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FOX ATTACK - Update and electric fence question?

By dogs and chickens, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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..lay a little egg for me Chatty Chicken

..lay a little egg for me

Posted
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Could you electrify the Omlet netting so that the fox gets a nasty shock if he tries to get close? It may put him off a bit. Mind you our local farm shop has a flock of black rocks freeranging behind an electric fence and the owner reckons the fox comes by 3 times a night to check that the fence is still electrified, but he has not yet (touch wood) got over the fence.

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mrs chook Frequent Layer

mrs chook

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Thank you all for your kind words, I still keep crying.

 

I am NOT surprised :shock:

 

Have another glass of wine, and try to get a good sleep. Hope your hubby sorts out that persistent :?::!::?::!:

 

Hope you all begin to feel a little better over the next few days. Thinking of you, take care.

 

xx

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Egluntyne Eggsistentialist

Egluntyne

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Very sorry to read your awful news.

 

Excellent advice, as always, from the Omleteers.

 

A timely reminder to us all to never underestimate the fox.

 

The tendency is to relax a bit re security when the summer months are here.

 

Here's hoping your girls have a peaceful night, and that your husband manages to send the fox packing.

 

**Foxwatch**

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Lovemychooks All Knowing Superchicken

Lovemychooks

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I'm so sorry to hear about your chickens :(

 

I had the same happen to me, I lost 11 chooks in one go from a fox. One of the chickens was left for dead and I fed her sugared water for the first day and then gradually mixed up some mash with lots of water and gave her lots of sweetcorn, greens, wet bread etc.

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed that some of them pull through.

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Pinkybijou Chicken Eggspert

Pinkybijou

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I just wanted to add my condolences, you poor thing. I hope your chooks pull through, bless them, they sound like fighters.

 

Please don't beat yourself up over this, it could have happened to any one of us who lets their chooks freerange. It sounds as though that cunning fox would not be deterred even if you'd been sitting right there, and in the circumstances I would also be considering getting someone to see to the fox.

 

Big hugs.

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Cate in NZ Feathery Fanatic

Cate in NZ

Posted
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I'm so sorry to hear about your girls :cry: .

 

Foxes are very tenacious creatures, having found your chickens he will be back time and again I'm afraid. I'd be very cautious about letting them out unsupervised again....it doesn't sound as if he's likely to be deterred by very much.

 

The Foxwatch might be worth a try, but remember not to rely on it immediately, it takes a while for the fox to learn to associate it with the high pitched sound, and I'd use it in addition to your supervision, not rely on it solely.

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buffie Golden Egg

buffie

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I am so very sorry to hear about your losses. We've only ever had a fox run through the field by the side of the house and that scared me senseless. We use a foxwatch and that has really given me a sense of 'doing something'.

 

Hugs to you

 

BBx :(

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Bondinho Frequent Layer

Bondinho

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So sorry for you and your chooks :( Hopefully all the others will pull through, sounds like some are already getting better.

 

I would seriously considering electrifying your fence if I were you. At least then your chooks will still be able to free range and they can point their wings and heckle the fox as he repeatedly gets electric shocks. :) A woman I know leaves her chickens out all day behind electric fencing and she has never lost 1 to a fox and she lives right next to a wooded area so electric fencing is the way to go in my eyes.

 

Anyway, hope they are all better today, update us all when you get a chance. :)

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Gamebird Chatty Chicken

Gamebird

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Oh my goodness, I have only just read this thread and I am so, so sorry you have had such a dreadful time.

 

How are they all today?

 

I would definitely recommend you electrify your fencing. It really does work. I had a chicken taken by one of the many foxes I have roaming around my house (surrounded by woodland) - luckily the chicken escaped and came back.

 

Now they free range all day and unsupervised behind a large electric enclosure. I know for sure the foxes have tried but the sting they get is not worth trying again. Foxes will only jump a fence they have tested first.

 

The trick is to always have the fencing on whether the chickens are out or not so that there is never a time when the fox might think it safe to enter.

 

I do hope your remaining chickens get themselves through their shock and injuries.

 

Thinking of you all.

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NClaire Chicken Eggspert

NClaire

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Sorry to read your sad thread - I hope the girls are looking better this morning. We have urban foxes, and they too are VERY bold - they come and sunbathe in the garden occasionally. But I have noticed they do a 'surveillance round' - they just come by, check the doors are shut, and carry on. When we first got the chickens, they used to sit on top of the run :shock: but now they ignore them (whilst mentally clocking that they can't get them - today). We had one in a rabbit hutch last week, and the fox ripped the bottom off the rabbit hutch - presumably because it was a new 'chance' he hadn't tried.

 

They are horrible animals. I do hope your girls pull through and recover, and that you are feeling ok today.

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dogs and chickens Frequent Layer

dogs and chickens

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Thank you all for your kind words again.

 

My Dad who used to keep chickens has been promising his whatsit (what ever you call it) to make the fence electric for ages :evil: So I waited on getting one. Now I wish I would have spent the £100, for a solar panel one. Job would have been done and fox hopefully would not have come :oops: Still too late for that now. I will not be letting them out again without that protection, although I am worried about letting them out at all ever again.

 

They all look must better this morning. It was almost like that first day you get them and none of them want to leave the cube :cry: I thought it was cute back then now it just made me sad. I moved the cube first thing so they have loads of fresh grass to eat :D . They all came out in the end, via one and I was all worried about what I woud find in there. Bless her she was laying her morning egg as usual (hubby had already run up there before I walked up there and made sure they were all fine - as he did not want me to have any nasty surprises :) ).

 

The chook in the garage is also looking much better this morning, she has eaten a little which is great, and got up to say hello when I took her a slug infested strawberry from the veg patch :D .

 

I am about an hour from Banbury, I live near Wendover in Bucks. So kind of you Claire to offer to come over. I think we are a little far for you just to pop over, would have been lovely to meet another Omleteer though :D .

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alih Chatty Chicken

alih

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I hope your lovely girls make a good recovery - and I hope you do too - it sounds awful - what a lovely hubby racing up first to make sure you didn't have another ordeal. They sound like very tough little cookies. :)

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