Mollie333 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Hi all, I had a call from a friend today saying that she's lost her hens, one of them being mine who she was using to hatch eggs. Another fox attack. They managed to bite through the chicken wire and into the coops, killed the broody and ate the eggs (coming up to hatch date) She is now re-covering her runs with Livestock mesh. So just a warning for you all, chicken wire isn't fox proof, and can end badly for the hens or birds, no matter how safe it looks. R.i.p Barbie Mollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Thats really sad I too have seen chicken wire in tatters after being bitten through and even had a rat bite through one of my runs (thankfully it was empty awaiting some weldmesh) I have seen the most tatty chicken wire set ups though and the chickens havent come to any harm - it astonishes me when my pens are like Fort Knox and still subject to attack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 The fox bit through 2 layers of it, we didn't think they could get in. It was odd because at about 11pm she went to candle the eggs, and double checked all the coops were secure and bolted up for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Poor you and awful for your friend too. I know rats have very sharp teeth but as a fox must have a bite a bit like a dog I'd never have imagined they'd get through wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Sorry for your friends loss. I use weldmesh and electric netting but I'd have thought a few layers of chicken wire would have been safe enough. Thanks for the words of warning Mollie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Oh how sad, what an awful thing to happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Such a shame. I feel so sorry for your friend. Chicken wire will keep hens in but it won't keep a determined fox out, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I'm so sorry, how awful for your friend . I would recommend heavy gauge weldmesh, I have a fox that visits every week and has never gained access inside the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 {{big hugs}} Mollie Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I'm sorry Moll Is she using livestock mesh or weldmesh? If livestock mesh with big holes a fox may be able to squeeze through the gaps (if you can fit your hand through, a fox can get through). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 Just asked her and she said it's the mesh with small square holes about a inch per square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
