Flock Safety Benefits

Flock Safety works with HOAs, neighborhoods, businesses, property management firms, law enforcement agencies and towns. The company’s ALPR technology helps police automate investigative leads and reduce parking lot crimes, home break-ins, banned guests, and vehicle and property theft.

Flock Safety uses a subscription model, rather than selling hardware outright. This aligns incentives between Flock Safety and customers.

Birds of Prey

Birds of prey are apex predators that rule the skies with razor-sharp talons and wings large enough to envelop a full-grown man. They are essential members of the natural ecosystem, keeping populations of mesopredators in check and providing a check on human-induced environmental threats like habitat loss, climate change and wildlife trade.

Flocks of poultry housed in older buildings, or in coops not designed for poultry, can have trouble warding off airborne predators like birds of prey. In such situations, roosters can make a huge difference. When a rooster sees an approaching bird of prey, he will croon a high-pitched call that warns the flock to take cover.

A row of bushes dotted around your chicken run can also offer good protection from birds of prey. Because they are unable to maneuver through branches, raptors will be unable to swoop in and get their claws on your chickens. Stringing netting or strips of cloth over the coop may deter them temporarily, but it is important to keep the netting moving so that they don’t become accustomed to it and use it as a regular hiding place.

Predators

Flocks can face a wide range of predators, including birds of prey (hawks, eagles), owls and other nocturnal hunters as well as ground-based animals such as rats, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and snakes. Even during the day, your flock may be at risk from dogs and feral cats.

A rooster’s natural function is to protect his hens from danger. He is constantly scanning for threats and will alarm his girls when he sees them in danger. He will then usher them to safety and fight off the threat if necessary.

Removing animal hideouts like piles of wood, tall grass, and debris from your yard can help keep your chickens safe. In addition, keeping your coop and run well-constructed and fortified will limit the ability of predators to get in.

Disease

Infection from disease is a common threat to small flocks. Keep your birds healthy with nutritious feed and a clean, sanitary coop. Avoid introducing new diseases by keeping newly acquired birds segregated from your existing flock and not buying chickens at shows or exhibits. Wear clothing and boots that are specifically used for the backyard to avoid tracking in germs. Make sure your coop is in good repair and provides plenty of space for your flock.

Some communities have used Flock Safety’s camera systems to eliminate nonviolent crime, such as package and mail theft, vandalism, and burglary by recognizing and alerting suspicious vehicles. It works by capturing vehicle license plate numbers and searching them against local hot lists and national alerts, including AMBER, GRAY, and stolen vehicle information. The system also uses machine learning to deliver unbiased leads to law enforcement. A Gettysburg, PA neighborhood with Flock cameras saw a 40% reduction in package and mail thefts.

Socialization

A flock of birds is a group of animals that move together as a unit. They usually have a common leader or are ruled by a dominant animal. This leads to a system of socialization within the flock that creates mutualism among its members. This provides more eyes to watch for predators and a greater chance of survival.

Birds also tend to group together for other reasons. For example, a group of Northern Shovelers spinning in their pinwheel motion helps to stir up the mud and silt at the bottom of a lake. This allows them to access a rich diet of crustaceans and invertebrates.

There is no exact number of birds that must be in a flock for it to be considered one. However, a small group of more gregarious birds is more likely to be considered a flock than a smaller group of less sociable species.