Unsecure chicken perches

[crgpntng]

Dear all,

 

I'm writing this from a considerable position of sadness.

 

With our chicken keeping still in its infancy, we've been deeply upset by a fox attack last Thursday night that saw all four of our beloved chickens killed. With only one of their bodies left in the garden.

 

We've loved our red eglu that was bought second hand from friends of a friend and evangelise about it's fox-proof system and the joy of keeping chickens to all who'll listen.

 

However, we've been devastated by an incident that saw the fox actually get into the eglu.

 

We've been leaving the door to the house open as with three newly adopted ex-bats and one established hen we've had quite a bit of bullying and I wanted the little ones to have space to escape into the attached run. I've never thought that this action could compromise their safety though, as I've always believed that the eglu removes the threat of fox attack. A view further supported by the 'No Foxes Allowed' logos and such online text as 'you can safely leave your chickens in the run with the door to their house open if you are returning after dark or if you're going away for the weekend'. We poured our trust into the eglu system and were religious about shutting them in the run before sunset, thinking that they were totally safe.

 

This post is not so much an attack of Omlet but an attempt to signpost other chicken keepers' attention to a potential weakness in the design. As you can see from the link images, the fox has spent some time digging away at the house end and has been able to come up inside the run and gain access. The unique wave-shaped design of the house where it pins in slightly means that this has been easier to dig under than the run. An Achilles heel we've never been aware of, especially being on wood chippings, something that Omlet suggest as a suitable base for the kit to sit on.

 

I understand that this is very rare (we've only managed to find one other post online where something similar to this has happened) but it's devastated us! Had we only known that this could be possible we would have addressed it with no expense spared. We're regular visitors to the Omlet website and forum and have never seen anything that has even hinted at this being a potential hazard.

 

How can we draw others' attention to this so that they don't go through the same loss?

 

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

OMG! Sorry to hear about your hens thats quite scary.

[bellekatz]

So sorry to hear about this - it must be very upsetting for you and I'm sure other omleteers will take note. As far as I am aware - it has only been posted about once before. Since that time though, Omlet have added an extra piece of run skirt to cover that area. I know my last second hand eglu had it. So maybe if anyone is concerned they could contact omlet about the extra pieces - did nt see them in the shop but am sure you could get a price for them. It doesn't help you though It's maybe smething for others to be aware of when buying a second hand eglu so It's good that you felt you could post about it. Hope you eventually get over this and feel you can go back to keeping chickens

[The Dogmother]

So sorry to hear that - all eglus manufactued in the last two years (I think) have a run mesh attachment to go in exactly that area where your fox dug. I have sited my eglu on slabs to stop any vermin digging in.

 

Would you mind sending in your photos to james@omlet.co.uk?

[crgpntng]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

The run extensions mentioned don't seem to have any presence on the Omlet website and the current picture of the Classic Eglu doesn't look like it has the extra wire mesh. If all eglus sold within the last two years have them, why did Omlet not update the pictures? Please see attached link. If I had seen that we were missing parts on our Eglu, I feel like this could have alerted me to our vulnerability. I'm always having a look round omlet.co.uk

 

Claret, I will email photos and a copy of this post to James@omlet.co.uk, thank you for the suggestion.

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guide.php?view=Chickens&cat=Eglu%20guide

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I am so sorry to read your dreadful news, my heart goes out to you all .........none of my previously loved have had the extra piece of mesh under the house, and I have left my houses open for the same reasons as you have.........I am however in the process of slabbing the insides of the runs to prevent smaller vermin from gaining access it had never occurred to me that the wily red coat would dig under the house, though I've waxed lyrical about the mesh skirt and the houses on many an occasion.........as you have!

 

I'm sorry your first post was such a sad one, I understand if you are less than keen to have any more girls due to the loss of your first ones, but many members on here have moved on to have more chooks following fox attacks, albeit with increased security and have not regretted it.

 

RIP little ones and huge {{hugs}} to you and your family ,

 

Sha x

[The Dogmother]

crgpntng, I am estimating at the 2 years term - I think it's about that long ago - they are squares of mesh, which cover in that vulnerable part.

 

The holes shown in your photos look a tad small for a fox - did you see it happen? Looks more rat-like to me.

 

I have to say that this is only the 2nd time that I have heard of this happening though.

[Redwing]

I have a secondhand three year old Eglu that has the extra bits of run skirt and a newer one that doesnt, I would say they are probably a very commonly lost bit of the set p especially if the Eglu has been stored

 

My Eglu without the extra bits is set of a square of weldmesh to prevent tunnelling so if you decided to keep your Eglu thats worth considering

 

The squares are pretty hidden and non descript so if I am honest I dont think you would have spotted them in a picture not that its any consolation to you

 

I'm very sorry about your chooks

[Guest]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss Our eglu is on slabs but was bought 2nd hand so no idea how old it is, I'm going to dble check that area to make sure nothing can get under as i'd never realised there's a gap there. I'd never thought about it before.

