geb0205 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Some of you may have read my other post that the fox has been today at lunchtime and killed my first 2 chooks. Thankfully, I managed to get rid of it before it attacked the 2nd pair I got but now I have some questions.... The 2 remaining are obviously VERY shaken and upset by the whole situation, I have re-assembled the eglu run and they are safely tucked away inside. Its obvious that they are grieving the loss too, and are upset. Please tell me they are not likely to die of shock? Security wise: I'm in a mid terrace, but sadly, the top part of the fence is very low. I cannot afford to put up a new 6ft fence YET, but will now be working towards this. Until this time, what suggestions do you have about security and fox proofing the garden? I think the wisest thing to do in the short term is to keep them in the eglu run and only let them free range when we are about, would you agree? The building of chicken runs: For those of you that have customised large areas for your chooks, what made you choose that design and how much did it cost? What flooring do you have and how do you find cleaning it out? And finally, regarding getting new hens: How long should I leave it before I get some more girls? I loved my little bantie flock, and the 2 remaining girls are searching desperatly for the other two. Would I be ok getting some more at the weekend? And how is best to introduce them bearing in mind that they are now going to be shut in the eglu run for a while? I introduced the last girls by letting the existing ones free range whilst the new ones were in the eglu, and they all went to bed together. Sadly, I cannot afford another eglu!! Suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Sorry again about your chooks. Firstly, for the shock, some people recommend Rescue Remedy. You can get it in health shops or probably in a chemists or Boots. As a lot of people have previously posted - a 6' fence will not deter a hungry fox. You are far better off keeping them in the run - particularly at the moment as foxes are feeding hungry cubs and will often go back to a food source. Our 2.5x3.5m chicken run cost about £200 to build in the end, about £100 on wood, £50 on weldmesh and chicken wire (it's weldmesh from the floor to 3', then chicken wire from 3' to 6' - the thinking being that a fox won't be able to bite through above where it can reach while standing) and another £50ish on roofing and guttering. We already had paving slabs to put around it so nothing can dig in. It was built on the site of last year's veg patch, so the surface is earth, with aubiose on top. OH put a lot of work into it though and if I had to do it again, I'd probably get a ready made one. Regarding getting new chooks, if the introductions don't go well you will need somewhere secure if you are going to segregate the new ones, although it is very easy to divide the run using canes or chicken wire. Good luck, I hope you and your chooks are starting to come to terms with this horrible experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Sorry to hear your bad news.. Foxes Grrrrr. Keep them in the run unless you are there to supervise. I too live mid -terrace and have a low paling fence. One of my neighbours spotted a fox on the allotment out the back last week - she told me this after I had moved the girls from my very little garden onto the spacious summer quarters of the allotment - they are only allowed out of the eglu run into the omlet netting area if there are people doen there - thankfully all my neighbours will take them out and pop them in again during hte day if they are around on the allotments (this seems to be most of the time). I am becoming paranoid about Mr Fox visiting, I am tempted by a foxwatch but not sure if it is dog friendly?? Is it battery operated?? I'm sure one of you helpful folk will let me know in a mo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Very sorry to hear about the fox attack - it seems to be the time of year for it Since you still have two, I would wait a few weeks before introducing more hens, as the arrival of newcomers might be more stressful to Puzzle and Fuzzle than their worrying about their old friends' absence. It will also give them a bit more space if they have to be shut in a bit more than they are used to. You might want to get some AviPro for them - it's a probiotic and vitamin supplement for stressed or convalescent animals (cats and dogs as well as chickens), available from your vet or online. You can give it in their food or dissolved in their drinking water. Re runs, there's a chap near us who makes runs at a very reasonable price, and he will add a mesh floor if you are worried about foxes or rats tunnelling in. Haven't got one myself - need to negotiate with the LSH first http://www.aviaries4u.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layla Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Sorry for your loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I am sorry Geb but I think the ONLY way to keep your hens safe is for them to be in a secure run. I had a couple of lucky escapes, and since then I have never let the chickens out unless I am IN the garden, and moving around (one attempt was while I was sitting quietly in the greenhouse, only about ten feet away). I am even reluctant to go into the garage to fetch things, and I won't go in to the house to use the loo without locking them up again. It's a pain, but for me there is no alternative. I do recommend the Foxwatch, it won't guarantee safety but it will deter the fox from crossing your garden. Chicken Licken, I think they are supposed not to affect dogs, but some people on here have posted that their dog was troubled by it - it certainly doesn't bother cats or chickens. They are battery operated, or you can get a mains adaptor. Since I got one, I have not seen the fox around whereas before he was a regular visitor. A permanent run sounds like the best way to go for you, hope you can get that sorted out. Your girls will be fine in the Eglu run meanwhile, and will probably feel safer sticking close to home. I'm so sorry for your awful experience today - it's what we all dread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 (edited) Double post. Sorry! And should've deleted the other one... Ignore this