Wireless cameras for checking on pregnant does..has anyone done this?

[coondog]

Has anyone hooked up wireless cameras to watch for signs of kidding?

[yarrow]

I've been sitting in my recliner watching a rather boring episode of "How the Pregnant Goat Moans" all evening. No one is really due for 6 more days, but I'm spending a few nights, just watching everyone...seeing where they lay, what position they usually lay in. (hope it will help me not make so many flying false baby runs, to the barn ) I just bought a cheap two camera, wireless set from wally world. It's working fine. Took a bit to get the angles I wanted, but were super easy to set up and pretty inexpensive. I've got a baby monitor hooked up to hear any sneaky pushing sounds... I will be sleeping in the tv room, with an alarm clock set for every hour and the tv tuned to the goat channel.
susie, mo ozarks

[coondog]

lol
Have you tried hooking it to the internet before to check them away from home?

[DocM]

I have cameras. If you do this, don't bother with the infrared type, the image in the dark is only good for about 3-5' in front of the camera, meaning you have to mount it where the goats can reach it. I have two mounted high enough that I can pan the entire pen area from either side and I simply leave lights on in the barn. The wireless have a limited range, they start cutting out after 500' or so, even though they're rated for 1000. If you have in unimpeded line of sight you may get better coverage but I have trees. I also have microphones (not baby monitors) in place - these are actually more effective, as the other goats tend to make noise when one is birthing. Even with all the technology, I miss a grand majority of the births because they usually happen between 7-10AM and the goats simply wait until I run to the house for more coffee or to pee. Check on amazon for pricing.

[coso]

Yep, Got mine off of e-bay. Comes in right handy. You can wake up flip on the TV, if nothing is happening go back to sleep. I got mine when I had 23 does kidding one spring. I would set my alarm, get up, pull some coveralls on, walk out to the barn, two or three times a night. Get's really tiring after while,especially when you have to get up and go to work the next morning. I just got one camera and would put the girls I thought might kid on the side of the barn that the camera was on. You do have to leave some light on though like DocM said.

[topside1]

Cameras would be great, depends on your budget I guess. I have used a baby monitor for the past three years and have never missed a kidding (even the 2 am ones). Guess it depends on your individual barn setup, and distance from your house...Maybe one day cameras...My 2 cents

[coso]

I think I got mine for about $60.00. Never had any problem with it. My barn is only about 35 yard or so from the back of the house so I didn't have any trouble with that. But you would have to think about it.

[dbarjacres]

I have a wireless camera with the small bl/wh monitor I bought a couple years ago that's been used twice that I'll sell you really cheap! Our goat shed is all steel with a steel roof, which the receiver doesn't pick up real well, lots of fiddling, but works good when I can get it in. $50 includes the shipping to your house! Paid $125 for it.

[hoofinitnorth]

OOOOHHH! I have to go to Wally World today anyway, thanks for telling me they carry them! I had been looking on eBay. Thanks DocM for the warning about the infrareds too. I know Costco carries some but they are mostly out of my price range.

The trouble I'm seeing with the ones available online, though, are that they aren't meant to operate at temps. below -4F. Now I don't PLAN to have anyone kidding in those temps but it's nice to have it functional all year 'round to check on all the goats without having to go outdoors in that YUCK at 3AM. The other issue is I need it to be operational at about 300' (most are) and I can't break the bank. Yep, wireless with a good battery pack that works in cold weather would be a HUGE help to me!!!

[Terre d'Esprit]

I have a cam, and it's tuned into the same program as yarrow today. Mine is hosted by marestare, so that I can watch it over the internet while I am at work. I also have sound for mine.

I just have an inexpensive USB camera hooked up to a laptop in the barn, which is connected wirelessly to my network in the house. We had to buy a direct beam antenna ("cantenna") and that was about it.

One thing I will caution you on is that the goats will find ANY way to get at your camera if there are wires or anything strange looking about it. I have gone through three cameras since I have been doing this, hence the CHEAP usb camera.

I am toying with the idea of getting a wireless network cam, which would connect wirelessly to the network without needing a laptop in the barn, but they are expensive, and I am not sure I want to take the chance that it will work. I have a metal barn.

[hoofinitnorth]

Hahahaha, I have a little thermometer sensor in the doe stall and one my does always high-marks the walls trying to get at it. Every couple of weeks she knocks it down and sniffs it, then just ignores it. Silly goat! It's electronic and does not appear to pose any threat to the goats but I may just move the mount to the ceiling to be safe!

I looked at Wally World today (and Lowe's and Home Depot, neither of which had anything). They had decent color, night-vision (all had night vision so it wasn't a choice), wireless set-ups for between $86 and $140 here. The more expensive ones usually had 2 cameras per one receiver. I was trying to figure out which ones could run the camera off a reliable battery pack vs. an AC adapter but Wally World had them all locked up on their little displays so you couldn't easily flip the package over to read the back (unless you hung upside-down for a while, lol) and there was no getting help without a 30-minute wait. Well at least I am armed with the info. so I can start budgeting. I think I might take a chance with a little cheaper system off eBay before my first doe is due to kid in April.

[Alice In TX/MO]

With the wireless setup.... do you have to have clear line of sight between the camera and the receiver? I've got a garage and lots of trees in the way.

[coondog]

possibly not on the clear line. how far is it?

if you cant use wireless you could try using a wired setup.

[Terre d'Esprit]

I have mostly clear line, but I need the cantenna because it focuses the connection in a concentrated area from the house to the barn. I would have also bought a cantenna for the laptop in the barn. My son calls it the death ray. It looks like a telescope that beams the signal toward the barn, rather than just "around" from an antenna. You might be okay if it's not completely blocked.

Also, you might be able to relay the signal from the barn to the garage then to the house.

Be very careful with ethernet wired outside. It attracts lightning, even when buried.

One solution, albeit expensive, is to run a USB camera to a computer in your barn, and hook that camera up to a cellular modem. Then there is no need to run it to the house.

Verizon modems are getting less expensive every day, and their unlimited bandwidth package is $59.99 a month, I think.

It's definitely expensive, but if you have the money it's a good workaround for the obstructions.

Good luck.

[coondog]

what would be cool is too run a solar powered server!!!

[horsehelper]

I have an old (1997) wired system as I have a steel barn, and wouldn't trade it for anything. My DH has it permanently wired into the house, and the monitor sets right beside my computer, so I can watch them night and day...yeah, I sleep in the recliner too. Mine runs off an RJ11 phone wire, but most now work on coaxial cable with RCA plug ins to work on any TV or VCR. It has saved me an immense amount of trips to the barn, plus I love watching the goats and/or sheep interacting when no one is around. My daughter has a wireless, and it does well for her also.
If you have the chance to get one, I would definately recommend one. If nothing else, it gives you a great sense of security to know what's going on out there,....even if it IS NOTHING. I've got 5 goats and 3 sheep due this month that aren't cooperating yet. It doesn't help the frustration a bit!!

[coso]

Rose, My receiver is by the TV in the master bedroom. So it goes through the house wall get's around/through the well house, goes through the barn. My barn is 100' long and it is about half way into it. They do say if you have a metal barn that it really cuts' down on how far you can put the receiver and camera apart. Just what I've heard.