Chicken Kitty Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 After poor Clover was taken by Mr fox last weekend we have been trying to work out how we can monitor our 'fox situation'. We have never seen a fox in the garden during the day, and only once at dawn bc (before chickens!). We live on the edge of a village with miles of fields behind us, so we know foxes are about and have heard them barking in the distance at night. I read every post on the 'Fox Attacks' thread, hoping to find a magic solution, which of course there isn't. So in order to see exactly what is out and about in our garden between dust and dawn we decided to buy a wildlife camera! It is motion activated with three sensors that cover an angle of 120 degrees and will take photos (or video) up to 60ft, day/night. It arrived today and I installed it whilst my girls were FR, I turned around to find them all standing in a line behind me, heads to one side, watching me and no doubt thinking "What is she doing now!?" I am quite intrigued to see what, if anything, happens in our garden at night. Obviously I am hoping that Mr fox is an occasional vistor.....I guess we will soon see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 That sounds really interesting, you might be surprised at what visitors you get, you'll have to post pictures on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Definitely keep us posted. I quite fancy doing that myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Kitty Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 Well it appears that Mr fox visited our garden THREE times last night!!! 2.30am, 3am and just before 4am! He obviously didn't hang around though as the sensors were only triggered once for each visit. I guess he was just having a look hoping to get lucky. Thank goodness our girls were safely locked in the WIR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Wow, how revealing. At least you know now & can always take precautions. So glad your girls were safe this time but sorry to hear about Clover Id love to get some cameras set up in my garden to see what goes on. There is a badger set, deer & foxes. Where did you get your set up and what does it consist of, if you don't mind me asking!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Kitty Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 Hi Gertie, We bought it on Amazon, it cost £114, (we also bought rechargable batteries for it!) but it is something that we have talked about getting before as we think we have heard badgers in the field behind us and would love to see what is 'out and about' when we are asleep! It's 12MP and can be programmed to take photos or video (colour during the day, black and white at night), throughout the day and night or over a timed period. We have set ours to take 2 photographs very time the sensors are triggered between 8pm and 7.30am. From what I have read it can also be programmed to take 'time lapse' photos to record things like flowers opening etc. Apart form using it to monitor Mr fox, I am sure we will have lots of fun experimenting with it! Last nights photos were a bit grainy, in my haste to install it I hadn't read the bit in the manual that said it is best to position it between 3ft - 6ft up, so I have now raised it to about 4ft and we will see what tonight brings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfnirvana Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 We installed Chook cam too last year, and apart from recording loads and loads of rabbits running around, we now know there is a fox that trotts past our hedge (with the Omlet Cube the other side) every morning at 3.00 am. Their cube is surrounded by an electric fence which we keep on all the time and I'm pretty sure Mr Fox would have tried that a few times. Now it seems he ignores it, but it's always good to know what your "enemies" are doing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 This sounds like a fabulous idea! Can anyone recommend an idiot-proof brand? (for the gadget-challenged with absolutely no photography skill/understanding)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Kitty Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 I quite agree Surfnirvana, I'd rather know too! Merlina, the one we have is super-easy! It's an Acorn Ltl-5210 (12MP) Scouting Camera. Mr fox didn't visit at all last night, I'm sure he'll be back tonight though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Thanks chicken kitty, Im definitely going to get one of those. Can't wait to see what's going on in my garden. I expect my cats will just endlessly trigger it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
