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

[Electricbarbarella]

i am undecided yet as to whether I dare let my girls out although I was hoping to let them out at least for a while every day, today when in the local petshop someone was discussing the fact that they are aving trouble with their birdfeeder as there is always a fox around, they only live a road away from me so now I am thinking that the girls better be confined, what do you think? Are foxes around in the day, would they be ok when I am aroiund, although i will not be able to stay out with them all the time?

[Gallina]

If you have foxes in the vicinity, you cannot let your hens out unless you are in the garden with them. They certainly are around during the day.

 

I don't think I would trust a Foxwatch on its own, but other people may disagree with me.

[Electricbarbarella]

thats what I figured, they will be ok in the run (we are getting an extension) most of the time won't they. I really hate the thought of having unhappy hens. i am so excited about them and I want them to love us as much as we are going to love them.

[Electricbarbarella]

oh and what actually is a foxwatch, i had seen them mentioned many times on here but am none the wiser as to what they actually are.

[jlo]

I have the same dilemma as you. I thought that it would be fine for the girls to be out freeranging as long as I was in the house. Then OH thought that he saw a fox right at the bottom of the garden. He has become more attached to the chooks than I would have believed possible and he has made me swear that I won't leave them out unless someone is in the garden with them.

 

I feel totally rotten leaving them in the run and am getting an extension. I do go down as do the rest of the family and sit with them as much as I can afford to but still feel guilty about leaving them for too long - especially when I read posts about how most people leave their gilrs free ranging for most of the time. Not being an avid gardener and havinglots of rain, I can't justify being in the garden for too long.

 

They seem perfectly happy; are laying well and are very tame and sweet but I too could do with some reassurance that I am not being cruel

 

Oh, and I am not sure what a Foxwatch is either!

[SAB]

Mine are in the run all the time at present due to presence of foxes who have appeared in garden and walked right up to front of house at all times of day and night. They seem perfectly happy in the run (Cube and extension). We do want to build an area of garden where they would be safer to go out and about, but would intend this to be only when we are actually out there with them. This is actually about us wanting to interact with them more and fearing we are being cruel by leaving them in run - no basis in reality as they seem perfectly happy in the run and it would be much crueller to risk them being savaged by a fox.

[jlo]

I agree that it is the lesser of two evils. I mentioned in a different thread that I was thinking about an electric fence but (sorry if this is a really stupid question) would it not hurt the chooks when they pecked around it??

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I don't have a Foxwatch but if you do a search for it on the forum, there are loads of threads which will tell you all about it!

[Cate in NZ]

There are a lot of threads about the Foxwatch on the forum, it is is an electric device (either battery or mains powered) that emits a high powered sound that is apparently uncomfortable for foxes and acts as a fox deterrent in that way. A substantial number of forum members own them, with varying opinions, but they appear to be reasonably effective as a deterrent....however I personally wouldn't rely solely on a Foxwatch to protect my chickens, a hungry fox is a determined fox

 

Check out some of these threads for further discussion ..this.... and ...and this.... There are plenty more too, just click on the search button at the top left of the page, type in foxwatch and look for all the threads to appear

 

Quick edit to add, check out the link that Egluntine posted in the second thread I've linked too....that gives you details of suppliers and how it works etc

[Egluntyne]

Here it is again.

 

**Foxwatch**.

 

I've got one....and I do reckon that it helps, but I would never rely on it totally.

[Mrs Slats]

We have 4 in a cube with an extension. They stay in all day unless we are out in the garden with them. we aim to let the free range for about an hour.

 

They seem happy enough. We give them treats and veg every day, especially when they have been stuck in the run.

 

We've lived in our house for 2 years and twice I have seen a fox sunbathing in the back garden. I wouldn't risk it

[..lay a little egg for me]

I agree that it is the lesser of two evils. I mentioned in a different thread that I was thinking about an electric fence but (sorry if this is a really stupid question) would it not hurt the chooks when they pecked around it??

 

They soon learn to keep away. They actually have to touch the fence (and probably with their beaks, comb or feet as the feathers don't seem to conduct the electricity).