Monthly Archives: June 2010

Panasonic camera for Backyard Hencam

There are two Panasonic cameras on the hens. We’ve been working on moving the outdoor camera the last few days, trying to find the best view. The outside camera has been at one end of the run since we began this project. We mounted it about 4 feet off the ground and put a “hood” over it to protect it from the elements. What we’ve learned in the last four months, is that the hens prefer to hang out at the shady end of the run, which happens to be right under the camera! When you’ve come to Backyard Hencam to visit the chickens and the screen is empty, you’ve probably wondered, “Where are the chickens?” Well, they are, in fact, “chillin” under the camera and out of site!

New Location of Hencam

During the next week, we are going to mount the camera in different locations in the run so that you’ll be able to see the hens where they hang out during mid day. We know you want to see action, not just a blank screen.

There seems to be no place that will show you the entire coop. I told Don we could buy another camera and put one at each end. This didn’t go over too well. We had a hard time getting both cameras working on the website in the beginning so neither of us really can bear to think of adding a third.

We have moved the camera to the opposite side of the run to see how this works for viewing. We’re still experimenting. Let me know what you think!

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Rosie is balding. She’s been been getting the feathers picked off her head for some time now. Poor Rosie. She is at the bottom of the pecking order. She is also an annoying glutton, grabbing the tastiest of treats, ducking, and running away with them. See “Rosie” on Six Hens. In frustration, the other hens will peck her head, but Rosie stands her ground, treat in beak, and an absence of feathers on her head.

Chickens can be vicious. They eat meat when it is available and will practice cannibalism at times. When a flockmate is injured, other chickens will continously pick at the wound. So far, they have not drawn blood on Rosie’s head so I’ve been able to ignore the behavior.

"Pick-No-More Lotion"

In Farm Supply they sell “Rooster Booster, Pick-No-More Lotion” for $12.99. “Gads,” I thought when I picked it up, “Rosie is only worth about $20 as a laying hen! Am I really going to spend $12.99 for an ointment made to keep chickens from eating each other alive? Of course I am.”

Ointment being applied to Rosie's head

“Rooster Booster” has aloe vera and calendula for healing, and coal tar to discourage roosters from pecking the heads of their “victims”. Growing up, the old neighbor, Mr. Light, just put a glob of hot tar on the head of  chickens with peck wounds. On the label of “Rooster Booster” it says, “Not for human Use”. What are they talking about? I can’t think of any situation that would warrant “Rooster Booster”  being applied to a human!

Rosie has had two applications applied to her head thus far. I’m hoping that if the others hens will stop picking at her, the feathers on her head will grow back. I have no hope for her gluttonous behavior. That’s just Rosie.
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