4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Yolky]

Well I just saw, for the first time, a fox, bold as brass, in my back garden strolling past the chickens (who were, thankfully, locked away safely in their WIR)

 

I guess it was checking out if they were in the run or not. I think he must be in the garden more than I think because the chooks didn't bat an eye lid, not a bok or anything, they just carried on about their business. I ran out and barked like a dog at it

 

I then went down to the garage (in a separate block at the end of our cul de sac, to tell my husband what I just saw and then the fox started walking down the road toward us, not even bothered by our presence, so I again chased it away.

 

Although it made me feel scared seeing a fox so close to my beloved chooks it has given me a wake up call. I usually let the chooks out in the garden to free range and I am in the house getting on with housework and stuff, if the kids are home they are in and out of the garden but they do get left out their alone. This will not be happening again, not even for a second. They will only be out in the garden when we can be out there with them and I shall also be putting the netting up so they only can go to places near the house, rather than near the end of the garden where a fox could jump in and take one from under my nose.

 

This does mean they will free range alot less but, thank goodness, we do have a 2m x 4m WIR for them so they do have plenty of space in there and we have things in their for them to do (rocks to jump on, lots of branches for perching) and my husband has promised to build them a higher up platform with a ladder to add to their space. This should get him to do that quicker too as he is very attatched to them and so if they can't go out so much they need as much space as poss in the run.

 

Watch out for Mr Fox people, he is a sly old devil.

[Guest]

oh dear blooming Mr Fox..your chickens smell divine!

 

u r quite right bold as brass and he will b back.

 

My neighbour has had a silkie taken from a fence post whilst she was looking at it! under her nose literally.

 

Fortunately you have seen foxy before he did any damage to your hens

 

[Chickvic]

At least your girls are safe, scary thought though

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm glad you spotted him before he managed to do anything .

[Barkisland]

Thank goodness you spotted him and had a chance to review your arrangements. So many of us here have lost chooks to foxes before realising it was such a problem.

I let my girls out today for the first time. We have been saving for an electric fence before we dared to do it - far too foxy round here. It was worth the wait, I felt totally confident letting them out and was even able to return to the house for a while to escape the rain - although, I confess, I still watched them intermittently from the back door!

[*mummy_hen*]

It is a scary thought. We saw one cross the main road a few minutes from our house the other evening and although i have never seen one near our garden before it makes you remeber not to take risks with the girls.

 

Luckily it sounds like they have a lovely space to roam around in during the day and i'm sure they would rather be looked in and safe than out in the garden unattended with Mr.Fox on the loose.

[Scotty]

I also used to let my girls free range while I was getting on with housework or working in the office, they seemed blissfully happy and I thought totally safe as next door had a dog who patrolled his garden! and while I did nip out occassionally to check on them, this was short lived... funny as you always think this will never happen to you and your girls...

 

Although after our fox attach he didn't actually kill he did seriously hurt 2 of them. thankfully my third was safely nesting. The other two had ran down the length of the garden and were both sitting as close to the conservatory as they could get quite a task for a 210ft back garden when you're injuried.

 

We ended up loosing Margot, her wing had been ripped off and it was kinder just to have her put down. Flossy had her back scalped with very deep wounds where he had grabbed at her as she nodoubt tried to escape. She did actually make it back to full recovery but talk about lessons learnt...

 

Don't under estimate the fox. People constantly encourage them into their gardens and they are brave and fearless.

[Guest]

I also used to let my girls free range while I was getting on with housework or working in the office, they seemed blissfully happy and I thought totally safe as next door had a dog who patrolled his garden! and while I did nip out occassionally to check on them, this was short lived... funny as you always think this will never happen to you and your girls...

 

Although after our fox attach he didn't actually kill he did seriously hurt 2 of them. thankfully my third was safely nesting. The other two had ran down the length of the garden and were both sitting as close to the conservatory as they could get quite a task for a 210ft back garden when you're injuried.

 

We ended up loosing Margot, her wing had been ripped off and it was kinder just to have her put down. Flossy had her back scalped with very deep wounds where he had grabbed at her as she nodoubt tried to escape. She did actually make it back to full recovery but talk about lessons learnt...

 

Don't under estimate the fox. People constantly encourage them into their gardens and they are brave and fearless.

 

Yep I have an aunt lives in a really built up part of london they live and breed in her garden and she feeds them!! urgh

I was always told one fox will cover a 7mile area of territory & electric fencing is the only thing that will stop it(apart from someone with a gun licence of course)