4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[urbanchick]

This morning I was woken at 5.15am by lots of kerfuffle and looked out the window to see Mr Fox running from side to side around the run, tormenting my hens As soon as I opened the back door he had disappeared (in a second, over a 6 foot fence!). I got the dog to sniff around and went back to bed. 20 minutes later he was back and the same thing happened

 

He must have been taking swipes at the girls through the bars as there were a number of small feathers hanging off the run bars. They seemed unscathed though. I hope he didn’t scratch any of them as I know that would leave them open to infections. I can’t see any injuries though.

 

I am very glad I have had this wake up call (literally!). Until I saw the fox in action with my own eyes I did not fully appreciate the risk. I knew they were around but only saw them at night occasionally. It really was shocking to see him there and it is another reason to shut the door at night (in addition to noise problems but that’s another story).

 

Unfortunately they will be free ranging a lot less as I will have to be there in the garden with them (as opposed to popping inside alot). I expect he’ll be back tomorrow but at least he won’t be able to scare them like he did this morning.

 

I’m just glad my first fox experience was when they were locked up, not everyone has been so lucky. And I don’t think any amount of human hair, urine, dog presence would have put him off.

[Cooks]

glad your girls are safe and well.

[Egluntyne]

Gosh...a close call.

 

Thank goodness no-one was injured.

[Chickvic]

Whew! Glad everything is ok!

[mrs chook]

Nasty fox

 

Well done for keeping them safe and hope ur all ok

[Olly]

A lucky escape, Urbanchick.

 

Get a Foxwatch - I haven't seen the fox in my garden since I installed one. That's not to say he isn't still around, but it has put him off using my garden as a shortcut and bothering my chickens.

[Abbey Road Girl]

Just the sort of thing we find hard to believe could happen and, at the same time, it's what we realistically fear.

 

LIke you, urbanchick, we know there are urban/rural foxes. We know how skilled they are at killing chickens. We fear them doing exactly that to our own hens.

 

At the same time, it seems unreal as our gardens are mostly places of peace and tranquility.

 

I am always there when my hens free-range, but--despite everything--I would be totally shocked to actually see a fox in my garden.

 

It is very sad that our chickens can't free-range because of Mr Fox.

[xScrunchee]

Before I got the chickens I used to see foxes in my garden on an almost daily basis but very oddly-since getting them I haven't seen any at all

 

When I first got the girls I did see evidence of foxes scratching and chewing the Eglu poo tray but nothing since. Very strange!!

 

However, I would NEVER leave them free ranging without someone being physically in the garden with them as I know for 100% that there are foxes about, I just find it weird that since getting the hens I haven't actually seen them, nor have I found fox poo everywhere which I did previously.