FlockGuard
Join the waitlist
Activity levels
See whether each bird's activity looks low, normal or high, compared with its own usual pattern.
Coming soon
Know how your flock is doing, even when you're not in the garden.
FlockGuard watches your hens through a camera you already own. It learns what a normal day looks and sounds like, and lets you know when something seems different.
An extra pair of eyes on the coop
You know your birds. FlockGuard helps you notice the changes you'd spot if you could watch them all day.
Noise levels
The camera's microphone picks up when the coop is unusually loud, or unusually quiet.
Simple alerts
A notification on your phone when activity stays low, noise is unusual, or the camera goes offline.
Overnight summary
Wake up to a short report on how the night went, with snapshots to look back through.
How it works
No special hardware to buy. FlockGuard uses kit you may already have.
Point a Wi-Fi camera at the run
Any home Wi-Fi camera that supports RTSP streaming. We're testing with TP-Link Tapo cameras.
Install FlockGuard on a spare computer
A Windows PC or Mac that stays switched on at home. It does the watching, so nothing has to stream video to the cloud.
Check in from your phone
Pair the FlockGuard app by scanning a QR code. See how the flock is doing and get alerts as they happen.
What FlockGuard is, and isn't
- A monitor, not a vet. It tells you when something looks different, so you can go and check. It doesn't diagnose illness.
- Live video stays at home. The camera feed is watched on your own computer, and you view it over your home Wi-Fi.
- Built by a keeper. FlockGuard is being developed and tested on a real backyard flock in the UK.
- Early days. We're looking for keepers who'd like to try it first and tell us what's missing.
Questions
When will it be available?
We're finishing the first version now. People on the waitlist will be invited to try it first, before it's generally available.
How much will it cost?
Pricing isn't decided yet. Early testers won't pay anything, and the waitlist will hear about pricing first.
Which cameras does it work with?
Wi-Fi cameras that can stream over RTSP, which includes many affordable home cameras. We're testing with TP-Link Tapo models. If you already have a camera, tell us which one when you join and we'll let you know.
Do I need to leave a computer on?
Yes. FlockGuard runs on a Windows PC or Mac at home that stays on, because that's what watches the camera. An older laptop or a small desktop is fine.
Is it just for chickens?
Chickens come first, because that's what we keep. If you keep ducks, quail or other small livestock, join the waitlist and let us know; it helps us decide what to support next.
Will it warn me about foxes?
Not in the first version. FlockGuard starts with activity and noise monitoring. Predator alerts are something we're looking at for the future.
Be one of the first to try it
Join the waitlist and we'll be in touch when early access opens.