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

[seraphine]

I think I'm going to order one of these this week, the reviews I've found on the net have been positive and Google returned a thread from here where people had mostly good things to say. However, that was from 2006, so I'm interested to know if anyone still has a Foxwatch and is still getting on ok with it?

 

We're trying to do all we can to protect our ladies from foxes, we've had a couple in the garden this week, first time in ages

[Carol U]

I have had a Foxwatch for over a year and have been delighted with it. We are surrounded by foxes, but haven't seen one near the hen run since the Foxwatch was installed, whereas previously we used to find pawprints on the eglu and all round the run. I would get the mains adaptor though as the batteries run out so quickly. Also, if you have a large garden, you might need more than one to cover the whole thing. I wouldn't rely on them 100% when they're freeranging, but they're the most effective deterrent I've come across.

 

Hope that's helpful.

[seraphine]

Thanks Carol, that is really helpful. I've found the Foxwatch and mains adapter for a really good price here http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/foxwatch-p-1722.html?source=googleads&gclid=CN7lnf65o5oCFQEEZgodW1ZI9Q, if anyone else is interested in buying one.

[quickcluck]

Same here, no complaints and most importantly no foxes!

[Space Chick]

Wouldn't it bother my dog and cat if I got one?

[seraphine]

Wouldn't it bother my dog and cat if I got one?

 

I believe it does bother dogs, but not cats.

[Henhathnofury]

I have two, both on mains. In January, two foxes got through our gate and into the garden. They were on our frozen pond, scratching to get at the fish. I knew that my girls were safely locked in the eglu and so I waited to see how they would react to the Foxwatches, as the pond was out of its range. They climbed down off the pond but skirted outside the Foxwatch's range. Then they might have triggered it because they ran off, without going anywhere near the chickens. So I can honestly say that I saw it/them in action - these were clearly really hungry foxes and they woud have investigated the chickens if they could. We subsequently fixed our gate and our girls freerange all day.

 

The Foxes will hear the Foxwatch being triggered during the day as well...so they will avoid your garden.

 

I would recommend putting it on mains if you can - it is tiresome to check and change the batteries. I think that the signal is stronger as well..

[Brindles chooks]

Thanks Carol, that is really helpful. I've found the Foxwatch and mains adapter for a really good price here http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/foxwatch-p-1722.html?source=googleads&gclid=CN7lnf65o5oCFQEEZgodW1ZI9Q, if anyone else is interested in buying one.

 

Thanks for the link Seraphine, and to the others for the advice. I will add a Foxwatch to the ever-growing 'Things Wot I Need To Keep Chooks' list.

 

Kate

[Sky]

This looks just like the sort of thing which would help when we go away for a few days in June. Relatives are coming to do the chickens at mid day every day but I was worried about leaving their ladder down at night so that they could come out at their usual 6.30 in the morning.

 

Do you think if I position the Ark near the house and use Fox Watch to protect it would be safe to leave them at night with their ladder down?

[WitchHazel]

We have two foxwatches (large irregular shaped garden).

 

One of them ate batteries, because it was really close to the girls and was getting set off all the time. We moved it, and in the end we put them both on mains.

 

They are really good. We have seen a fox in the garden who tried to walk up the Cube but turned at the foxwatch and left the garden.

 

They don't foxproof your garden - and won't stop a very hungry fox - but they are excellent an excellent deterrent.

[Lydia]

Yes we have two of them as well both on the mains. Not seen the fox in our garden since we installed them although it does regularly sit in next door's garden during the day.

 

We don't rely on them completely and always supervise freeranging.

[seraphine]

Thanks all, really helpful replies I'm about to order it now, with the mains adapter, that deal seems to be really good. Another job for my long suffering husband is to sort out mains power outside - he's going to be a busy bee!

 

I wouldn't use the Foxwatch in place of supervision when the girls are freeranging, but if it works as a deterrent then that alone is fantastic - we're sick of fox poo on the lawn, with a 14m old who's just learned to walk it's an absolute nightmare worrying that she's going to fall in something nasty

[Sky]

Thanks so much for this topic. I am also going to give it a try - have just ordered one with mains adapter - hope my dogs don't leave home if I accidently leave it on when they are in the garden Also, must make sure that I don't include "next door's garden" in the range or else their dogs will be off as well!!

[sheik]

We have one, after losing our first flock to the fox.

I can't say for certain whether it works for us, but we have not found any fox droppings in our garden since it was installed (previously we had a few suspect piles) and during the few weeks we had for snow there were no tracks around our run.

 

We use batteries and I have to say they last months for us - we do turn it off during the day though.

 

/\dam

[sandyhas3chucks]

thanks for link.

reminded me... just ordered.