 

xxx

[crgpntng]

crgpntng, I am estimating at the 2 years term - I think it's about that long ago - they are squares of mesh, which cover in that vulnerable part.

 

The holes shown in your photos look a tad small for a fox - did you see it happen? Looks more rat-like to me.

 

I have to say that this is only the 2nd time that I have heard of this happening though.

 

 

We're certain that It's a fox, I think that the angle of the photo could be misleading. It was a big hole!

 

This morning we've also spotted fox like paw prints in the snow all over the garden!

 

Thank you for your comments though.

[The Dogmother]

Thanks for making that clear.

 

Foxes are very hungry right now - they will be birthing cubs very soon.

[james]

Hi,

 

I am really sorry to hear about a fox getting into the run of your eglu. It is a very upsetting experience. As you mentioned, this is an especially rare event however it is one that we take very seriously. Thank you for emailing me with your photos and also for taking the time to talk to me.

 

From looking at your photos, it does appear that your eglu is missing two small sections of run mesh that are normally underneath the eglu. These were added to improve the eglu security about two years ago.

 

If you have an eglu and don't have these small pieces of extra mesh then you are still very unlikely to have a fox get into your run. However, if you are concerned and would like to fit them - we have now added these to the shop at cost price:

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Keeping&sub=Spares&product_id=499

 

To fit them you can also download the instruction manual on the eglu for details on how to fit them here:

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/files/public/eglu_instructions_mk2.pdf

 

Regarding photos: I am also sorry that some of the eglu photos are out of date. We are in the process of updating the our website (the launch date for the new improved site is the end this month) and most of photos of all the products are being updated.

 

Yours,

 

James

01295 757 142

[The Dogmother]

I've just noticed that you left the eglu door open at night... now, I may be mis-remembering here, but I recall that Omlet recommend always closing the eglu door at night to ensure complete safety.

 

I have to add that I rarely do this myself (unless it is really cold) but then both my eglus stand with slabs under the housing and the edge of the run at that end.

[Cooks]

such a sad loss, unfortunately the Eglu never said it was totally Fox proof, theres always going to be a fox or some other animal that will try it's luck, Omlet can only do so much, the rest is up to us as their owners.

 

I am really sorry for your loss

[TAJ]

The skirt makes it a longer job for a fox to dig in, not impossible, so if on soil you do need to check it daily for scratching, plus never site on soft soil that is easy to dig (I read on here about a year ago about someone putting an eglu on a freshly dug allotment and that was easy to dig under).

 

In a known fox area shutting in at night is a good idea. Like Claret, my eglus & cube are all sited on slabs so nothing can dig under and I do then have confidence in leaving the door open - if they are on grass for any reason I do check around the boundaries for any attempted digging daily.

 

Tracy

[Tutti Frutti]

I am really so shocked and saddened at the loss of your girls - but THANK YOU for alerting us owners to this. I'm going to double check if we have the extra panels.

 

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your poor girls .

 

I sited my eglu on some old slabs, mainly to prevent vermin digging in - I never imagined a fox digging that efficiently .

 

I hope this hasn't put you off chicken keeping . If you put a couple of slabs under your eglu (and even consider a line of them along the run edges), that and the extra mesh bits should make it virtually impossible for a fox to gain entry again.

 

It just shows you shouldn't underestimate the fox, doesn't it .

[sandyhas3chucks]

A fox will dig NEXT to the thing it is trying to get under.

Apparently they don't "know" to step back to dig under,.

Only the other day someone posted that they had put bricks on the skirt to hold it down and were told to remove them and use the pegs provided as the fox would "dig" next to the bricks and therefore under.

As someone said they are REALLY hungry at the moment, 1st the Cold now the cubs AND cold!

I read all the fox attack posts, and must admit I thought this vunerablity had been thoroughly talked about on here.

For everyones info ALL our British Wildlife can get through a 4" gap, and Foxes HAVE got through 3" wire to make a den.

 

I am so so sorry about yours girls. It must be really awful for you.,

[K-F-C]

Dear all,

 

I'm writing this from a considerable position of sadness.

 

With our chicken keeping still in its infancy, we've been deeply upset by a fox attack last Thursday night that saw all four of our beloved chickens killed. With only one of their bodies left in the garden.

 

We've loved our red eglu that was bought second hand from friends of a friend and evangelise about it's fox-proof system and the joy of keeping chickens to all who'll listen.

 

However, we've been devastated by an incident that saw the fox actually get into the eglu.