and see the one below. I'll get my coat... Edited March 31, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 (edited) geb0205, I'm so very sorry about your tragic loss. I lost all 5 of mine (at once) about this time last year to either a fox or mink. Re: runs - have you thought of making your own? Here's the fencing: http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/pd2_6668_NETTING-WIRE-900MMx50MMx50M.htm I've yet to see it cheaper - and it's very strong - for extra security make it double so you have two layers of wiring (underneath as well). Basically a galvanised wire double layer run as long and wide as you like, cheap, light and as secure as you want it. All you'd need, apart from the fencing, is to make a basic wooden frame type thing (from pallet wood perhaps...?! With regards to your two remaining girls, I would suggest getting some more asap. I may be wrong but possibly the sight and sounds of the new ones would take their minds off their loss and give them something to think about? With your newly built huge run I'm sure you could section it off so they could all get used to each other. All the very best x Edited March 31, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I would let your remaining girls get over the trauma of the attack and settle down again before you introduce some new girls. Also, as the dratted fox knows where the hens are, I wouldn't let them out unless you are there to supervise. Rotten for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I agree with supervising your remaining girls. Now that Mr Fox has been, he'll be back. Hope Puzzle & Fuzzle are OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheik Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 You have my sympathy, it's horrible to find your pets killed by a fox . As you have probably realised by now, your only real way of guaranteeing future peace of mind is to confine your girls to a run. We let ours freerange for the best part of a year until I I left the eggport open one night and a fox killed them all. I'll never forgive myself for that, and now we know that we definitely have foxes in the garden (we were complacent before, as we never saw them) we can't ever let chickens free range unsupervised again. I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, but think how guilty you'll feel if the same thing happens again . It's not all bad though. We now have our new chickens, and before they arrived we had a permanent run constructed, which is *much* nicer than an Eglu run, so we don't feel so guilty leaving them in it. We've just started letting them out at 6pm when we're in the garden with them, and they'll get plenty of opportunity to do more of that as the weather gets warmer. So, I don't think we'll ever leave them to free range on their own again, but they will still get plenty of quality time in the garden, and at least we know they'll be safe. /\dam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 The fox will be back, so the main thing is not to let your hens out unless you are in the garden. And foxes are crafty: they sit on neighbouring hed roofs and watch ready to pounce, so I am afraid you have to stay out with them all the time. I prepare for a garden session by taking out everything I need (including our cordless house phone if no one else is in); and of course I go to the loo before I start. It's an awful bore, but I am always seeing foxes in my garden, so it is worth while. Once I was talking to my neighbour over the fence and a fox was creeping up towards the hens behind me.... Are yours urban foxes? They are the worst sort, as they have no fear of humans. Oxford is notoriously overrun with them; but it is better to know the score in advance than to find out in the horrible way you did that you have foxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 We have made our new hen pen as fox proof as possible by using heavy gauge welded mesh with small holes & having a concrete & brick foundations to the perimeter of the pen. We were most concerned about keeping rats out,as they are a problem here as we have a stream in the garden,but I reckon ours is as fox proof as can be. The actuall floor to the pen is earth,topped with Aubiose,so the hens are happy too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks for the replies folks, I've pretty much come to the same conclusion as you have all said. I'm now going to either get a run conversion for the eglu, or construct something a little more permenant for the banties to live in, and only let them out when they are supervised, bless them. This morning they are most annoyed that they are locked up, and are making a din to be let out. *****Y fox, it was a vixen too. I'm on the outskirts of a village, and I do know of a few wiley old foxes round here, but I found out last night from a local gamekeeper that someone rehabs injured ones, partly socialising them, and lets them go, which obviously is all nice for the foxes, but not good for us chicken keepers. A fox should run away when it sees a human, not stand and confront us in search of more food! Oh well, the damage is done now. I think I'll start chook shopping at the weekend, the others have ALWAYS been in a flock of 4+ chooks, and really dont know what to do with themselves, they are constantly searching for the others. I think I might have to bring the horse's rescue remedy home and give them some.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanut12 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 but I found out last night from a local gamekeeper that someone rehabs injured ones, partly socialising them, and lets them go, which obviously is all nice for the foxes, but not good for us chicken keepers. NICE! Some people hey? This is the downside of the Anti-hunt protests - people think we actually want foxes running mad in Britain. Will they never learn? I'd like to see how self-righteous they would be if they met you and had to justify rehabilitating the damn beast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 If they are used to going outside, they will make a fuss to be let out whenever they see you, but when you're not there they'll just get on with their chickeny stuff. They'll get used to it. That fox rehabilitator needs a bit of a stern talking to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
