sadietoo Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I know I am stating the obvious and teaching many of you to suck eggs but this is just a reminder that even in previously fox free gardens you cannot rely on your girls being safe in this weather...after losing a girl in the snow last year to a fox, we have updated our defences, and haven't seen a fox in our garden since...that is until today, when a (rather a gorgeous - bushy tailed not all rangey like some ) fox, who must have had true grit and determination, made his way on to our patio.....He/she looked rather lovely against the snow, and I would have liked to snap a photo, but DS chased him off before I could get the camera out..no doubt he/she will be back... and just as before he/she will find my two girls safely locked in their eglu run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I have never really felt that my girls had been visited by a fox before but yesterday there was fox prints in the snow all around their WIR .. it had obviously been trying to get in... luckily when i built it I had considered foxes and it has weldmesh under the flooring and then then mesh is sealed between the panels so that it cant be pulled out so hopefully they will stay safe in their WIR. Good luck everyone though x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I had fox prints too - 2 nights running............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 yup, found foxy prints today as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Had fox prints too, all around my coops so got OH to bottle his wee before he left for work just now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 No fox prints but there could be any time. Thanks for the scary reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Saw a squashed one yesterday Since my borders chased off a vixen last week, we have had no screaming or prints in the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Luckily when i built it I had considered foxes and it has weldmesh under the flooring and then then mesh is sealed between the panels so that it cant be pulled out so hopefully they will stay safe in their WIR. Hi. May I just ask how deep down you put your welded mesh into the ground? Ground currently frozen so the building of the WIR is on hold - just curious for when we will start building again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 18 inches or 450 mm is a good depth to set it at, Or just splay it out at the same amount over the top of the ground, that way the fox cannot dig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 What I did was make the wir in frames and then each frame I left mesh hanging over the sides and top and bottom then wen I put the frames together the weldmesh got pulled into the run and sandwiched together so it can't be pulled out. Then the bits at the tops and bottoms we pulled in and then connected it with more mesh so that it is whole mesh cage. We put paving slabs under the Walls of the run for extra safety then inside the run, we put compost and a really thick layer of hard wood chip. In hindsight I wished we'd put a layer of pebbles or stones to help drainage before the wood chip to aid drainage. It's just deep enough so that when they scratch about they don't get to the mesh maybe about two or three inches. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherchuck Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 I never believed that a fox could get into our back garden with it being completely surrounded by a 6ft. high fence but I, too, have found pawprints in the snow all around the eglu and run in the last two mornings. On Friday morning I also found part of the bedspread used to cover the Eglu in shreds! It just shows you can't be too careful. The foxes must be desperately hungry at this time of the year. Omleteers be aware!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
