Kenilchick Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 I have had my chickens for 15 months now and have never seen a fox, until today . My garden is fully enclosed by other people's gardens and as I am at home most of the day (with a dog in the house) I let the chickens free-range in a netted area accessible from their eglu run, practically all the time. Until now I have never had a problem - and convinced myself that foxes don't roam around here during the day. I always lock them back in their run well before dark. Anyway, I was out in the garden after lunch, topping up the girl's water and thought it strange the chickens were staying in the run and not joining me down the bottom. I heard a noise as something jumped onto the compost bin and scrabbled on the fence. Thinking it was a cat, I looked to see what it was and saw the head of a fox staring at me (it had got itself trapped/fallen down between the fence and next doors garden shed). We looked at each other - I couldn't believe it, before it struggled to free itself and was eventually successful . Now - what do I do . I am worried to let them free range when I'm not physically in the garden with them. If I leave the back door open so the dog can go in and out of the garden whilst I'm working in the house do you think that will be OK???. The WIR is nearly finished - it just needs the roof putting on and then they can move in. My DH is going to get alot of nagging tonight! Phew - close call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Sounds very similar to us! Garden surrounded by others, all terraced with no side accesses or anything. But couple of days ago, after 20 months of chook keeping, a fox was in the back garden. Was not amused! Fortunately, the chooks were safe in their run at 5am! We are being very "risk adverse" at the moment. Unless we are in the garden, the chooks are in their run. Like you, before if we were in the house they were let out, but now I have seen a fox and seen that the chooks didn't even start bokking or anything to raise the alarm, I am not risking it. Fox Watch is about to be ordered (think found the one we want) and that will make me feel a bit better generally - but unsupervised free ranging I think is a thing of the past . Could you use an electric fence? We can't - our garden isn't big enough unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 I frequently see foxes in my garden during the day, they also do a regular trip to the garden around dusk/evening time. There was one at the top of my road yesterday at 2 pm when I was walking Cookie. She nearly pulled me off my feet. I think its a bit risky to rely on your dog though to guard the girls if they are free ranging and you are indoors. They can be so quick. I've not tried foxwatch but lots of people do so perhaps that might be worth a try if you want to free range them. If I had space where I could put electric fencing to let my girls freerange then I would but the only place I could do that is surrounded by fences and I think the fox would simply jump into the area. Good luck and I hope your girls stay safe and happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Glad you and your girls were lucky this time. Sadly there seems to have been a lot of fox activity lately, and vixens will be feeding cubs so needing extra food. Just to make the point - daylight does not mean foxes won't come round; 6' or even 7' fences won't stop them; people on here who have dogs have still had their hens taken, and as you've discovered, the fact that you have never seen a fox before does not mean that one won't come calling. Electric fencing, a walk-in run or supervised free-ranging are the only safe answers in my opinion -it does limit the free ranging that my hens can have, but I'd rather they were safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Just want to second what the other posters are saying. We are in exactly the same position as you with our garden completely enclosed by neighbours' however, a fox took one of my girls at 1.00 pm whilst they were free ranging just before Christmas. ...and as you will see from a recent posting at 5.30pm a couple of saturdays ago a fox waltzed into the garden as bold as brass whilst we were all in the kitchen looking at him (he didn't leave in quite such a dignified manner, after I'd thrown my shoes at him (the only thing I had to hand) , but fortuntately because of my new regime, my girls were safely locked in the run so no harm done. I will only free range under the closest supervision now, and even lock them away if I have to pop into the house for anything. I have a foxwatch and as far as I am concerned it is a chocolate fireguard Electric fencing or a WIR are the only things I would rely on ...even close supervision isn't foolproof..they are so quick and can decapitate a girl in no time (sorry to be graphic but that's what they do ) so if you have many girls you won't be able to watch them all. Thank goodness no harm was done today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
