PinkToothbrush Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I'm new to all this and was upset to read Lovemychooks' post - can I ask if it's common for foxes to come a-visiting during daylight hours or is it just at dusk/ night time? I ask because we only have a small garden (and thus small run) and I had hoped to let our chickens free-range all day and then secure them when they go to bed at dusk. We live in a village surrounded by countryside, though I've never seen a fox (by day or night). Obviously if the risk of foxes is great during daylight we shall have to re-think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 It really depends on your location.....although I would never rule them out. Urban foxes are more likely to be a nuisance than rural ones, as they have lost their wariness and are much more likely to approach...even when humans are in the vicinity. Also this time of year is likely to be the worst for fox attacks, as the vixens have their cubs around now, and are hungrier than usual. Why not ask around where you live and see if any other chicken keepers have had problems. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 We know that we have them in the area (quite urban but countryside and fields just a few roads away!) as we have seen them in the garden and crossing the roads (mainly at night). I haven't had them in the garden this year (not got my chooks yet) but have seen one in the past sunbathing on our back lawn at 3pm That was when next door had rabbits - I am waiting for the foxes return when our chooks arrive. Ask around and keep your eyes open. I would never assume they just come at dawn and dusk I am seriously thinking of purchasing a Foxwatch but DH says wait and see - he thinks our run will be pretty secure. Andrea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I live in a city (but our garden backs onto a field and we're near woods & hills). I know there are foxes about (you see them on Guy Fawkes Night, running terrified through the streets ) but, touch wood, I've never ever seen one since we got the girls (last October). I'm not complacent though, and only let the girls out when I'm around to watch through the window every few minutes or I'm actually in the garden. I have put netting up round the perimeter of the garden to make it difficult for them to get in - but I know they would still manage it if they were desperate . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane 20 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 We live in a small Surrey village - we know there are foxes about but we used to let the girls out all weekend thinking the daylight hours were OK but had an attack at 9.30 one morning (despite a 6' fence all around). Now we only let them out when we are in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Hello PinkToothbrush! You aren't a million miles from me! I let mine free range around their corner of the garden unsupervised. I, too, live in a rural area and have never seen/heard foxes around here, but I'm sure there are some. A foxwatch might be a good idea for you? I don't want to say definitely go 'free range' as all gardens/situations are different. You have to weigh up the risks. All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Every garden is different, as Christian says - and urban foxes are real pests whereas rural foxes are much more scared of human beings. There are some very common misconceptions however about foxes, which are often repeated. One is 'foxes only hunt at night' - if they are hungry they will hunt at any time of day, and in urban areas they are not scared of being seen in daylight. Another is 'a six-foot fence will keep out any foxes' - afraid as Jane says above, that is not true. They can jump and climb as easily as cats can. There's no easy answer on this, you have to take a view and do what you think is best for your chooks, and for your lifestyle/peace of mind. It's great if you can let them free-range, and plenty of people do with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 ... Another is 'a six-foot fence will keep out any foxes' - afraid as Jane says above, that is not true. They can jump and climb as easily as cats can. Walking my dog at dusk one evening in neighbouring streets, I was in time to see a fox jump from a pavement to the top of what must have been an eight foot brick wall - it seemed just to float from the road to the top of the wall. ':shock:' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo2cat Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 My friend who lives at the end of our road lost all 3 of her chickens last December to a fox. She has an eglu but used to let them free range all day long whether they were in or out. The fox struck at around 3pm when the light levels are quite low at that time of year. We live in a rural spot backing onto fields and I have seen a fox in broad daylight in the field and know he/she comes into our garden at night by all the poo it leaves behind (charming). I would never risk letting ours out without us being in the garden with them. Sad but true! Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I'm only letting my girls free range now when we can watch out the back window every few minutes or are in the garden. We have never seen any foxes round here nor in our garden which has 6 foot high fences but now I'm not going to risk it. I'm afraid my girls will have to put up with a boring run most of the week but I'm now thinking of building a proper chicken run rather than just the Omlet one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I've seen a fox on a golf course within a mile of us in broad daylight and we also have a recreation ground where foxes prowl at night at the end of our road so I don't take any chances. Even if you have got 6' fences, it only takes a neighbour to leave a bin or something against the fence and they're in. I didn't know they could clear 8' but it wouldn't surprise me. When they are hungry and desperate they get very bold and very determined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I let mine free range all day and then they put themselves to bed at night. I have lost one little Polish which at the time I assumed was to a fox but on reflection I'm not so sure. I think it may have been a cat. A couple of weeks ago I was gazing out the window when I suddenly saw a large cat which I had never seen before (or since) coming down the garden in the typical hunting pose. The chickens had alerted me by their change in stance as the necks strecthed up. Anyway I shouted at the cat and it ran off but I can't help but think it may have been the killer of my Polish whose headless body I found (sorry if TMI). I did buy a foxwatch after losing the Polish and kept the other chickens in for about a month but I decided a short happy life is better than a long miserable one so I let them freerange again and haven't had any more visits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 Hi Guys This has now got me worried, Has anybody had a fox break into a cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I've never heard of it happening and I'm sure if it did then the victim would be on here shouting about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I believe that both the eglu, cube & their runs are pretty secure. It seems to be when the hens are free ranging that they at their most vulnerable. I saw a video on youtube recently of an eglu owner in the U.S. whose eglu withstood an attack from Bobcats without loss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I live in a suburban area not far from farm land and foxes have killed all but one of my girls on 2 occassions in 6 months, I was in the poly tunnel at 1 o clock on a bright sunday afternoon last time & I have a fox watch. you need to assess your own area, I would love to let my girls free range during the day but now i only leave the door open when I am standing right there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I live in a small town with open countryside literally a 5 minute walk away,but theres a large suburban fox population living round here.How do i know? Because i see them in the early hours while walking my dog,but never during the day. My garden backs onto playing fields which theoretically is the only place a fox could dig under my (7ft) fencing,but its untouched clay soil there so isnt the easiest material to dig.Foxes though are persistent opportunists and will try hells hardest to get in when they know food is inside.So when my hens arrive along with Eglu-they will not be roaming unsupervised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkToothbrush Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hmm, thanks for the advice, all. In an ideal world we'd let them free-range all the time but having read your replies have instead been to B&Q and invested in wood & mesh to extend our run! It's going to reduce our lawn space significantly but I'm too fond of them by now to really mind. We're going to let them free-range as often as possible but only when we're at home. My two girls came out for the first time today! They seemed very pleased with themselves, making little chuckling noises and pecking at everything. Then after about half an hour they took themselves back home - very well-behaved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Glad they are settling in PinkToothbrush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...