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

[hanson]

I've had the girls for 5 days now and having never seen a fox before in my rear garden before I got a bit of a shock when I woke up this morning and checked to see if my eglu was still there and it wasn't a dream!

 

A fox was in my neighbours garden, something I have never ever seen before in the 3 years of living here. A hop, skip and a jump later and he over the 6ft high fences (with the help of my neighbour's BBQ) and in my garden, checking out the eglu!

 

Panic stations!! Running downstairs...trying to get the dog awake...to eventually send him packing over the fence again.

 

I have a funny feeling this won't be the last time we see him so as an extra precaution I have fixed tent pegs around the skirt of the run but feel pretty helpless as to what else I could possibly do!

 

I feel a bit naive at the fact that I thought they wouldn't find the chickens for quite a while but am equally amazed at how long it has taken them.

 

I knew we had foxes around but felt quite confident that they wouldn't get over the fences - how wrong am i!

[chelsea]

blimey, didnt take the fox long did it?

 

I hope seeing Fred the dog has scared him off, I wouldnt rely on it totally as a deterrent - but I would let the dog out in the garden as much as possible. My GSD is always in the garden with the chooks. I have never seen a fox here but I would hope the scent of the dog helps somewhat.

 

Good luck and stay vigilant!

[Egluntyne]

Phew. A close call.

[Christian]

If the eglu is on solid ground, i'm sure you will be fine. If not, put some slabs around the edge to prevent digging.

 

FOx watch might be a good idea, but often a dog in the garden does prevent too much interest.

 

Hope all will be well

[Keanie Bean]

Foxes have been known to jump over 11 foot high fences so beware of them. Just make sure you shut and lock your eglu at night. If you are really worried you could always built them an enclosed run and pave round it.

 

Sarah.x

[Gallina]

Shutting the Eglu door every night and weighing down the skirt are the two vital things you must do. I would also recommend putting plants on the slabs to stop the fox getting anywhere near the mesh, and covering the top of the run completely.

 

This should be a warning to everyone that just because they have never seen foxes in their garden, it doesn't mean they haven't been giving your garden a regular recce when you are asleep. The difference once you have hens is that they put your garden on their list of possible food sources, and keep coming back.

 

And foxes do come out during the day.

[Ange1]

If I have a cube, do I still need to cover the top of the run Gallina?

 

It will be on a hard base surrounded by a brick base. butting up next to the skirt, though not on it.

 

Will have to see how it fits next Thursday!

[Gallina]

There is no need to cover the top of a Cube run, as it is so high off the ground. If a fox does get on top of the Cube run when the hens are out, it can do no harm.

 

The reason for covering the top of an Eglu run is that the fox is likely to lie on top of it and take swipes at the hens through the bars.

 

If you cover the top of the Eglu run and barricade the sides, it makes it hard for the fox to get at the hens. I wish that I had been given this bit of advice myself.

[Ange1]

Thanks Gallina, that does make sense, i was just checking to be cautious.

[hanson]

Thanks for all the advice. I am so pleased I have seen them so early, therefore very aware of the risk and can do something about it before its too late.

 

I plan on creating a permanent site and will be using all your helpful advice to ensure that even if a fox can & will get into the garden, the hens will still be safe in their eglu.

[hanson]

Oh, and I already do ensure the eglu is shut every night. It was shut when the fox was snooping around but now I know I can never let my guard down!!

[superjules]

Lucky escape Hanson, so many people find out about foxes the hard way and it breaks my heart.

 

It doesn't take foxes long to sniff the chooks out. The first night we had the eglu I woke up next morning to foxprints all over it.