Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Nicola O]

The last two or three months there has been a really bold fox coming through the garden. If he appears during the evening and 'lingers' I send the ginger terrierist, Freda, out to chase him away, so he realises that there is a nutter of a dog here but he really doesn't seem bothered.

 

He has tried to dig under one of the eglus so I slid a wire panel underneath to stop him, and there have been no more signs of digging since. I have a fox watch which doesn't bother him one bit - I keep changing it's position to catch him out and he's actually CHEWED THE WIRE to pieces to stop it working. It's now got a battery in it and he walks up to it and cocks his leg on it. He's also weeing by the back door as I can smell it as I walk out into the garden.

 

To top it all, last night I spent half an hour in the freezing cold laying blankets over the coops (I know many of you will say its not needed but I do worry, especially the new ex-batts who aren't fully featherd yet). This morning they are all pulled off and scattered about the garden, By the way Freda was smelling them I'm sure he's peed on them, and he has chewed a couple of holes (typically in the 'perfect' blanket - not the one that already has holes it it ). The one on the cube was pulled half off but there were muddy footprints on the top, so the beggar has been up there as well (he's also dug a hole in the middle of the lawn last night). So spent another half hour just now putting them all back again (freezing, as only in dressing gown).

 

Sorry to ramble, I just feel so , I know theres not much I can do and he is only doing 'foxy' things, it's just SO annoying and frustrating.

 

I'll go and drink my tea and calm down now. NIcola.

Edited November 27, 2010 by Guest

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

I lost a Hen last weekend to a fox and one was seriously injured (shes ok now) theres things I could suggest. but its probably not allowed darned things!! Mine hasn't come back since (I don't think) but I'm closing all pop holes now due to the weather, so maybe it doesn't know they're there??

[Angie]

That would get me going.....

Our local council's pest control deal with annoying town foxes .....would yours help you ?

[C&T]

There is some really really smelly stuff that you can buy. The idea behind it, is you can put it on cloths (old sheets or something) and put it down any dens that you maybe unfortunate to have in the garden. My parents had foxes under the shed, and this stuff got rid of them, without harming them. (I know the temptation to "harm" them is very high, but practicalities if nothing else makes this tricky!)

 

Don't know if you could use this where the foxes are coming into the garden? You would have to keep your dog away from it, and do use gloves and a long stick if you use this stuff - it STINKS! It might make the fox change it's route if you are lucky.

 

Wish I could remember what it is - but I'm sure some googling would find it...

[Patricia W]

I think I'd talk to the pest controller. If it's that bold it may be a threat to small children. Also, they do carry mange sometimes. My sister's dog caught a really nasty dose of mange from a fox which had taken up residence under their garden shed.

[Gelbel]

If you have a grown male in the house get him to 'water' your borders. It should work - I've seen a fox cross the road to by-pass our house. The fox thinks the males hormone means a very big, tough dog fox is about.

 

When the DH is at home he collects what comes naturally and sprinkles it around each evening - even in this dark.

 

I caught Madge eating the snow that came overnight - didn't her mum tell her not to eat yellow snow?

[scarlettohara]

I use a big garden sprayer with a weak solution of water and jeyes fluid, we have the same problem and their wee stinks. Obviously don't spray anywhere your chooks can get to (think it is harmful to hens) but it does seem to work, I spray over the fences ,on top of the eglu and round the WIR. I have had a vixen screaming her head off lately and 2 nights ago she started at about 12. I got up and took the dogs outside and they went crazy - throwing themselves at the fence and leaping up at the shed roof which she must have been. Have not heard her since

[Nicola O]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Blue Diamond Chick - sorry to hear about your fox attack but glad to hear your little surviver is OK.

C&T - I'll see if I can find something like you mention. Ideally something I can spray on the fencing to stop it coming over in the first place.

Gelbel - no males in this house I'm afraid, only the cat and he's 'been done' .

 

I've been out today and stretched a bungee cord over the top of the eglu and hooked it onto the wire panel I had slid underneath. It seems to hold quite firmly so I found another wire panel to go under the other eglu and bungeed that as well. The cube has a couple of bungees wrapped round it horizontally, hooked onto the run. Now lets see if foxy can get the blankets off.

