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Suzie

Life after foxes....

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I'm a newbie to chicken keeping and yesterday evening a fox got in and made off with our 2 chickens (we'd only had them 3 weeks or so). There's no sign at all of one of them and all I can see of the other is feathers. (I'm absolutely gutted and now hate looking out into our garden to see the empty run)

 

They were both out free ranging in the garden and I was keeping an eye on them from the window. I noticed that I couldn't see them anymore so went out into the garden to find them. I thought maybe they'd gone behind the shed so I went to take a look. When I got to the bottom of the garden (we have a very long garden) I saw a fox jump over the fence and a pile of ginger feathers on the floor. I searched the whole garden, but no trace of any darker feathers from our Miss Pepperpot.

 

I loved having our chickens and would like some more, but am now so scared of the fox getting them again. I don't like the idea of them being shut in their eglu run all day as they get so much pleasure from scratching around our garden. And we only let them out in the garden when we're at home.

 

The fox came back into our garden a couple of times again yesterday evening (never seen a fox in daylight before) and once even came right up onto the patio and looked through our living room window. I thought the presence of humans scared them away?

 

We currently have an eglu with the normal run and live in an urban area. What should I do before getting more and how can I deter the fox? If we make them a bigger run, would that be enough? I'd still like them to free range, but maybe only when we're actually in the garden with them. Do people who have large runs/enclosures still allow their chooks to free range? Any help/advice would be gratefully received

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I have a fox watch and the fox killed my girls anyway, it does help a little bit I did see a fox infront of it shaking its head & then it ran away but the girls were secure in the run, once out of the run nothing will deture an urban fox, particularly at this time of year when they are feeding cubs

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Thanks so much for the replies. I've been looking at the chicken runs posted on here to get some inspiration and could be taking a trip to the DIY store this weekend.

 

I was just suprised at how bold the fox was. I've seen them before but never so bold or in broad daylight.

 

Thanks once again.

 

Sx

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So sorry to hear your news. I am new to chciken keeping too, mine are in an Eglu run, I've only got two and I can't wait to let them out to freerange, but I intend to follow them round the garden when I do let them out in a week's time, and not leave them on their own for one moment. It means they will only be able to come out in the evenings and at weekends. :(

 

I'm saving up for a walk in run so that they have a better quality of life when they're not out.

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So sorry :(:(:( It's such a shock for you to lose your girls this way :(

 

Sadly an urban fox with young to feed is not put off by much and is quite often seen in daylight. A few things you can try are Foxwatch which emits a sound that can deter a fox, human hair tied up around the boundaries and getting the men in your life to wee in the garden :shock: ....the scent can deter foxes.

 

The fox will keep coming back as it now knows where there is a source of food :( so when you get new girls you will have to be extra vigilant

 

Lots of people on here have built lovely large runs for their girls to live in permanently and their chooks are very happy. It is lovely to see them out freeranging but if they have a large enough run with lots of enhancements, they will be quite contented and then they can enjoy freeranging when you are able to keep a close eye on them :D

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We moved the eglu run last weekend and my OH did "scent" the area around the run but as the girls were'nt in the run at the time it probably didn't do much to deter him. We also have a really long garden so he probably didn't scent enough!

 

We've got an area of raised patio with a small wall around it that we never use - the girls loved pecking around that - we might add mesh and create a large run. It's much closer to the house that way too.

 

Do dogs deter foxes? Been trying to convince my OH that we should get a dog for a while. Maybe this would be the clincher?

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So sorry to hear of this. Unfortunately, there are several myths around fox behaviour. These include:

 

'Foxes are scared of people'. Not if you live in an urban area, they are used to people and in many cases actually get FED by them! They are extremely bold.

 

'Foxes are only a risk at dawn/dusk'. They do hunt mainly at night, but are active during the day as well, especially in urban areas where they can easily hide.

 

'Foxes can't climb or jump'. Untrue - they can climb over 6' fences (someone here recently said 11') and are as agile as cats. They can use wheelie bins, composters etc. to aid them.

 

They are extremely intelligent animals and can learn to shift a simple bolt or catch, which is why the Eglu and Cube are designed to need opposable thumbs to open the doors!

 

I do recommend a Foxwatch, it isn't an absolute prevention but it will deter them. I don't know how effective the 'scent', human hair etc. are. You would think a dog would put them off, but I am sure someone on here who was 'foxed' also had a dog - it just wasn't around at the time.

 

Unfortunately, the only safe way to keep chickens for many of us is to keep them in a secure, roofed run or to closely supervise any free-ranging. I would much rather let mine scratch around the garden, as you say they love it, but I know the fox would be there within minutes if I did. Really sorry that you have had this experience, but don't be put off getting more chickens. They will be fine spending most of their time in the run, and enjoy free-ranging when you can be there.

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I'd still like them to free range, but maybe only when we're actually in the garden with them. Do people who have large runs/enclosures still allow their chooks to free range? Any help/advice would be gratefully received

 

We made the decision our 3 would only ever be out of their eglu run when we're with them in the garden and NEVER any other time. There have been too many posts on the Forum from peoplre who seem to have averted their gaze just for a few moments. The hens will get used to this we're sure and seem perfectly happy with the arrangement.

