cordelia Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hello....we've heard screeching noises in the night, its not our chickens...but I'm not sure if its a large owl.......or foxes??? my husband thinks its foxes...we are backed onto by fields and farmers fields....we are classed as semi rural..as its only a small village.. anyone any ideas...chickens are locked up at night in eglu....but still worried... we have a labrador, so I let him out last night, to ward anything off... I had heard the noise the other week too....its not screeching cats...as we have cats, and I have heard every noise (I think ) that they make.. its not hedgehogs...they make a most terrible noise ..honestly.... we, well i thought we either had werewolves or cows in our garden, on investigation with husband and dog..it was two hedgehogs...you wouldnt believe the noises they made...cant imagine what they were doing !!!!!!! anyway ..screeching?? could it have been foxes?? or do they bark ?? thanks oh and sorry if this has to be moved...I really looked this time, and couldnt see anywhere better...:-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 sounds like foxes to me.... they screech where we are, and very loudly I have to say If you are worried about your chooks, have you thought of a foxwatch?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 ..foxwatch???? oh and you do think its foxes ;-( ..just found mention of it on the forum about 5 minutes ago...thanks....I'll have a better look....have to make sure it wouldnt affect our dog..thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Nope, my doggie is fine with it, it's a different frequency apparently... So far no foxies been in the garden since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Foxes make a horrible noise when engaged in amorous pursuits. Often the police are called because people think a woman has been attacked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Definitely sounds like foxes. We get them here and they sound like they are being tortured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hi Cordelia Some wildlife calls at night sound really creepy especially if it's a still night as the sound really travels even in urban gardens. I'm often woken at night by Tawny Owls as they make quite a din too, they don't always sound like the twit-t-woo that we associate with a owl. The ones we can hear in our garden sound like Sound 2 on this web page (a bit like screechy Kee-wik sound) http://www.bto.org/gbw/Tawny_Owl_Survey/Listen_to_Tawny_Owls.htm Here is another sound bite:- http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/t/tawnyowl/index.asp Foxes sound very different from a dog more like a very co"Ooops, word censored!", ho"Ooops, word censored!" cough 'cum bark as they call to each other as they hunt Here is a link to what a fox sounds like http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-archive/wildex.html scroll down to Red Fox. Here is another one I found too - you have to wait a bit for the call but its a good representation of what you are likely to hear - you first hear footsteps, then a dog and then the very distinctive fox bark. http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=27522 Do they sound like either of these? H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted September 26, 2008 Author Share Posted September 26, 2008 helenmb..thanks v much for the links...the foxes (couldnt get the red one working)...were the noise I heard...so I would say they were foxes....drat...but thank you very much.... I'll be sure to only have my girls out with our dog...and think we'll look for a foxwatch or buy from web... many thanks.. I love to see foxes..I've seen them in urban streets...not here...but I obviously dont want them taking my ladies.... thanks for the help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hi again Cordelia Sounds like might need one of these:- http://www.earth-systems.co.uk/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3&gclid=COmmpNW--ZUCFQ2L1QodjjDqEA Its a fox deterrant - if you search in the forum you'll see comments on the foxwatch unit. Good luck - Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Typically urban foxes are quite bold and unafraid of people - they've learned there's no need to steer clear. And foxes in rural areas do still tend to be more wary. Also, those screetches can be quite far away at night, but sound closer in. So, try not to worry too much about the risk from foxes: they are real predators but you can still keep your chickens safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 It could definitely be a fox. They make an awful racket around me as we have loads of urban foxes. I've often woken in the night and peeped out to see them play-fighting in the street in front of our house. We never had them around until we got chickens. I lost one of my girls to a fox last year so it's worth making sure your girls are safe. All that said, it could also possibly be magpies. They can make some awful screeching noises too when roosting at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 I also have heard fox noises at night - the screech is mating and the barks are usually two territorial foxes squaring off against one another. Get a Foxwatch or two and put it on mains, have it on all the time. Get hubby to wee around the eglu regularly (or put it in a jug and pour!) and at places in the garden. Hang up tights with human hair in them. Buy some 'Scoot' - there are lots of deterrents you can use. But these foxes are acting naturally and being night creatures - that's good news. Try not to worry but I understand your angst - that sound is really chilling. But the girls are tucked up safe in their eglu and presumably, in bed before full dusk. We all know the fox fear and sadly, I see the little ginger devils so differently now...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Have you considered using the Omlet pegs to secure the run into the ground and putting concrete slabs round the run - for peace of mind? I've got a wooden coop and the slabs deter foxes from burrowing under the run. I picked some slabs up for nothing on freecycle (google it - it's a brilliant free swapsies website - there should be one local to you). Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Sounds like foxes, quite an eerie/horrible sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted October 3, 2008 Author Share Posted October 3, 2008 thank you for the advice...you should have seen husbands face , when I said about the "help in hte garden".......it was a picture !!! it definietely isnt mag[ies...we hae a host of those and jackdaws..and the noise they can make is amazing...!! but I think it must have been foxes... so far we are ok.... thanks for the help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
