Tilly Bud Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Just a quick question. I lost my chickens to a fox yesterday and i'm heartbroken. I want to try FoxWatch before i consider getting any more chickens to make sure it works, but i'm worried as to how it will affect me two cats. Has anyone got FoxWatch and cats? And does FoxWatch really help deterr them? I have 2 extensions on my run so there's lots of room in there, and i know the Omlet runs are very safe. Thanks you to anyone who takes the time to respond! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 So sorry to hear about your chooks I don't have a foxwatch so can't help with your query, and I'm sure someone will be along very soon. Just wanted to send ((hugs)) and sympathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Tilly Bud, sorry about your chickens. Sorry I don't have Foxwatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Bud Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share Posted December 3, 2008 Thank you both. I'm heartbroken. I can't bear to go out into the garden because it feels so empty. Everytime think of them i start crying again. It's horrible to know i'll never see them again, but i also can't imagine my life without chickens now. I just can't go through this all over again, i'll need to know they're safe before i welcome any more into my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 I am so sorry for your loss. When Mr Fox got my last three chickens (mum looking after them while I was on hols) I just used to gaze into the empty coop, It was awful. I waited two months and got four new ones but it was at least another month before I felt bonded, so to speak. Not had a fox anywhere near the coop since I got a Foxwatch. I bought a cheap CCTV from Aldi and had it recording all the time for the first month, just out of curiosity. There have been no foxy tracks in the snow either. The FoxWatch ultrasound frequency doesn't affect cats (you can get a Ca"Ooops, word censored!"ch that does). It should be audible to dogs but my two have never been bothered. I chased my yougest dog round the garden(bad mum!! ) to see if it had any effect. Best of luck, get those new chooks in the Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 I am so sorry to hear about your girls..... I do have a foxwatch and a dog... he takes absolutely NO notice of it at all!!!! Saying that I dont think that it should be used as the only deterrent against Mr Fox if they are freeranging during the day, maybe electric fencing would be better..... But I think they are very good for extra protection while they are roosting or in the run.... hope that helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 So sorry to hear about your chickens. I've got 2 cats and 2 Foxwatches. The cats take no notice whatsoever of them so I'd say definitely go for it. "Our" fox came consistently during the day and night in the days between us seeing him and the Foxwatches arriving. However, we've not seen him in teh back garden since. 2 things though: 1. Make sure you run the Foxwatch off the mains - they eat batteries in about 5 days or so. You have to buy a mains adaptor which is a bit extra but definitely worth it in the long run. 2. Although the Foxwatch is reliable, remember is only a deterent. Don't ever totally let your guard down or let your girls free range without supervision as foxes can come any time of day (I was in the house with the back door open when the fox came that first morning). My fox is still around - we've not seen him in the back garden since getting the Foxwatch but we know he's still around as he sometimes liberally spreads our rubbish around the front garden for us Good luck with getting your new chickens soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Bud Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share Posted December 3, 2008 Thank you everyone, you've all been so helpful. I appreciate all the advice i can get on the forum, it's so nice to have a comminity of people at your finger tips who are so supportive. Thank you. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Sorry to hear your news. I have a Foxwatch. I wouldn't rely on it totally, but I do think it helps. It shouldn't affect your cats because the frequency is different apparently. Some info **here**. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 I don't have a foxwatch but you have had lots of good advice on that subject but I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear that you have lost both your girls. Such a shock and so sad. All you can do now is to look forward to getting some new girls to cheer you up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 So sorry to hear of your girls. I definitely recommend a Foxwatch, but as has been said above - it's a deterrent, don't rely on it totally. I've concluded that the only thing I can do is restrict free-ranging to when I am actually in the garden. Luckily I have a garage full of s"Ooops, word censored!" wood that needs sawing up, otherwise I'd be shivering out there at weekends. It definitely doesn't affect cats - mine doesn't bat an eyelid. With regard to what Lydia says above, I've heard a lot of people complain that the batteries run down very quickly. Well mine last for months! I have it positioned with its BACK to the run, but so that the detector beam covers the likely path that the fox would take. If you have it facing the run, it will go off every time the chickens move - and yes, that will run the battery down quickly. I don't think mine is triggered more than five or six times a day probably - I'm sure the cat, squirrels etc set it off but there's no way of knowing. However my batteries have lasted several months. I move it every so often, because the fox is smart enough to work out a route that will avoid the beam - so every few days I just turn it 45 deg or move it a foot or two. Do get one, and do get some more chooks - you must be devastated, but it can happen to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Hi there, I am so sorry about your chooks. I have two cats, you can see them in my siganture, and we have a foxwatch. When we first got it I kept making the cats run in font of it to set it off to check it didn't up set them, they didn't even flick an ear. I run it off the mains as I leave my girls unsupervised within omlet netting all day while I am at work, so i use the fox watch to supervise while I'm not there. I know it's a calculated risk, but they enjoy they're freedom so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Yes I take the calculated risk and my girls freerange behind a chicken wire fence all day. I have two foxwatches and would recommend running them off the mains. I moved over from a battery powered one and found that the strength of it was better with electricity. I have no foxes, my own cat and lots of cats come into the garden. So sorry to hear of your loss...really sorry...big cyber-hugs and I hope that you can love some chickens anew.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
