How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[ChrisEllis]

Excuse the pun in the subject!

 

I was wondering, i am having chickens free range, and where i live foxes nd predators aren;t a problem during the day, infact i never seen a fox but i knw they come out late at night - plus ur neighbours shoot them - we live rural essex.

 

I would put the chickens in their coop and lock it every night hours before foxes would think of venturing and so is it ok to have a 4 ft. chicken wire fence for the chickens? is tht safe enough, i mean i dont want it to stick out like a sore thumb hence its that low and people have said they dont have troubles with it.

 

We have a gardener walking past it every day early until afternoon and then i come home so no fxes etc woul venture near at day time but seeing as the chickens are inside at night and locked up it isn;t much of a problem

 

I know ive written a lot, anyone help me with confirming im choosing the right size.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Chris, just because you haven't seen a fox doesn't mean there aren't any there in daylight hours........some of our members have dreadful tales of fox attacks in broad daylight with humans only feet away.

 

I would suggest a secure run for when "Ooops, word censored!"ody is around and only free range when you are going to be there to supervise....or at very least an electric fence.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Sha x

[Egluntyne]

Foxes are as bold as brass and won't be too bothered by someone walking about....if they can see a juicy snack, they will pounce, and I'm afraid will very easily hop over a 4' fence.

[ChrisEllis]

What size do you recomend, im not really wnating a hideous 6ft one which some have, my next door neighbours have never been attacked and i think their fence is 4 and a half -5

[chick wiggle]

Im sorry Chris but no-way would I trust that foxes dont come around during the day especialy as you say you know they are about. A fox only has to get slightest whiff of a chicken and they wont give up. A few members who have never seen a fox at all have had dreadful experiences and I would hate for you to have to go through that. Good luck with whatever you decide to do

[Egluntyne]

The recommendation is 6'.

 

Your only other options are to have an electrified fence or to only allow them to free range under supervision.

[Falkor]

Silkies don`t like to get wet so some sort of outside shelter may be a good plan too

[ChrisEllis]

I have decided that i am going for just over a 5ft fence, no electric fencing, my next door neighbour has been fine and if nature takes its course and the fox gets to my chickens before i get to the fox! - then that happens but if it becomes a huge problem and im constantly losing the chickens thats the point i will get a higher fence, i dont want it to be an eye sore.

[xScrunchee]

I have decided that i am going for just over a 5ft fence, no electric fencing, my next door neighbour has been fine and if nature takes its course and the fox gets to my chickens before i get to the fox! - then that happens but if it becomes a huge problem and im constantly losing the chickens thats the point i will get a higher fence, i dont want it to be an eye sore.

 

Give me an eyesore over dead pets any day of the week

 

I hope that 'nature' doesn't take it's course for the sake of your hens

[Redwing]

How about a low run with a roof or wire over the top? sort of like a rabbit run but much wider and longer? they dont need a huge amount of height - that would get around both problems

[Chunky_Monkey]

A fox won't just kill one chicken for food, it will kill all of them. That's what happened to my mum's friend's hens. I would always put my chickens safety first rather than on how the garden will look. I would at least put them in a run if I were you.

 

Even though I haven't seen a fox in daylight, I would never leave my hens out unsupervised. If no one's in the house, they have to go in the run. Better safe than sorry.

[Lewis]

I'd think electric netting would be cheaper than 5 foot fences? and would be a bit better, especially as you already know you have foxes around the garden.

 

You'd also be able to move it around so your grass looks ok and keeps worm numbers in the soil down

[Woodcat]

hey

 

 

I would worry more about keeping your chickens in than foxes out if you don't have problems in the day. 5 foot would probably be heigh enough that they couldn't fly out but if you haven't already i would personally clip their wings even if they can't jump that high normally.

 

 

Beth

[Falkor]

How much fencing are you going to need Chris as 5ft could be expensive.

 

I think Lewis' idea of the electric fence is a good one if the chooks are not going to have a secure run.

[Jools]

If you need to contain them, then 4 or 5ft probably will keep them in, particularly if you clip a wing. It won't keep a fox out, but then a 6ft fence won't either because there will be a weak point which a fox will find. Electric poultry netting is much less visible, especially if you buy the dark green stuff, and if you wire it up, it will keep a fox out provided there's nothing it can use to jump over it. Clipping a wing does make the chicken less agile though, which is a problem if they need to get away from a predator.

 

What you do very much depends on where you live and what your neighbours have experienced. I hate tempting fate, but I've been keeping chickens this time round for six years and mine free range within their garden areas during the day. There is no way any of those areas are remotely fox proof, though they are terrier proof as my dogs are the biggest threat to my chickens! Several of my farming neighbours keep chickens too, and as sheep farmers, they also keep on top of the local fox population. Their chickens free range in their fields and they don't lose stock to foxes either. There is quite obviously a risk, even in a very rural area, but I'd be inclined to take the lead of your neighbours. In actual fact, I think poultry are less vulnerable in some circumstances if they aren't contained because they're less likely to be cornered and killed.

 

Before I'm shouted down, can I just add that none of this works if you live in a non-rural area where foxes scavenge day and night. If that were the situation, then a completely fox-proof run day and night is the only answer.

[ChrisEllis]

I live extremely rural, my neighbours have got away with a smaller than 5 foot fence before, i dont want to electreture myself or the hens or the cats, i dont know how they work but i prefer nothing that will shck me to be honest. five foor is high enough, we have 6 acres so spaceisnt an issue, when i say free range i mean that their pen is 15x15 metres and a 5 foot fence around that 15x15, im pretty sure if my neighbours are ok and their garden is very open plan im sure i will be ok as mine is quite enclosed.

[xScrunchee]

My advice is simply to do whatever you feel is best for your situation.

[Guest]

Hi

 

I didnt want a big high run so have one just under 5 foot with a roof. You could make a low one and mesh it on the roof to keep it light to move etc. It doesnt have to be high just completely contained. Or electric fence.

 

I live semi rural & old foxy chops has visited my garden with ducks and me sitting in it. My neighbours full time gardener is at work from 8 am and the fox still bold as brass comes in. Afraid the chickens will be the fox dinner 100% guaranteed in Essex

 

But good luck , food for thought..oops sorry indie

[ChrisEllis]

Hi

 

I didnt want a big high run so have one just under 5 foot with a roof. You could make a low one and mesh it on the roof to keep it light to move etc. It doesnt have to be high just completely contained. Or electric fence.

 

I live semi rural & old foxy chops has visited my garden with ducks and me sitting in it. My neighbours full time gardener is at work from 8 am and the fox still bold as brass comes in. Afraid the chickens will be the fox dinner 100% guaranteed in Essex

 

But good luck , food for thought..oops sorry indie

 

I think im going to stick with a 180cm ( jus over 5 ft) fence without electric fencing or a roof and my neighbours havent seen a fox and only on a few ocasions maybe and they havent got the best chicken security and so im guessing i should be quite succcesful.

 

Different circumstances all over the place, if i lived back in rmford in essex then i would make a roff and everything as i saw a fox three times a day but living here 5 years i have never seen one so they are pretty scarce and so problems shouldnt be so much.

 

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

Much appreciated