Chicken bald back

[reggy81]

So we have a fox watch which is positioned at the "correct" height and it is now a mains one so no excuses as to the battery must be running out, so why oh why is there currently a fox standing on top of the cube house? And why is there most mornings fox prints all over the cube? It can't be bothering the chickens as they are still laying and everytime we spot the fox on top of the house we let our male dog out to chase it. I don't understand what we're doing wrong with fox watch? Any advice gratefully received!!

[HENthusiastic]

Oh No! We ordered a foxwatch about 30 mins ago!!

[reggy81]

I've only ever heard good things about them so I shouldnt worry, I'm just wondering what we're doing wrong! Although the only answer fox watch would have is that the fox must be deaf!!! Ha ha!!

[quickcluck]

My OH is saying, is it clicking and flashing OK? Or a deaf fox

 

If you are a boy Reggie could you not go and pee round the run? Its supposed to help prevent them!

[reggy81]

I'm a girl but we have a boy dog and that doesn't seem to make a difference! Yes the fox watch clicks and lights up very well, the only thing i'm wondering is how high does the fox watch cover? Maybe the fox jumps from the fence onto the house and that way doesn't get zapped?

[quickcluck]

Hmmmmmmmm good point......

 

OH is saying if foxy is coming in from the back he may be missing it........ he is researching hold on..........

[reggy81]

We tried creeping up behind the house but majority of time foxwatch comes on. We moved the position of fox watch so it covers the back more too! Such a nightmare!

[quickcluck]

Blimey, he's a persistant little "Ooops, word censored!"

[reggy81]

We've just seen in the kleeneazy catalogue some plastic strips containing spikes that you can glue or nail onto the top of fences to help prevent "Unwanted visitors into your garden!". Think we're going to order some to put along hte fence near the cube and I think i might stick some to the cube house so then it has to go on the ground and be caught by foxwatch - if that doesn't work then its definitly a deaf fox!!

[quickcluck]

sounds like a good idea! be careful if you put them on the cube as my girls sometimes sit on ours for an aerial view!

[Lydia]

The foxwatches are only designed to cover a specified radius which is outlined on the leaflet it comes with (I can't remember the exact radius), so it is possible your fox has got in via an area not covered. This is why they are marked as a deterrent only.

 

It also depends on the layout and shape of your garden - there may be a shed or a wall or even a shrub disrupting the signal perhaps?

 

We have 2 foxwatches - one positioned covering entrances from the front garden and one covering them from the back. There is a patch to the side which is not covered by either and we're working on that. However, I am as certain as I can be that my girls are secure in their run and secure in their cube. I never leave the door open and I never let them freerange alone.

[Sky]

You say that you send your dog out to chase the fox off. When you send your dog out does the FoxWatch bother the dog because it certainly does mine, they won't go anywhere near it! If it bothers your dog then it is definitely working and it must be a deaf fox perhaps

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have all sorts of dogs here big small, NONE deaf and the foxwatch doesn't bother any oif them

I thought it was at a frequency that dogs could hear also & put off getting one, then thought I would like to be able to turn oit on when no dogs about. But don't need to.

Not seen a fox since before we had chickens but lots & lots locally.

Just hope they are so fat & well fed they don't want to try.

The maan at primrose where I ordered it said it only effects some dogs. And some foxes too it would see,

Mine too is def working, and on mains!

[MadAboutChooks]

I agree that foxwatch only effects some dogs. I have two dogs, one the smaller one it seems to effect, the bigger dog it dosn't.

 

Although we have found footprints on top of the eglu since using foxwatch, we have only found them once or twice. Where as before the were bothering them early evening, all night and early morning. So although I would not say that they are totally avoiding the area they certainly dont like spending too long around the foxwatch. Dont know if these comments help, but good luck and I hope that you get things sorted.

[Barkisland]

We have lots of foxes round here, I can definitely recommend an electric fence

[HENthusiastic]

Dont you need really flat even ground for an electric fence though? You cant use them on lumpy bumpy rough ground can you?

[Guest]

We have lots of foxes round here, I can definitely recommend an electric fence

 

Second this only electric fence will work on a fox apart from a gun. Fox watch does not seem to be a 100% effective certain solution,if you want certainty electric fencing or shoot it.

 

Fox watch can be false economy indie

[HENthusiastic]

"Ooops, word censored!"

[Guest]

Dont you need really flat even ground for an electric fence though? You cant use them on lumpy bumpy rough ground can you?

 

 

Unless the ground is mountainous you should be able to adjust the posts to hang the electric fencing on. Personally I would use horse posts as they do have hooks all up the post and I probably would use some horse tape at different levels(so you dont have to worry about it touching the ground).

 

I think you need to have a good look at different electric fence tape/rope/netting options.

There are lots of different types. If an electric fence can stop cattle and horses am sure it will stop a fox. Sheep are escape artistes and it works with them!

 

 

When I get round to it I am going to electric fence an area around my wir that is full of weeds it borders on a deep ditch and is uneven, once its set up will post some pics...

I am thinking of equine tape but may go for netting(still not sure yet)

 

Love electric fencing brilliant product(& I can assure you it does give you a shock...so the fox wont munch on this)!

 

indie

[HENthusiastic]

I'll look forward to seeing your pictures.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I agree that foxwatch only effects some dogs. I have two dogs, one the smaller one it seems to effect, the bigger dog it dosn't.

 

Although we have found footprints on top of the eglu since using foxwatch, we have only found them once or twice. Where as before the were bothering them early evening, all night and early morning. So although I would not say that they are totally avoiding the area they certainly dont like spending too long around the foxwatch. Dont know if these comments help, but good luck and I hope that you get things sorted.

I find once or twice disturbing, means it isn't effective surely? only take one visit.

Flippin heck I would have been inclined to get someone in to deal with that fox or ig up some sort of electrucution if i had a fox like that. Def leaving my WIR now wher i put it for the winter. right next to the house!

[FlyingRamses]

We have two foxwatches and spikes on fence which seems to have done the trick for now.

 

Of course, the last time a fox appeared in the middle of the night, I heard noise, went down and the girls were all out frantically trying to get out to see him, they were very relaxed and looked happy!!!

 

And I thought chickens went comatose at night . . . . . not my lot!!

[OwenLdn]

We have a fox watch- and despite what the manufacturers say my cats absolutely hate it- I made the mistake of carrying one of mine in my arms when I walked past the foxwatch and it went off- boy- I think I still have the scars!

 

But having said that I haven’t- touch wood- seen evidence of a fox in the garden.