kronkie Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Hi everybody I have ordered my eglu a couple of days ago and for the first time in 5 years seen a fox in my back garden last night, I could not believe it, please tell me that the girls will be safe in the eglu. Another thing that interests me is are the girls homing?I do intend to let them free range during the times I am about but do they have a homing instinct? as I am sure there are holes in my fence that I do not know about with the dreaded fox showing his face last night. cheers kronkie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 We regularly had 2 foxes in our garden, but so far have not seen them since we had the girls. I am sure they are there though so I don't want to tempt fate, there have been some horrible stories on the forum recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Hi everybodyI have ordered my eglu a couple of days ago and for the first time in 5 years seen a fox in my back garden last night, I could not believe it, please tell me that the girls will be safe in the eglu. Hi kronkie - welcome to the forum! Yes, your girls will be safe in the eglu and run, if properly shut in. I think virtually every loss to a fox has been when the hens were free-ranging, or one of the doors (run or egg-port) were left open. I think someone may have had a hen injured when it was right against the wire of the run, and it later died, but that is a very rare occurrence. However if you have seen a fox in the garden, you would be advised to only let your girls out when you can be there in the garden to supervise. Urban foxes are very bold! Another thing that interests me is are the girls homing?I do intend to let them free range during the times I am about but do they have a homing instinct? as I am sure there are holes in my fence that I do not know about with the dreaded fox showing his face last night. I would examine your fence carefully for holes - chickens don't seem to have a very good sense of direction, and need to be able to see their run, or easily wander back to within view of it, or they may get lost (we have had a couple of members find lost chickens in their neighbourhood). Try not to worry too much - chicken-keeping is mostly fun and relaxing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 urban foxes are a real pain, they don't seem to be afraid of anything, even fox watches only detur them for a short while, yor girls will be safe in the eglu & run if shut in properly but please only let them free range when you can supervise them, I learned to my cost that at this time of year foxes will kill chickens at any time of day even if you are at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 When we were visited by a fox at nigh the girls were safe in the Eglu but paniced, the noise and flapping concerned me as i was worried about broken wings! I have electric fencing around the Eglu and run, belt and braces but it is working. Doesn't hurt the fox but does send them on their way QUICKLY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Keep them in the Eglu for 5 days or so and it will "imprint" the idea of where home is. If you know there is a fox about, do please be extra vigilant. It only takes a moments distraction for a disaster to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I live in an area with lots of foxes and ferral cats (not to mention my own murderous kitties) - we currently have rablu with guinea pigs - no problem in the past couple of years as they are always in the run and we ensure it is secured. This has made us confident enough to get cube and run for chickens but I would be wary of freeranging and so intend to build a bigger run and foxproof it so the chickens can freerange (albeit to a lesser extent) but do so safely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...