likeastar--x Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Hmm. Just spent a reasonable amount on a contraption that id hoped might help in the fight against Mr Fox, but it seems to be a bit of a con for me I know some people swear by them but when we got ours we turned it on and it was definatly working, and we put it directly infront of my dog so she set it off (to see if it was working) and there was no reaction. Weve tried it a few times since then, but she doesnt even lift her head AND a fox came today and was sniffing the run, trying to work out a way in. I think it must have set it off because it walked right in its path, but it didnt even flinch. Theres no way it could have heard it before anywhere else and be used to its noise. Am I doing something wrong? Or is it just a cleverly advertised piece of rubbish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I have had a Foxwatch for over a year and I used to swear by it, but over the last couple of days I have had a fox in my garden in broad daylight eyeing up my chickens I think the Foxwatch does deter foxes but due to the cold temperatures I suspect a very hungry fox will endure anything to get food. I wish it would just hang around outside the local takeaway Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seagullukuk Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Might the cold weather interfere with the effiency of electrical equipment? I remember cars not starting in very cold weather because the battery didn't work as well as in warmer weather. Also might the cold change the frequency of the sound emitted by the fox watch? Or is this just some mindless ramblings from a cold brain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Just wanted to add that I'm not surprised your dog didn't react to it as dogs and foxes hear at different frequencies, so it would not affect your dog. Having said that my cat will not walk past my Foxwatch presumably because she finds it uncomfortable. My Foxwatch is run from the mains so it is not a battery problem. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 Does yours make a sound when it activates? Ours makes a high pitched buzz whenever it turns on...is this not normal? I read that dogs could hear it so people with dogs couldnt get it etc. i dont think cats can hear it as they hear at very different frequencys to foxs, which are more doglike, though they might be able to hear the slight whining sound that occurs whenever it clicks into action! we tried the foxwatch on the dog indoors when we first got it so it cant be the cold...maybe we bought a fake one? to be honest the whole thing could just be one big lie...i mean we cant hear the noise, so maybe its just a box with a flashing red light thats fooling us all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 They do make a buzzing sound when switched on. Three pages of info from the manufacturer **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 The manufacturers do say it doesn't work on deaf foxes and it takes time e.g. days to work and train the fox to avoid the noise i.e. the first time it won't be deterred. I see it as one of a number of measures e.g. being careful freeranging and making sure there are no gaps in the chickenwire. I wouldn't rely on it on its own. The fox has to enter a specific area that is covered by the sensor-it should flash if you walk in that area. It does click as well as flash which is the sound out of our hearing range being activated. It makes an audible noise when turned on, except when the battery needs replacing, then it just flashes continuously with no noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 I don't think it's a con, but it is possible you have a defective one. The first one I had seemed not to be working, it would only trigger if you walked right in front of it, and not at the range that the manufacturer claimed. I sent it back and got a replacement, and have been very happy with it. If you walk in front of it you should get a red light and a clicking noise - the buzz only happens when you first turn it on. As Chocchick says, it's only one of a number of measures, but I am convinced mine has reduced the number of fox visits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Just wanted to add that I'm not surprised your dog didn't react to it as dogs and foxes hear at different frequencies, so it would not affect your dog. Having said that my cat will not walk past my Foxwatch presumably because she finds it uncomfortable. My Foxwatch is run from the mains so it is not a battery problem.Tessa That's odd ??See earlier thread http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16263&p=296791&hilit=+frequency&sid=599370f6d00efa42fe407b7ad0291eb5&sid=599370f6d00efa42fe407b7ad0291eb5#p296791 Apparently, http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/HearingRange.html the hearing range of dogs is 67-45,000 Hz and cats 45-64,000 Hz. and chickens... I hear you ask ...........................125-2,000 Hz but I'm confused by these numbers. So, I emailed concept, the makers of foxwatch who replied (very promptly) "FOXWatch works on the frequency of 40-45 khz and the CA"Ooops, word censored!"ch works on the frequency of 21-24khz. The FOXWatch will deter Foxes and Dogs. (CA"Ooops, word censored!"ch will only deter Cats.)" Just shows - animals - always unpredicatable, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 ours makes a whining high pitched noise aswell as a buzzing sound...could this mean it is defective? how does it work, does it frighten the fox so it would be alarmed to hear it, or is it just annoying for them? maybe that would explain why my dog didnt react ours are about 90% safe in a walk-in run, but we didnt want there to be loads of netting and gates and whatnot, so its made with trellice (i think thats what it is) and the gate has to be lifted off a catch, not opened. so they are basically pretty safe, we just dont want the fox near to deter it from knawing at the wood or scaring the chooks. weve set up CCTV (weve really got into covering every angle ) outside the run so we can watch when the fox comes and what he does. so far he did approach it, but although the chickens were out he retreated fairly quickly, but he did see us watching. he marked his scent and left. i thought the noise was meant to frighten the fox so it would jump and try to get away when he heard it, but if its just a detternet thats supposed to annoy them, maybe it is working correctly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 hi there LAS, I hope it isn't trellis. want to post photo's for us. trellis is usually just a light wood, some stretch, it is not strong enough to keep out a fox in the slightest. probably something else. you can get a roll of wire which has loads on it from Hills of Devon, about £60 for 1.6 gauge either 3 or 4ft high about 30metes.nds like the fox watch is working, but I have no experience of one. rest assured that fox is waiting his chance, keep watching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 It is a trellis type fencing, but its very strong. I could stand on it, thats how strong it is. its about 10cm thick aswell, so they cant chew through it, i dont think. is that what you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 piccys pleeaassee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 i saw mine work last year, a fox stood infront of mine shaking it's head & then ran away, it came back a few mins later & tried to circumvent the sensor but backed away again. But the following day it came in from the other side, so you do need to move the thing around to catch them out, foxes soon learn how to avoid it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 This is interesting. I have two Foxwatches. Last night I heard barking and looked out to see two very large male foxes in my garden, standing on my frozen pond scratching at my fish, whining. It really upset me, as we have never had them before. They were just out of range of the Foxwatch and I watched them - they did not go near it, or near my chooks who were safeley locked up in their Eglu. I think they are hungry with the sudden cold snap and so we all have to be more vigilant. I also wipe my Foxwatches in the morning if it has been frosty...they mist up and they used to mist up more and stop working when I had them on batteries. They fact that my foxes avoided the area that the Foxwatch covered shows they work. I will also be buying some Scoot today to put down on our boundary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 scoot? what's that? Anyone got foxes they can see tried Ucadex maybe on fences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
