Best Chicken Coop Cameras for Safety and Surveillance

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In this article, we’ll run by you some of the best chicken coop cameras for safety and surveillance. This will help to keep your precious chickens and eggs safe at all times.

Many things can threaten your chicken coop, from wild animals to thieves wishing to steal your eggs and chickens. That’s why it’s imperative you get a camera to ensure the safety of your coop at all times.

At a Glance

The Top 6 Chicken Coop Cameras in 2021

1. Zmodo Outdoor Security Camera Wireless (ZM-W0002-2) – Best Non-Battery Camera 

The wireless Zmodo outdoor security camera is a great choice for anyone who needs to keep an eye on their chickens. Simply mount it where you want, download the Zmodo app, and you’re good to go, as easy as that.

Now, since the camera has AI-powered technology, it can detect and recognize the source of the disturbance, be it a human, animal, or car. Then, once the camera detects motion, the app will notify you with an image of the cause, and clicking on that image will take you to the app to show you a short video that details what happened. 

Another great thing about this camera is that it has 20 IR LEDs which allows you to see up to 20 meters in the dark. And don’t worry about placing the camera outside. Since it’s completely weatherproof, it’ll function in any temperature from -10° C to 50° C. 

Pros 

• Easy to set up
• Weatherproof
• Comes with an optional cloud service for video storage and back-up 
• Works with Alexa
• The app has multi-channel viewing 

Cons 

• The video quality isn’t that good
• Needs to be plugged into a power source 

Final Take

All in all, the Zmodo outdoor security camera will keep your chickens safe as it will give an alert whenever it detects something nearby.

2. WYZE Cam Outdoor – Best Rechargeable Camera 

For an absolutely wireless but affordable camera, the Wyze Cam Outdoor should be your go-to. That’s because it runs on  2x-2,600 mAh rechargeable batteries that can last for months and months. 

Accordingly, you can mount it anywhere you want even if that place doesn’t have a power source, and this, in addition to it being weatherproof, makes it ideal for chicken coops.

Still, the best thing about this camera is that it uses Passive Infrared technology for motion detection. This means that you’ll only be alerted when something actually happens, unlike other cameras that continually send out false alarms.  

Pros 

• Has good-quality night vision that allows you to see for more than 20-/meters 
• Great battery life
• Great image quality 
• Free 2-week cloud storage 

Cons 

• Has only 32GB storage 
• Doesn’t have the option of motion detection zones 

Final Take

If you don’t have a power source nearby, the Wyze Cam Outdoor will be your boon as it will allow you to see all you want by simply opening the app.

3. Blink XT Home Security Camera System – 1st Gen – Best Non-Rechargeable Camera 

Another exceptional wireless camera to have is the Blink XT 1st gen. This camera runs on standard, non-rechargeable 2AA lithium batteries that can last for two whole years with normal use. Besides, once they run out, you can easily get new batteries, non-rechargeable or rechargeable, and the camera will work as it once did.

One thing to note is that the cloud storage is totally free with Blink, unlike with other cameras. Still, keep in mind that even though you can connect up to 10 Blink cameras to a single base station, you’ll only be able to view one camera at a time on the app. 

Pros 

• No cloud subscription costs 
• Its software barely has any bugs, and the system is rarely down
• Waterproof
• You can reduce recording times and delay successive recordings, which help to save on battery life a lot
• Has night vision and LED illumination
• Works with Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, and Echo Dot

Cons 

• The camera has a short-range to its base station
• The motion sensor can sometimes be too sensitive or not sensitive enough 
• You can’t tell when the battery is close to running out

Final Take

This Blink XT camera will keep your chickens safe during the day and at night for a long time, but keep in mind that you need to adjust its motion sensitivity well to avoid missing something major or getting too many false alerts. 

4. Reolink Argus Eco Outdoor Wireless Camera – Most Eco-Friendly 

The Reolink Argus Eco camera should be your pick for any easily rechargeable wireless camera. Not only can you charge its batteries using a universal 5V 2A phone adapter, but you can also get a non-stop power supply with the Reolink solar panels (sold separately). 

Normally, the battery will last you for about six months, but with the solar panels, the camera will keep on working technically forever as long as the weather isn’t cloudy and rainy. 

Pros 

• You can view videos of the last 7 days for free on the clod
• Easy to set-up the camera and solar panels 
• Great image-quality
• Produces alarms and has two-way talk
• Can be charged by solar panels and phone adaptors  

Cons 

• Faulty motion detection that makes camera record too late 
• Setting up motion trigger areas isn’t an option 

Final Take

This camera makes for a great surveillance system that can run for a very long time as long as you’ve got some sunshine.

5. Reolink Argus 100% Wire-Free Camera – Best for Two-Way Talk 

Another great product from Roelink is the Argus 100%wire-free camera. While this camera doesn’t support solar panels, its batteries can last for up to six months, and it can even support rechargeable batteries.

Moreover, once the batteries are nearing their end, the battery icon will turn red, and you’ll also get a notification to make sure you remedy the issue.

Still, you should consider this camera’s PIR motion sensor during set-up as it’s less sensitive to back and forth movements than side-to-side ones.

Moreover, keep in mind that it can only save the video recording to an SD card, which can be stolen, therefore removing all proof that someone or something was near your coop or home. 

Pros 

• Good night vision
• Allows two-way talk 
• Weatherproof 
• East to install and move around 

Cons 

• Only supports a 2.4Ghz WiFi connection 
• Supports a maximum of 64gb SD card

Final Take

For a good battery-powered outdoor camera, this Reolink Argus camera will do the trick and last you for a considerable amount of time. 

6. Netatmo Security Camera Outdoor – Best Alert System 

If you’d like a surveillance camera that can also function as an alert system and a light in the dark, then the Netatmo security camera is the one for you. It allows you to set up alert zones and will provide you with different notifications according to the type of intruder.

Moreover, you can transform it into a light that can be used to scare an integer or simply light your way at night. This, coupled with its 100° field view and 20 meter-range detection makes it great for keeping an eye on your house, coop, and belongings.

Pros 

• Allows alert zones and events 
• No subscription cost 
• Functions as a lighting system 
• Gas SD, Dropbox, and FTP storage options 

Cons 

• Occasionally disconnects after detecting something

Final Take

For an all-around security system with lighting capabilities and accurate alerts, the Netatmo camera will be your best bet.

What Features to Look for When Buying a Camera for Coop Safety and Surveillance? 

Surveillance cameras nowadays come with various tempting features and specifications. However, when choosing a camera to survey a chicken coop, you only need to focus on the following three features.

Fast Motion Activation

Numerous security cameras are often returned because of their delay in recording videos. That’s why you need to find a camera that can promptly record what’s happening while it’s happening, not when it’s about to end. 

Good Night Vision and Illumination 

Buy a camera that comes with a floodlight as well as IR sensors to make sure no intruder, human or animal, is sneaking in at night. Moreover, not only will the floodlights allow you to see well, but they can also double as a way to scare said intruder when it comes on suddenly.

Appropriate Field of View 

If your coop is small, then you don’t really need a camera with a wide field of view, and you can stick with a camera that has 100 view angles. However, when surveilling large spaces, you need a camera with a much larger angle, anywhere starting from 150 degrees and up. 

Conclusion

Numerous cameras on the market can be used nowadays for chicken coop safety and surveillance.

Just make sure that it’s waterproof in case you’ll be lacing outside and determine whether you want a battery-powered camera or not. You’ll be able to keep your chickens safe and sound. 

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