Using Webcam to Monitor Hen Incubating Eggs

[centrarchid]

I just set up a camera enabling me to see what is going on from anywhere in the world in real time. I want to record everything using time-lapse photography so times on and off nest can be tracked. Very interesting activity is already being observed.

Anyone played around with such?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No but interested in your observations. Does she get off once a day and if so for how long and what is the temperature there. (I imagine that affects how long they'll stay off the nest.)
I had a couple setters hatch eggs recently and toward the end, I noticed one of them only came off the nest every other day. At least there was only one broody poop every other day.

 

[centrarchid]

No but interested in your observations. Does she get off once a day and if so for how long and what is the temperature there. (I imagine that affects how long they'll stay off the nest.)
I had a couple setters hatch eggs recently and toward the end, I noticed one of them only came off the nest every other day. At least there was only one broody poop every other day.

Once daily is all I can see owing to work schedule. This weekend I will be around more. In past once daily was typical except when ambient temperature warm then two sometimes three times off. Once pipping begins they seem to not come of nest unless disturbed or food very close.

Duration also a function of how quickly hen can realize crop fill through foraging. When feed is very easy to get time off nest can be less than 30 minutes. When free-range forages are sole food supply then hen can stay off nest for two ours at a time even when temperature below freezing. Latter situation adds to incubation time required before hatch.


I am very close to you so patterns should be similar.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Cool. I've seen variations too but haven't documented. I have seen a protracted hatch where the hen didn't move for days and shed at least 3 broody stools in the back of the nest. What a mess.

 

[centrarchid]

Mine have not produced stools in nest, unless sick or overly confined. Even roosters when on nest do not defecate which for them is not natural. Chicks and juveniles poop all night long.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Perhaps it was cause she was a first timer. I've never seen it before and was shocked.

This is a mirror image of the broody apartment she was in (on the other end of the building). This one is a black leghorn but the one that defecated in the nest the last 3 days was a black penedesenca.

 

[centrarchid]

She is in tighter confines than I use for hens in breeder pens. Most of my mine have to fly four feet up and down to nest when in pens. The free-range hens go at least 50 feet from nest to deficate, are very sneaky as leaving nest, and often produce a crowing sound once some distance from nest. It is easy to pick a broody hen out of a flock as she forages because she appears frantic.

 

[centrarchid]

I had no idea a broody hen moved around on the nest so much. Even my tamest hens when observed in person are very good at impersonating statues. She preens frequently, replaces her feet and rolls eggs multiple times each day.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

She is in tighter confines than I use for hens in breeder pens. Most of my mine have to fly four feet up and down to nest when in pens. The free-range hens go at least 50 feet from nest to deficate, are very sneaky as leaving nest, and often produce a crowing sound once some distance from nest. It is easy to pick a broody hen out of a flock as she forages because she appears frantic.

They usually have the door open to a foraging pen most days. So true about the frantic nature while off the nest.

I had no idea a broody hen moved around on the nest so much. Even my tamest hens when observed in person are very good at impersonating statues. She preens frequently, replaces her feet and rolls eggs multiple times each day.

I was wondering that too, that's all that egg turning.
They are so sensitive and they can feel me walking up to the building and that's when they go still.

 

[Hugeroost]

I just set up a camera enabling me to see what is going on from anywhere in the world in real time. I want to record everything using time-lapse photography so times on and off nest can be tracked. Very interesting activity is already being observed.

Anyone played around with such?

I am interested in putting some kind of camera like this on my entrance gate at my ranch, I actually live about 30 miles away and want to monitor who is coming up to my gate. Do you just pull it up on your laptop, I would also like it to take a pic or two when someone pulls up, and email it to me, can you give me some info on this, like how much it cost, what do I need to buy, thanks, Roost