LJ's Chooks Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Oh it had to happen... we've had our chooks since january and no sign of foxes during the day, just night time. Then all of a sudden this week we have one in the garden pretty much all the time. I'd convinced my self it was a veggie fox cos it was only interested in the bread i put out for the birds and would sit at my back door, but yesterday it was definitely checking out the chooks and has gone from a glance at them to popping back on and off during the day to see if they are out. So the girls are safely in their cube run!! What do i do.... we have a huge area fenced off for them, but only with a 5 foot fence. Will they get over that? the chooks occaisionally do, so i suspect the fox will, do i use electric fencing around the outside.... but what about the kids or do i add another extention to the cube run (one extension already) and keep them in for a while. I know we've been lucky, they are out most days, all day, but now i'm scared. The chooks dont like each other, so ranging in the big pen gives them the space ..... Oh, tricky... think i can feel another extension coming on!!! Help and advice please >>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Sounds like a great excuse for a walk in run to me. The chooks can then have more space to roam about and be safe from the fox. I would only let them freerange if I was actually in the garden if I had seen a fox. Good luck what ever you decide to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave36 Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Hi The fox will get over that no problem im afraid, is the fence from omlet as you can electrify them? the fox will keep coming back trust me and wait for the right moment. For the time being i think i would lock them away, i would if they were mine, Im not sure if there is a perfect thing to keep them away, ive heard about fox watch maybe you could look that up on the internet, I beleive it sends out a high pitch scream that they can here when detected, agian im not sure if this affects cats as well if you have them. Good luck Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Hi, I don't think you can ever be too careful where 'they' are concerned. Could you convert the enclosed area (or some of it) into a walk in type run with a roof? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Just in case you are considering it, foxwatch does not upset cats. We checked on the internet, and then when we plugged ours in we kept putting our cats in front of it to test it. Apart from the looks of disgust we got for being used in such an undignified manor we got no other reaction from our moggies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 It doesn't affect doggies either, mine take absolutely no notice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I share your concern. My garden is surrounded by foxes and I have opted for the electric fence option. My 6 girls now free range all day within 50m of electric fence. So far (6months) foxes have been kept out 100% and I now have peace of mind for the safety of my girls. There are certain safe guards you have to keep up with, i.e. always have the fencing switched on, make sure the perimeter of the fencing is free of long grass and any other obstructions, clip errant chicken wings (the grass is always greener on the other side of the electric fencing ) and make sure your battery is sufficiently charged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
