Mounting takes about ten minutes with a ladder and a strap. Getting it right the first time saves you a wasted two-week run.
Position
Mount the camera near the beginning of the barn or pen, looking down the length of the feed alley. You are not trying to cover the whole barn — you are trying to get one long, clear view of the bunk.
Height
At least 5 feet up. Six feet or higher is ideal.
Higher is better for two reasons: the angle down onto the feed surface is steeper, so we can see how much feed is there rather than just its edge, and cows passing in the alley block less of the view.
What to strap it to
Any vertical pole, post, bar, or fan mount will do. A ratchet strap or the camera’s own strap around a post is fine — this does not need to be a permanent installation.
Two things to check:
- Out of reach of cows. A curious heifer will move, lick, or destroy a camera she can get her head to.
- Stable. The camera must not swing or rotate between photos. We assume the view stays put, which is what lets you outline the bunk once instead of on every photo. A camera that shifts halfway through the run makes the outline wrong for the second half.
Avoid
- Pointing into the sun. A camera looking straight down an east–west alley can be blown out at sunrise or sunset for a stretch every day. If you have a choice of ends, pick the one that keeps the sun behind or above the camera.
- Directly under a fan or a leaking gutter. Spray and dust on the lens will fog every photo after it, and you will not know until you pull the card.
- Behind a gate that swings into the view. An open gate parked in front of the lens for half the day costs you half the run.
Check it before you leave
Use the camera’s own preview screen to look at the frame before you close the case. See Aiming at the bunk for exactly what you want to see.
Then power on, press Start, and confirm the first shots actually fire before you close the case and walk away.