I’m wondering if there’s a reasonably affordable drone that can fly autonomously around my property to keep my chickens safe. Ideally, it would follow 2-3 preset flight patterns and do a quick patrol every 30 minutes or so. I’m currently using a DJI Mini 2, but I’m open to other options.
Does anyone know if this kind of setup exists or how I might go about creating it? Thanks for your advice!
The drone you need is called a dog. Seriously though, regulations for fully autonomous flying are pretty strict and make this idea hard to implement.
Abi said:
The drone you need is called a dog. Seriously though, regulations for fully autonomous flying are pretty strict and make this idea hard to implement.
DOG? Like Dramatically Oversized Gargoyle? Haha, good one!
@Abi
Majestic! But I was hoping for something a bit more practical. 
Some mining sites here in Australia use systems like you’re describing, but they’re high-end commercial setups. These systems are monitored remotely and cost a fortune, so they’re not practical for most people.
You’d likely need to design a custom solution. For example, a drone that can land on a charging dock and use GPS for preset routes. You’d also need a camera setup if you want footage. Hiring an engineer to build this could work, but it won’t be cheap.
@Adi
Great suggestion! Hacksmith Industries did something similar, but it wasn’t cheap or easy. The biggest issue would be maintenance. Running a drone every 30 minutes all day would wear out the motors and batteries quickly. Also, flying over chickens that often might stress them out.
@Ray
I have 200 chickens, and I already use drones to locate nests in the grass. My idea was for the drone to do a quick 2-minute perimeter patrol over a 600m area.
@Adi
Good idea. My FPV plane can follow waypoints and even land, but the charging system would be tricky. Still, it’s doable with the right setup.
For something like this, I’d recommend livestock guardian dogs like Great Pyrenees. They’re made for this job.
Finch said:
For something like this, I’d recommend livestock guardian dogs like Great Pyrenees. They’re made for this job.
I already have a European Malinois who’s great at keeping foxes and raccoons away. The drone idea was more for hawk deterrence.
Setting up an autonomous drone system like this would be costly and likely require ongoing maintenance. Legal regulations for autonomous flying are another hurdle, especially if you’re not able to maintain visual line of sight (VLOS).
Look up security drones. They’re commercially available but expensive. Some brands like DJI and Ruko offer waypoint features, which might work if you handle the setup yourself.
Skydio offers a system with a docking station that can launch a drone autonomously. It’s controlled remotely and designed for security purposes, but it costs thousands of dollars, which may not be practical for your use case.
