Muppet81 Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I keep reading the horrible stories about you losing your girls to foxes and I am getting more and more concerned. It must be a dreadful experience I am thinking of buying a Foxwatch. I know many of you think they work because you have not had a negative result to date. I guess the proof is in the pudding. Has anyone had a fox attack whilst using a Foxwatch? Does anyone have cats and what effect is there on them? I have 2 lovely geriatric moggies and would hate to distress them but I am so worried about my chicks. My heart goes out to all of you who have suffered a loss to foxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I am going to be guarded in my reply to you Muppet, because I expect most of us have got foxwatches as a direct result of losing a chicken to a fox. Whilst this might seem that we are the perfect group of people to apply to, since it is obvious we share habitats with foxes, the problem, certainly as far as I am concerned, is that I have also stepped up my guard and taken other measures too....as I expect, have others, so cannot comment 100% whether it is the foxwatch keeping the fox away or other things. However, the fox watch, as far as I know, has not been operating anywhere that has had an attack. Here are some negatives: It is expensive (if you buy the mains adaptor even more so), which I have, as I cannot trust batteries...they could run out at any time. The siting has to be careful also if you only have batteries, othrwise your chickens will wear it down very quickly as it is movement sensitive. Ditto if you put it anywhere near moving plants etc. I had to send one unit back for developing a fault after 3 weeks of use. I think Phil did too, although I am sure he will confirm this. To be fair, the company were very fast at dispatching another. Just a caution that of course, all equipment can go wrong! It certainly isn't of a very robust construction in my opinion. Secondly, if your girls are going to free range, you need to be aware of its range. It only has a viewing angle of 100 degrees. That means it has to be placed very carefully, and most certainly will not cover most gardens. It apparently detects up to 40 feet away, which again isn't a great distance, so if you are going to let your girls free range, you would have to ensure they cannot go further than this, otherwise they would be out of its limits. The information which is sent with it states that it might take up to 3 months for a fox to learn to avoid the area. I am not sure what that means, but presumably, it would not be safe to trust it for that period of time. It also states (quite obviously really) that it has no effect on deaf foxes! I don't know how many of those there are around! As far as I am aware, it is OK for dogs and cats. My dogs certainly aren't bothered by it. This all sounds very negative: It is not meant to be, after all, I have one! but I have no proof that it actually keeps the fox away. I guess when I see him approaching and then run off yelping and spitting, maybe I'll believe it and let my girls out of their run again when I'm not there! When this happens, don't worry, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I had to send one unit back for developing a fault after 3 weeks of use. I think Phil did too, although I am sure he will confirm this. nope - no problems with mine - it's been running continuously for months with no problems. I have seen a fox at the eglu at 5am one morning a couple of weeks ago (the window was open and the girls woke me up to tell me!) on inspection the next morning I discovered that the foxwatch had been knocked (possibly by the dog) and so was not covering the proper area - hence Annie's advice about positioning - and there was a wide area for the fox to walk down without triggering it) having said that - it proves there are still foxes around - loads of them - mine free-range all day under the watchful eye of the foxwatch - every day whether I am there or not - I guess I am possibly over-relying on it - but they are both very much alive. there are foxes beyond its range - I find the occasional evidence of a pigeon being eaten beyond my omlet netting - and foxes have been digging in my log pile - leaving tell-tale evidence... in other words I think it works - when properly positioned - but then I take the view that if I do lose another chicken to a fox - then that's part of nature (it's not to say I won't be sad - I will - it's just that I am balancing the obvious joy they have in free-ranging all day with qualitiy of life and quantity of life...) it doesn't affect my dog at all - and I've never seen a cat around here anyway - so I can't judge - though they do sell seperate units for cats - so I guess it is a different frequency. I hope some of this helps! Phil PS - the fox I saw was absolutely gorgeous - not one of the usual manky town foxes - it was a young 'un - lovely red colour. I shooed it from the window - and it looked at me as if i was mad and ambled down the garden. It stopped and turned and looked up at me again - so I made another shooing sound - and it ambled off as if it owned the place!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I've had no problems with mine and I got it in a day or so. I run mine off batteries and generally just use at night, so the batteries don't run down. It beeps when you turn it on so you know it is working. It clicks and flashes red when you stand in front of it. I keep my chickens in the run when I'm not there, and locked in the eglu at night so can't say if it works, but it is an extra deterrent and the more the better. There aren't any signs of foxes. I saw one before we had chickens on the road very early in the morning, and we had an attack, but no other evidence of visits. My approach to protecting the girls is to presume I could get a fox at any time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted August 3, 2006 Author Share Posted August 3, 2006 Thanks all of you I have just ordered one with a mains adaptor. I will be accosting the postman every morning for the next few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted August 4, 2006 Author Share Posted August 4, 2006 Hopefully we will receive our Foxwatch quite soon. Do those of you who already have one have any tips for fitting/positioning? Our garden is L shaped so when the girls are freeranging it would not protect everywhere. We are usually out with them though if they are freeranging. I am most concerned about when they are in their fenced area, which we let them into when we are at home but not necessarily able to watch all the time. The cleaning has to be