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I think that's what we'll do. I'm so cross with myself for not being more vigilant. I've spent all morning reading everyone's fox horror stories and only wish i'd taken the time to read them sooner. Maybe if I had i'd have been more careful.

 

It's daft that I was only trying to give them more freedom and it ended so badly.

 

I don't want to get Chickens again straight away - I think we'll wait a bit until we've built a larger and more secure run as the fox will know where we are now.

 

I'm debating battery hens next, but unsure if they are right for us as we're new to all this.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice.

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Suzie - really sorry to hear about your girls.

 

Having read that urban foxes will probably do anything to get chickens and that they can go right upto peoples houses etc, does anyone know whether a fox would strike even if there were humans in the garden when chickens were free ranging?

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I was in the greenhouse when a fox tried to take my girls (luckily I was alerted, not by them but by magpies squawking!). Someone else on here had theirs taken when they were in a polytunnel right next to them.

 

The presence of a human doesn't deter them - even when I ran up the garden shouting and throwing things, the fox took his time to leave. I don't know if they would actually come into the garden while you were there - it partly depends on how large your garden is, and how much cover there is - but you only need to pop into the shed/garage/house for a few moments for it to happen.

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Am so sorry to hear your news. What a bitter disappointment.

 

This is the worst time of year for attacks as they are hungry and have cubs to feed.

 

We must never underestimate the fox.

 

Nor are they generally scared of people.

 

We are having major building done where I work, and the other day a huge fox lay on an old air raid shelter and calmly regarded the workmen as they used diggers and other noisy equipment. He wasn't fearful at all.

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It is true that suburban foxes have lost their fear of man because basically they feed alongside us clearing up what we throw away.This is the main reason i dont like people feeding foxes in their gardens because all it does is turn a hunter into a scavenger and they just see us as a source of food.Whether that food is out of a tin or the feathered variety is much the same to them.

 

Dogs do however discourage Foxes-especially males which cock their leg everywhere! I have a Bullmastiff who forages alongside my chooks and accepted them straight away,but he would attack a Fox given the chance.I've come across plenty while out on walks and they look startled when they see me,but are absolutely terrified of my dog.I would never advise someone to get a dog purely for this reason though because i think people must really want one as a family member and not just for guarding.

 

I do feel so sorry for your loss. :cry:

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So sorry to hear of your loss Suzie, don't leave it too long to get more chooks.

 

Please don't blame yourself, foxes are very cunning creatures. I'm paranoid about my girls at the moment as we've had a fox in the garden a few times since having them, though thankfully it's been when they're shut in the eglu for the night.

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The fox is still lurking around our garden - obviously hoping for more.

 

We've spent the weekend planning our new hen house so that I don't feel so guilty about our new hens not free ranging as they'll have more room to move about and perch etc.

 

We've also contacted bhwt about getting a couple of ex-batts.

 

I can't believe I've got this hooked. The chooks were my OH's idea and now I'm the one planning on where to put the hen house and how big it should be.

 

I'm really missing our girls though. I still cant get used to the empty run and eglu.

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In my area, the foxes don't seem to be the slightest bit afraid or even wary of humans

A friend and her husband were sitting watching tv one evening only to suddenly realise there was a fox standing in the room watching their house rabbit hopping round the sitting room

This fox had come in through the open kitchen door and right into the sitting room

When my lot are ready to go outside I am getting my brother in law (a pest controller ) to sort any problems I have with foxes.

I have already informed a couple of local fox feeders of my intentions.

I will of course try deterents like foxwatch, but any foxes that ignore them will be fair game.

So sorry you lost your girls, I blame Fox feeders for the problems we have with them now.

Fifteen years ago I had four ducks free ranging in my garden with no problems, sometimes we even forgot to put them away till late at night.

Now they wouldn't last two days :twisted:

_________________

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I don't have a problem with disposing of foxes, but you should be aware that in most cases, apparently another fox will move into the area within six weeks or so. We have so many foxes now - mainly due to the wide availability of food in urban areas - that they are always looking for new territories. It's not just the well-meaning twits who feed them, there is so much available from bins, litter, bird-feeding etc.

 

You might get rid of the local fox, and think things are safe, only to find another one has moved in. Sadly I still don't think there is any alternative to keeping them in a secure run most of the time.

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I'm afraid the fox problem is here to stay for as long as people encourage them and think how cute it is to feed and breed them. Unfortunately they are at the top of the food chain with no real predators except us humans.

 

Dogs are a deterrent but it depends on how well trained your dog is. You may well end up having more of a problem with your dog than you do a fox!

 

It seems to me that the only answer is a foxproof enclosure or you stay with them at all times whilst free ranging.

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Oh Suzie, I'm so sorry. :(

 

In answer to one of your original questions, mine live in a big run, I let them out supervised, a maximum of 3 at a time so that I can keep an eye on them and keep them in the omlet netting so they can't go under the shrubs down the "jungle" end of the garden where I can't see them. I'm always nervous while they are out. I've never seen a fox in my garden in daylight, but that doesn't mean anything.

 

Olly, it was me who said a fox in it's prime can manage anything up to 11', given the right motivation. People will laugh at me and think "Yeah right :roll: ", but it only takes a neighbour to leave a bin against a fence and all of a sudden it's got a leg up and your chooks are gone. Sadly, there are still people who think a 6' fence is enough to keep a fox out. :?

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