they don't have any lights on them at all when taking pictures at night. The Moultrie at Wal Mart this past hunting season with that feature ran around 170 or 180. I don't know what they cost right now. Then there are the mid range cameras which have a infra red light that comes on rather than a regular flash.

 

[rdilbarova]

The flash may spook off your varmint temporarily but not before getting a picture of it, I have an old Moultrie camera with flash we used for deer hunting and deer are more leary than a chicken predator, we got pictures of deer on it, however I don't care to use a flash camera for deer hunting anymore. If it did scare off you critter for good I guess that would be an added bonus. The modern game cameras have a feature most call blackout which means they don't have any lights on them at all when taking pictures at night. The Moultrie at Wal Mart this past hunting season with that feature ran around 170 or 180. I don't know what they cost right now. Then there are the mid range cameras which have a infra red light that comes on rather than a regular flash.

Oh, got it! My big motivation for getting the camera is to be able to see the predators interacting with my run/ coop to see any potential holes/ weak spots in security. The chickens will be 100% secure at night, but there is a chance they can get them in the day when they are in the run, so I want to be able to patch any holes up, etc before anything happens.