Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Gelbel]

Alternatively you need a man with a gun.

Or some wee - it does make a difference. Get it sprinkled around your borders (please do not say you live in a 200 acre farm or some great mansion ).

 

I am so sorry to hear about your fox attack - it's a horrid thing to happen. And I have to admit I chuckled to myself when I saw a splatted one on the main road yesterday.

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

 

 

I am so sorry to hear about your fox attack - it's a horrid thing to happen. And I have to admit I chuckled to myself when I saw a splatted one on the main road yesterday.

karma.

 

Cilla is doing quite well now, eating like theres no tomorrow (well, maybe thats what shes scared of now ) I'll probably bring in her indoors during her recovery as shes on her own now and snow is expected once shes strong, I'll buy her 2 more Hen buddies..

Foxy didn't return last night which is good, but I'll be forever worried for my gang now

[Donna C]

well done, lots of tlc and hopefully she'll be back to normal. I think it's a lesson we could all learn from. As the weather gets colder mr fox has still got to feed his family( not with our girls though).Please can you confirm if it was an eglu and what you've done to keep him at bay

[scarlettohara]

Glad she's on the mend I think Diamond Chick has a wooden coop and run.

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

I have wooden housing yeah, it does my head in, but cant afford a cube sadly, my little boy uses all my spare funds . The Fox wasn't even hungry! It left my dead and injured bird on the grass

[Aunty e]

This is why we got our WIR, persistent and really cunning fox attacks - I got ours second hand from eBay and it wasn't too expensive, but lots of places like Bay Animal Housing do smallish runs for not much money. You don't need a monster like ours if you're popping little chooks in it.

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

We're going to build a WIR asap. Ive wanted one for ages, and after this it needs doing!

[Roobaloo]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss ....hope the injured bird is recovering well, poor thing!!

 

The Fox wasn't even hungry! It left my dead and injured bird on the grass

 

Please don't hate foxes...They don't know these birds are our beloved pets, they just smell food...and find it nicely enclosed in a box. It's just nature doing what it does.

Foxes don't kill without reason, it will have been planning to stock pile food ready for winter, so it was probably disturbed by something.

 

What set up do you have? How did the fox get to them?

Could you not make your own "skirt" around the run...all you need it some mesh and a staple gun....cut the wire to make four strips (to match the sides of the run, plus extra to make sure you have the same width all the way round - so if the skirt is 30cm wide, add 60cm to each length...) If you can afford the thicker, heavier wire then it'll hold itself in place, if not then you may need to place some weights on the skirt to make sure it can't lift or bend!! Be aware that (ironically) traditional "chicken wire" isn't considered to be fox proof...

Failing that, make a mesh base for the run...hens still peck the soil but nothing can dig through?

 

If you can't make the enclosure secure, you'll need to continue to bring them in each night.

 

Any idea where the fox is getting in the garden? Foxes tend to follow a regular route, make that route unfriendly or block it off and your garden may be avoided in future.

 

Please don't worry about your son, there have been occasions of fox bites in the media but they are very rare and usually happen because a child has startled, cornered or grabbed a fox that has wandered into a house in a search for food. Foxes like easy food...and don't want to get hurt (hence why they so rarely cause cats any trouble) Teach your boy that foxes aren't dangerous..but just like unknown dogs or cats, he should stay away from them...and if he sees one, he should step away and make a lot of noise!!!

 

Remember that simply killing a fox is not the solution...especially as, if you're not careful, you may be breaking the law. Correct extermination can cost a lot...plus all it does is allow another fox to move into the territory and you're back to square one.

 

I hope this helps!!