 

We've been leaving the door to the house open as with three newly adopted ex-bats and one established hen we've had quite a bit of bullying and I wanted the little ones to have space to escape into the attached run. I've never thought that this action could compromise their safety though, as I've always believed that the eglu removes the threat of fox attack. A view further supported by the 'No Foxes Allowed' logos and such online text as 'you can safely leave your chickens in the run with the door to their house open if you are returning after dark or if you're going away for the weekend'. We poured our trust into the eglu system and were religious about shutting them in the run before sunset, thinking that they were totally safe.

 

This post is not so much an attack of Omlet but an attempt to signpost other chicken keepers' attention to a potential weakness in the design. As you can see from the link images, the fox has spent some time digging away at the house end and has been able to come up inside the run and gain access. The unique wave-shaped design of the house where it pins in slightly means that this has been easier to dig under than the run. An Achilles heel we've never been aware of, especially being on wood chippings, something that Omlet suggest as a suitable base for the kit to sit on.

 

I understand that this is very rare (we've only managed to find one other post online where something similar to this has happened) but it's devastated us! Had we only known that this could be possible we would have addressed it with no expense spared. We're regular visitors to the Omlet website and forum and have never seen anything that has even hinted at this being a potential hazard.

 

How can we draw others' attention to this so that they don't go through the same loss?

 

 

Omlet only claim that the Eglu is fox resistant... not fox proof.

 

I think that anyone who believes that any method of keeping chickens is fail safe is very naive. The wiley fox will always seize any opportunity.

[Patricia W]

Closing the eglu door at night is the safest protection against foxes. At night the chickens go sort of comatose so where they might bully another, they just don't bother at night. If you are worried about that, get up early to open the door.

 

Foxes are so hungry at this time of year.

 

Tricia

[Chook n Boo Mum]

 

Omlet only claim that the Eglu is fox resistant... not fox proof.

 

I think that anyone who believes that any method of keeping chickens is fail safe is very naive. The wiley fox will always seize any opportunity.

 

It's an easy misunderstanding to make, and unfortunately a lesson hard learned by a few for the benefit of many..........there but for the grace of God go many of us, especially those who like me leave their doors open to give an escape route should one be needed for newbies/bottom of the pecking order girls.

 

I'm sure a lot of us with previously loved older models will be taking measures to reinforce this achilles heel in an otherwise excellent piece of chook keeping kit. Despite having my girls and my first since June '08, I don't recall having my attention drawn to this extra piece of skirting which is now available.........again not a criticism, merely an observation. Given the rarity of this kind of attack, I think Omlet have covered most bases and evolved their design as time has passed, well done to them .

 

Thank you for sharing your nightmare experience crgpntng, it can't have been easy typing it out

 

And Sandy 3inch wire is awfully small for a fox to get through , I'm not doubting you, just shocked, must have been a skinny fox !

 

Sha x

[Chucky1]

Chook n Boo Mum, nice reply. How many of us have not made the odd mistake in the care of our lovely girls and thankfully got away with it.

 

Be Lucky

[TAJ]

 

Omlet only claim that the Eglu is fox resistant... not fox proof.

 

I think that anyone who believes that any method of keeping chickens is fail safe is very naive. The wiley fox will always seize any opportunity.

 

It's an easy misunderstanding to make, and unfortunately a lesson hard learned by a few for the benefit of many..........there but for the grace of God go many of us, especially those who like me leave their doors open to give an escape route should one be needed for newbies/bottom of the pecking order girls.

 

I'm sure a lot of us with previously loved older models will be taking measures to reinforce this achilles heel in an otherwise excellent piece of chook keeping kit. Despite having my girls and my first since June '08, I don't recall having my attention drawn to this extra piece of skirting which is now available.........again not a criticism, merely an observation. Given the rarity of this kind of attack, I think Omlet have covered most bases and evolved their design as time has passed, well done to them .

 

Thank you for sharing your nightmare experience crgpntng, it can't have been easy typing it out

 

And Sandy 3inch wire is awfully small for a fox to get through , I'm not doubting you, just shocked, must have been a skinny fox !

 

Sha x

 

I got mine in Jan 2008 and it came with these bits then - so they have been standard for 2+ years.

 

Tracy

[Chook n Boo Mum]

The difference being mine are all previously loved/second-hand/recycled not brand new, even my although from Omlet is a recon not sparkly, though you wouldn't have known and as somebody said further up, if an eglu has been stored for a while, a small piece of mesh could be easy to mislay.

 

And when I say I don't recall having my attention drawn to this extra piece of skirting which is now available......., I mean I don't recall it being mentioned on the forum before.........and as many of you know I spend far too much time on here , therefore tend notice most things

 

Sha x

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have had 2 new from Omlet in 2009 (neither bought with the run, but looked at the booklet I came across yesterday and ther is no mention or picture of it?

But it has been discussed a couple of times not a piece but a protection measure.

3 inches with photos's here.

http://www.harperaspreywildliferescue.co.uk/threeangels.html