 

Nicola

[Aunty e]

The foxes trashed every single one of my cube rain covers, and they were pretty tough! Just ripped them to shreds. The smell is awful too, so musty and horrid. If you find an effective fox repellent spray, let me know!

[Nicola O]

If you find an effective fox repellent spray, let me know!

I'm sure it's just wishful thinking really, it can't be that easy can it .

 

Nicola

[sjp]

There is some really really smelly stuff that you can buy. The idea behind it, is you can put it on cloths (old sheets or something) and put it down any dens that you maybe unfortunate to have in the garden. My parents had foxes under the shed, and this stuff got rid of them, without harming them. (I know the temptation to "harm" them is very high, but practicalities if nothing else makes this tricky!)

 

Don't know if you could use this where the foxes are coming into the garden? You would have to keep your dog away from it, and do use gloves and a long stick if you use this stuff - it STINKS! It might make the fox change it's route if you are lucky.

 

Wish I could remember what it is - but I'm sure some googling would find it...

 

I think you mean Renadine it's no longer legal in the UK as it's tar oil based. I used it when it first came out it only kept me out of the garden not the cats or foxes

see here:- viewtopic.php?p=155579

[Daphne]

I'd put up an electric netting fence - I think its the only way to deter foxes. As you obviously do have a persistent one it would seem to be a matter of time before something distressing happens, particularly given this cold snap? Having seen the aftermath of fox attacks on other people's hens, its not something I'd want to see again. The other option, depending on where you live/your views is to get a pest controller in.

[Nicola O]

Well, the bungees worked for two out of three houses. The and were fine, but the blanket on the was pulled off again. The bungee was still attached and the blanket and bungee was pulled down at the back of the eglu so Foxy must have got hold and tugged it from behind. It must have had to put some effort into it as the bungee was really tight.

 

I think Daphne is right, perhaps the best solution would be an electric fence. Mum keeps asking what I want for christmas......so .......

 

Nicola.

[OllieNLucys Mum]

I have found nothing works as a deterrent not the sonic stuff or any kind of smelly stuff.

 

I use electric netting and its been very good I had it on a small energizer which when my neighbouring farmer saw it he cracked up so I now have a whacking great one that would power up to 10 miles of wire

 

It puts a good charge into the net and so far its been ok. I have sited it well away from fences trees barns etc as foxes have a pretty good jump on them.

 

If your hens are in a small garden very close to fences this may not work for you but you could put the net very close to the hens at night they are easy to move as come on spiked metal poles so would only take a few minutes to set up.

 

Nothing though is 100% as far as Mr Fox is concerned. Sometimes it just feels foxy and i get a really bad feeling so then I do shut them in their cube run. It has the extension on it but they so much prefer free ranging the paddock (behind just the net.)

 

I have been told that once a fox knows chickens are there they never give up.

[sandyhas3chucks]

what's that stuff we use to stop bullying???? the really pongey stuff

sorry brain gone blank on me

apparently it is the same ingredient that they use on sheep to keep foxes away!

 

regarding the fox watch, I have 2 both the first 2 bought separately were faulty and did not work. both were replaced. one of these has also developed faults so returned it, they changed the sensor the swith the sonic, so basically everthing bar the housing.

worth sending back for checking.!

both mine are plugged in to mains.

I also use luggage straps under eglu & over door for added peace of mind and a garden chair leaned over it.

If I used one permanently and was not having a WIR I would make an Eglu like WIR cover, to stop him/her climbing over the Eglu, can't be nice for te girls to ghear this going on.

You could also contact a local wild life rescue, perhaps they would catch it and relocate it!

[Nicola O]

what's that stuff we use to stop bullying???? the really pongey stuff

sorry brain gone blank on me

Do you mean Ukadex (I think its called something like that) that's a good idea.

 

regarding the fox watch, I have 2 both the first 2 bought separately were faulty and did not work. both were replaced. one of these has also developed faults so returned it, they changed the sensor the swith the sonic, so basically everthing bar the housing.

worth sending back for checking.!

both mine are plugged in to mains.