done some time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 Probably not much help, but I have a long straight garden so just face it down the garden towards the run door. I think it tells you about angles and range on the box. It has a plastic spike which you stick into the ground. We only have it on at night as our foxes seem to appear at the dead of night. I am careful to be in the room facing the run, or shut them in the omlet run during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jukebox Tim Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 I was also thinking of getting a Foxwatch and I'm interested by the comments of some of you who say that you have one and it DOESN'T affect your dogs. The designers/manufactures (ConceptResearch) actually say that dogs DO pick up the sound and also keep away from the area. If your dogs are unaffected by it, does that mean it doesn't work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 How do they actually work? (The website was not very helpful) Is it a noise, or...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 Noise. Very few db so we can't hear it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 A timely warning (I hope) to those of us with Foxwatches. As I am gradually beginning to believe in this product, I want to warn you all to be on your guard about it getting frosted up. I check mine every morning, and this morning it wasn't working. When I got up to it, the sensor screen was frosted up and so was not detecting anything. I gave it a wipe and all was well again, but it might be worth checking yours mornings and evenings to make sure that it isn't covered with frost, especially if you let your girls out to roam. I'm now wondering how I can protect it from the frost a bit more...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Good one Annie! I might invest in one of these! Could you put bubble wrap around it but not on the sensor? You know like you do for plants to keep them protected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqualiv Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 How excited are you Emma? They arrive tomorrow! Sorry not at all relevant to post Olivia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Thanks for asking! Between you & me (and the rest of the forum) im ready to burst but VERY nervous. Going to a famers market tomorrow morning so last minute quizzing of some forum members there before we do a little Christmas shopping in Worcester before we collect the girls from there in the afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqualiv Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Any names ready yet? Olivia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Yes they have names already but i cant possibly give them away The girls will be introducing themselves tomorrow afternoon along with the colour of their urban chic penthouse suite (eglu to you & me!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Does anyone know if these "foxwatch" gizmos affect Cats???? Dont want to frighten my pussy's with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggstatic! Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 I emailled the company and they said that the fox watch doesnt affect cats, that was my worry too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvh Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Hi all I was reading this posting as a non member ( and decided to join ) just to give you our experience on foxes. WE have Araucan blacks and lavenders, and live on 9 acres in Scotland. Due to our propertys position, we get regular visits from foxes, deer, grouse and so on. If you are free ranging your chickens, it would be EXTREMLEY rare, that a fox would enter and kill after sun up+ 1 hour utill 1 hr till sun down. We have never seen it happen in 11 years during these times. Our chickens are a rare breed, and we have seen the foxes just before sun down, and just after sun up, but never an hour either side of those times. Our chickens free range on 6 acres, and to date, not one has been lost, and no fox watch in sight. The key really is to ensure that you get the chickens back in the coop an hour before sundown, and lock up, until 1 hour after sun up. We are aurounded by forest all around us, and plenty of foxes exist in our forest area, so we do know hat we are talking about With regards to Foxwatch product, im not sure if after 3 monhs the sly old foxes wouldnt have worked it out, as they are clever little blighters For those on the forum with over an acre of grounds, the utimate fox deterrent is the Alpaca You can get a good one ( not for breeding ) for around 250-300 pounds, and whilst this may seem expensive compared to foxwatch at 50.00, the alapca needs no battery, electricity, bring you hours of pleasure and rid you of the fox at anytime !! Foxes hate them, as the Alpaca stamps on them The sad thing, as im sure most forum members would agree that have experienced fox kill, is that normally, the chickens are just bitten on the neck and left lying in a pile of feathers, which is normally the fox training the cubs how to kill. They are a nuisance, but, have been around a long time, and an animals instincts are normal, and whilst it is very sad when it happens, it is sadder to think that the chickens were killed not because of starvation, which deep down you can accept, but for training the young. I hope this gives a bit of new insight into the fox problem, and truly, if you stick to the times indicated above for releasing the chickens and putting away, you will have very, very few problems indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Welcome to the forum dvh - you will have a lot of people on here going because your set-up sounds absolutely idyllic. It's great to hear your experience, but I have to point out that rural fox behaviour is very different to that of urban foxes. Sadly, if you read the 'Fox attacks - what happened' thread you will see that many fox attacks happen in broad daylight. I'm not discounting your own experience, but for those living in urban areas I think it would be a very high risk indeed to assume that foxes only attack at dawn or dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Foxwatch is fine with cats (though a 'ca"Ooops, word censored!"ch' equivalent can be bought) - only foxes and dogs can hear it. I've had a foxwatch for 18 months, and think it's fantastic. It's very easy to say that I've (so far) had no fox attacks therefore it works, but we used to have a big problem with fox poo - a fresh one every day. With foxwatch, we've had none in 18 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
