Actual Chickens Win Plat'Home's "Will Linux Work?" Contest

Well, Linux does have an affinity for birds...

"First, there was a 'chicken sitter.' Gordon Smith of Lakewood, CO, wanted to do a Linux project and also had a chicken coop. Obviously they go together. His system is being built around an inexpensive webcam with IR capability to see in the dark, along with a computer vision library to count the chickens.

"To determine when nocturnal predators come out, the server will run simple network time protocol (SNTP). A stepper motor controller and power supply from a document scanner are used to open and close the coop door. The combination should make sure the door closes after all the chickens are home to roost. I love the image of raccoons trying to outsmart Linux..." [Read more]