Mine was plugged into the mains and I am positive it was working fine, then the begger chewed the wire into several pieces. It now has a battery in it but the fox continues to wee on it (according to what I have read it is the fox trying to show 'dominance' over it).

 

I think the best solution would be a walk in run or electric fence, I completely agree with you Sandy that it can't be nice for the chooks to hear the fox scrabbling about around them.

 

You could also contact a local wild life rescue, perhaps they would catch it and relocate it!

I've done a lot of googling tonight. My local council does not 'do' foxes as they are not considered vermin. They have a link to a rescue centre that has a phone number with a recorded meassage to advise about detering them, I will call it. Apparantly, it is illegal to trap and relocate an urban fox, they have to be destroyed according to one website I've read. But anyway, once one is removed another would take it's place (though I admit that another fox may not be as much of a nuisance as this one).

 

Oh, and just to add insult to injury, I've discovered that foxy has a wife/girlfriend, as twice in the last few days he has run through the garden with a pal at his side.

 

NIcola

[chris_21]

i'm sorry if this affends people but the simple thing is shoot the damn thing thats the only way you can stop it coming.

i have guinea fowl to alert me when a fox is about as they make the most awful noise. i had to shoot one the other morning at 4 am as i saw it creeping along to the chicken sheds. plus foxes are classed as vermin so you won't get done for killing one. sorry if this as affended people.

[Egluntyne]

plus foxes are classed as vermin so you won't get done for killing one. sorry if this as affended people.

Not quite true. If you deal with it in a humane manner, and a clean shot counts as humane, you will not be breaking the law, but if you use any other means, such as snaring or poisoning, then you will.

 

For most urban chicken keepers, shooting isn't an option, as we don't tend to keep firearms, and in any case, killing the fox only creates a vacancy which will be quickly filled by another one.

 

The onus is upon us chicken keepers to make certain that our security is as robust as it can be.

[Nicola O]

Well, after a lot of thought and googling I decided to go for traps, and yesterday two traps were dropped off and I set them up before I went to bed (baited with slices of smoked sausage) and lo and behold, Mr Nuisance Fox was in it this morning !!! Even the trap chap was amazed when I rung him - you never get them going in on the first night apparently.

 

So he's now gone, I do feel a bit guilty as I know whats happened to him and I did apologise to him this morning (stupid I know ). Trap chap has left the traps with me to see if we can get fox wife/girlfriend as well, but I do feel a sense of relief knowing that the real problem one has gone.

 

Nicola

[beach chick]

well done Nicola!! what happens to foxy now? a new home, or the great fox run in the sky?

[Nicola O]

Yes, I'm afraid it's the great fox run in the sky.

 

In all the googling I did I learnt that as well as it being illegal to hunt, snare, poison etc, it is also illegal to trap and release an urban fox in a different area (can result in a £5000 fine and/or prison sentence ) the only option is to euthanase (spl?) so when trap chap said the fox would be 'dealt with' I knew what he meant.

 

Nicola.

[Chucky Mama]

Be careful as another fox will move into the now vacant territory.

[Nicola O]

Yes, thanks for the reminder CM. I am aware that another could soon move in, but I'm kind of hoping that the next one won't be such an annoying pain in the wotsits as this one has been. I have had the odd fox in the past come through of an evening (once dark) but they have never been such a nuisance in the garden as this one has been.

 

Still feel a bit guilty but I know I've done the best thing for the girls.

 

Nicola.

[scarlettohara]

I think you are very brave - it's not an easy decision when you are faced with a live animal Who did you ring to get the traps ?

[Henhathnofury]

Foxes - such a tricky subject. A fox in the right place is a beautiful thing. But out of context or pestering people who have animals to protect, makes them a nuisance. I saw one the other night in our garden - a garden I thought was secure. Although I knew that the girls were locked in their aviary, locked in their eglu, it still upset and unsettled me. This fox sounds persistent and it might well have found a way to get the chickens. If we had one, I might have to take the difficult step too. I love my girls with all my heart - so I fully understand.