ChickenCam was created because I feared the chickens were plotting against me. Here’s how I subverted them with a Raspberry Pi based solution.

Requirements

• Raspberry Pi
• Camera without IR filter
• Weatherproof extension cord + Outlet tap
• 3D enclosure, specially fitted
• Infrared illuminator
• USB microphone
• Chickens
• Too much time on your hands

1. Setup Raspberry Pi

Plug in the USB microphone, install new image of Raspbian, and attach the camera. Setup the camera using raspi-config and then setup the following.

2. Setup Wifi

Make sure this WiFi will work outside.

sudo vim /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

network={
  ssid="SOMETHING"
  psk="PASSWORD"
}

3. Download packages

sudo apt-get install apcalc python3 python3-setuptools zsh \
    openssh-server openssh-client tree git vim htop python3-pyaudio \
    python3-pil python3-numpy python3-rpio.gpio lame imagemagick

4. Setup audio

sudo nano /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf scroll down until you find the lines

defaults.ctl.card 0
defaults.pcm.card 0

and change them to

defaults.ctl.card 1
defaults.pcm.card 1

5. Install Go

Download Go1.7+ and install.

6. Build enclosure

Here’s mine:

7. Start chicken monitoring

On the Raspberry Pi, do the following:

git clone https://github.com/schollz/chickencam.git
cd chickencam
nano conf.py # edit SERVER_LOCATION with the your particular server
go build -o sunset
sudo python3 main.py

8. Start web server

This should be done on the server (which can also be the raspberry pi):

git clone https://github.com/schollz/chickencam.git
cd chickencam/server
go build
./server

9. Enjoy your chickens popping in to say hello

10. There is no step 10