Solitary chicken - need advice

[janette1954]

Hello I have just purchased a foxwatch,does anyone know how effective they are,I'm getting paranoid as a fox walked through my garden when the girls were out to play,thank god it only made them make a lot of noise.

[Egluntyne]

I think they do help ....as a deterrent, but I would never rely on it solely.

 

I have observed foxes take a detour when mine is switched on.

[Olly]

I know some people are sceptical, but before I got mine the fox was a regular visitor to the garden - now I never see him, nor do I see any traces of him. I wouldn't rely on it, I supervise free-ranging, but I think they do work as a deterrent.

[gary&debbie&amy]

hi. just to let you know it take's up to 6 week's before it starts to work.

i still get foxs in my garden at night but not as much,,

[hpops]

Why does it take up to six weeks to work?? Surely the noise instantly deters them? Or am I not understanding how they work?

[Tessa the Duchess]

Why does it take up to six weeks to work?? Surely the noise instantly deters them? Or am I not understanding how they work?

 

I was told it takes 10 days to start working properly. I think it is because even though it does deter foxes instantly they will still keep on coming back until they finally realise the noise is there permanently, something like that

 

Before I got my Foxwatch I was plagued by a really old fox who came into my garden day and night, he clawed his way through two run covers and I was just despairing Bought a Foxwatch which I use with a mains adaptor so it is on all the time, and I have NEVER seen the fox since. I am not complacent though and still watch my chickens all the time when they are out and about.

 

Tessa

[WitchHazel]

I've seen our fox take a detgour to get round the fox watch. We found fox poo in another area of the garden, so we now have two.

 

As Egluntine says, they are a good deterrent but I wouldn't leave my girls free ranging without supervision, foxwatch or not. I imagine it depends how hungry the fox (or fox's family) is.

[Carol U]

I don't leave my Foxwatch on during the day as firstly, it wouldn't cover enough of the garden and secondly, the chickens would constantly trigger it and they say that if it's on too much, the foxes just get used to the noise. I put it on at night after the girls have gone in to roost, angled towards the run. We used to see foxes all the time, but haven't seen one since we bought the Foxwatch about 10 months ago. I think they're brilliant, but wouldn't rely on it as the only means of security. We regularly check the fences for holes and my OH regularly 'does his stuff' round the perimeter.

[anjuli]

My foxwatch arrived a couple a days ago. We have positioned it so that the chickens don't set it off. However, the infrared light doesn't seem to come on unless I am about 2-3 feet away standing directly in front of it. Will it still be working from the distance it claims, does the light have to come on? Obviously I can't hear it if is clicking unless I am right next to it. Please reassure a neurotic chiken keeper who just wants the best for her girls!

[Olly]

I think the light should come on when it's triggered - so if it is only doing that from 2-3 feet away, my assumption would be that it's not working properly.

 

The first one I had only worked if you were about 18" away - I sent it back, and got another one which has worked perfectly. I'd ring the supplier and say what's happening. I don't think the range on them is fantastic, but it should cover more than 3'.

[anjuli]

Thanks for this. We will try it out again today and then I will contact the suppliers if necessary.

[anjuli]

Have rechecked it, definitely not picking up until 3 foot in range. Have emailed the company I bought it from. Hopefully it is just a faulty one as other people seem very happy with theirs.