Set up your own buncam

Want to be able to peek in on your bunnies (or other pets)?

Originally, we set up the buncam so we could make sure the new bunnies were getting along okay. It has helped also when, for example, I once noticed their pen gate was open! What was found when I got home is here.

Anyway, step one is get a webcam. We use a Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 (been years, but maybe it was around $75 at the time?). There are so many choices out there now, including wireless. Our cam is hard wired to our PC. Because of the distance (we ran the wire through the basement ceiling acoustical tile), the very long cable used was a special kind that boosts the transmitted signal (I think it was about $15 from www.monoprice.com, a website our nephew told us about).

Step two, set up an account or channel with Ustream (or the streaming provider of your choice). If you allow commercials, then it's free (that's what we have). You can set it up for private or public viewing.

Finally, find a good perspective for your view, connect the parts, follow the instructions to get the software and services working and that's pretty much it.

Here's a recent screenshot from my office:

From the RR Facebook post for this picture: Using the buncam, I peeked in on the bunnies from work (that's what it was originally for and keep your bunny-obsessed comments to yourself). Anyway, found the three of them snuggled like this, probably at that moment, with Bunya and Ethel waiting for Lucy to groom them. But it looks like 2 bunny cops have told Lucy to "assume the position" so they can search her for illegal treat hoarding. (They are in the upper right corner of the pen in this screenshot.)

You can access our buncam from our Rabbit Ramblings website (a link is among the blog page listing at the top of the right-hand column) or through the bunnies' UStream channel.

Good luck!