callyfc Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Phew...we've had a close escape. like many we leave the eglu door open at night, I was woken by? skwaking at 5am but thought I must have dreampt it cos when I came round all was quiet, I looked out of the window and saw nothing unusual. At 7.30 when my 10yr old went out to say goodmorning and get the eggs she came in telling us there were feathers all over the run. I ran out, all three girls came to say hello and everyone looks fine . There were quite a few feathers in the run and the shower curtain over the run had been ripped. Biscuit is looking a bit scruffy on her l side, but theres no skin damage. Im now frightened to turn by back for 2 seconds, is it cruel to let them out for several 15mins lots over the day, or kinder to only let them out once for less than an hour? The Eglu door will be firmly SHUT from now on. Except we are going away at half term and my father in law wont be round till later in the day, we will have to leave the door open at night then Will Mr Fox be back today????Will he ever give up? I cant help but think Im being watched in my own garden. Going to get my OH to pee round the run tonight.....probablt too little too late Ideas welcome Cally x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PluckedChicken Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Do you know anyone with a dog? We have a dog and we leave her poo ( ) by the run over night which generally keeps the foxes away. We've had a visit from Foxey loxey before, I didn't see him but in the morning I found a fox poo right at the eglu extention door. He had obviously been sitting there watching the chickens in the eglu and left a little calling call. After that we started leaving the dog poo there over night and just pick it up teh next day. It seems to work so maybe you could borrow some dog poo (god I feel ill, the vom smilie isn't enough) to deture the fox. Saying all that, urban foxes will still come and do what ever they want so theres not alot you can do about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PluckedChicken Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 it was definatley fox poo BTW. It has a distinct smell/look..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 it was definatley fox poo BTW. It has a distinct smell/look..... I know what you mean, lil Monty loves the stuff! Gross bag. We now cannot walk the top of the local woods without him having a good roll but I have said if he does it again I will put him up for adoption! We hosepiped and scrubbed him every day for a week and I could still smell it! Euuuuuugggggghhhhh! (Monty is my dog not a child before anyone calls NSPCC!! I would probably just leave the door closed at night but make sure thats from about 7pm now as the nights are creeping in. Their are the odd fox attack in the day but I think it just depends where you live. We have never seen any foxes near us ever yet where inlaws live they're always about in morning and evenings. I think city foxes are the braver ones or maybe they would rather hunt the sheeps in the fields near us??? Good luck, you definitely had a lucky escape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I love the idea of asking to "borrow" some dog poo. I can't imagine anybody getting upset if it wasn't returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callyfc Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 Thanx for all the advice.....even the dog poo bit Im so nervous, we live in a town, but near a big park where the foxes live, I think they venture out when the kids go back to shool and the park bins are not full. unfortunately my girls now cant be let out that much in the week when Im in and out working. Roll on the weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Lots of people on the forum swear by the Foxwatch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jools+6 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 human hair in old tights . go to the hairdressers , we are only too happy to help but dogs are a great deterant ollie got rid of the cat along the road yesterday . mind i think the girls were in control and poor buttons ( the cat ) realised he had bitten off more than he could chew ,ollie probably saved some face for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 human hair in old tights . go to the hairdressers I would also suggest this, its a simple idea which will add to your security measures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Phew! That was a close call- just goes to show just how fox-resistant the eglu run is, i.e. very............ Now the fox knows where the chickens are he'll always be knocking around, I'm afraid. I have heard that foxwatches are really good- perhaps try one of those. As for free ranging your hens will soon get used to whatever routine you decide is best for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I think it was Egluntine, but someone on here recommended Silent Roar - pellets soaked in lion's wee. I've got some and intended to put them out once I've mown the lawn this weekend. Two to four of the dang things are sitting on my shed roof round the clock now watching the chickens. The other thing you can do for peace of mind is put concrete paving slabs round the edge of the run. Gives them something to contemplate if they are planning burrowing under. A bit more work for them. I got a job lot from my local freecycle recycling group (google 'freecycle' for your local group). I still want a shotgun and think the government is most unfair not letting urban chicken keepers 'pop a cap', as I believe the young ones say, in a fox's rear end. Foxes got me going REALLY gangsta. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Could you possibly construct some kind of walk in run? Would be especially helpful for when you're away too?? I know it would cost alot but would be worth it long term. We used to live in a suburb and our long garden backed onto the junior school playing field, we were constantly worried about foxes which resided in and around there, with our bunnies at the time, unfortunately we had two casualties and one VERY close call (me one side of fence - Mr the other-bunnies in between! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I still want a shotgun and think the government is most unfair not letting urban chicken keepers 'pop a cap', as I believe the young ones say, in a fox's rear end. Foxes got me going REALLY gangsta. Anna x Innit tho, foxes dissin' me home girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Someone else on here also recommended putting prikka strip or netting over sheds and surfaces they sit on if they are going to glare at your hens like they do mine. And beer cans on string to clank together - apparently they don't like the noise. I'm going to try all of it as I've just been standing over the hens in the garden with a fox three metres away ready to pounce. While I was there! I want that danged shotgun!!! Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Mrs Chook, is it 'innit' again? I thought it was 'is it', is it? Can't keep up with da yoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 If it's any help we had a fox attack really early on when we first got our chickens in April this year. I went out early one morning to find the shower curtain over the Eglu run pulled to one side and torn almost in half. There were bits of plastic all over the ground where he'd spat bits of it out! And muddy paw prints all over the Elgu house. But he didn't get my chickens and we've never seen him since. Nor any evidence of him in the garden - i.e. fox poo etc. Their Elgu is now inside a walk in run though, with 16 gauge weld mesh, maybe he's given up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I'm going to try all of it as I've just been standing over the hens in the garden with a fox three metres away ready to pounce. While I was there! I want that danged shotgun!!! Anna x Yowzers!! Cheeky @£&!)@*£YR%!! By the way I think both innit or is it are acceptable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callyfc Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 Thanx for all the advise, Sorry but whats foxwatch???? still a bit of a newbie. Cx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Foxwatch is a device which lets out noise above the human range of hearing which really irritates foxes and makes them steer clear of the area from which it is eminating. It's supposed to keep foxes, dogs and cats away. There are folks who sell them on the internet if you google the word 'foxwatch'. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callyfc Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 Thanx....just googled and ordered a foxwatch, also found the link on the forum..............told you I was still new ti this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piptiddlepip Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Airguns are still legal. Get one with a silencer. It won't kill the fox but it will blooming well hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Oh dear. Whilst most of us are not pleased to see the fox, I don't think injuring one is a good policy. An injured animal can be a dangerous animal, apart from the cruelty aspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 If you injure an animal and don't kill it humanely, I think it contravenes some law or other. The Hunting Act 2004 and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 have all sorts of rules about when it's ok to top this and not ok to top that. I've been doing my homework. Very dull homework. In other news, I currently smell of lion wee as I have been chucking Silent Roar pellets over the roof of the shed. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 In other news, I currently smell of lion wee as I have been chucking Silent Roar pellets over the roof of the shed. Could be worse....you could smell of Rive Gauche. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I used to wear Rive Gauche a long time ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
