БудПоради - корисний каталог ресурсів з ремонту, будівництву та дизайну

[majuka]

Our girls are in the run while we are at work. Luckily for them, I only work part time now so they still get a lot of time out. Up until recently, all of our girls have been ex batts. When they used to bok bok crossly at me for shutting them away I would tell them to remember where they came from and be grateful

 

We have had hens for 3 1/2 years now and never seen a fox or evidence of a fox. It doesn't mean that we don't have them though.

 

Just over a year ago I thought we had a fox attack. I had something to collect from a local shop (my wedding dress), I knew I would be there and back in half an hour max. I left the girls out (3 ex batts at the time). I got back and went to check on the girls. My heart sank as I saw what looked like fox scat on the garden path, something dark and sausage shaped. I carried on down the path, my heart racing. There was no noise, nothing. I went through the next bit to find a pile of feathers. I felt sick and it just kept going through my head 'no, no, no' I could hardly breath, hoping that they had all survived, had it been quick, had they been terrified It was my fault, I had left them out to their fate because I had been so excited when I had gone to pick up the stupid dress - I was so angry with myself. I came round the corner where the swing is and found all three sat under the swing, perfectly fine, having a really good dust bathe, they were so engrossed they never heard me come out of the back door. Emma got up and had a shake - which was when I realised she was moulting - hence the feathers. The 'fox scat' on the path was actually a great big blackish slug that either us or the dog must have squashed. In those few moments, I had a brief insight into what it might feel like to lose one or more girls in a fox attack. I know that it could still happen when we are in the garden but I would never feel safe leaving them out all day, every day.

 

I think it really does depend on where you live and also how much activity you have with your neighbours. Our neighbour doesn't seem to be around much now which is a shame because he was a keen gardener and spent most of the day out in the garden so I felt safer leaving the girls if I went to walk the dog etc.

[Mrs Potts]

I let the hens out into the garden at weekends and weekends/evenings in the summer, but only if I am either the garden or doing something kitchen based. I would of course love to let them out all day (and me not have to work!) but like Majuka, I tell them that actually, the WIR is fairly peachy compared to what they had in their previous ex batt lifestyle. I got them out of a cage and have in effect put them into a much larger one for most of the week, but I'm responsible for their safety all round. We have fruit trees, but Hett could not get up into these (she's up and about now, the porridge and currants did the trick I think - thank you Lindafw. The other two don't like porridge so Hett got a good look in).

 

Some of you may have read my post about fox poo + ruined coat; a fox actually ran through the garden while I was in it! Heard the patter on the gravel drive from the front of the house, heard the side gate bounce as it came through (wrought iron so vertical gaps in the gate) and then up, galloping straight past me and up over the garden fence. That was dusk and he was so close, I could have touched him. I think Fox and I were equally astonished to see each other!

 

I always lock the hens up at night too ... maybe I should not have got hens? I know they are happier here than in a pie or a cage but I think foxes are a risk anywhere. I'd rather not have a solid side gate as we have hedgehogs in the garden. One by one the houses around us have built garages on the side, so if it wasn't for the side access we have, there'd be six less gardens they could get into and hedgehogs figure high up on my list. It's just trying to balance everything.

 

Mrs Potts

[Jenny Smedley]

Everyone has discussed foxes ( with good reason -I've lost hens to the fox) but what about other perils?

 

One of my girls managed to get into next door's garden (God knows how ??) & was killed by their dog & another time a cat on the other side attacked my hen & she was only saved as I was there & prised her out of the cat's jaws !(It was a very large, mean cat!)

 

Also, what about the dangers of the road ? Even though I live in a village, the road can be pretty busy- if my girls managed to get out the front of our house I think they'd soon be squished.

[Heidi-Hi]

Mine are out all the time during daylight. I don't like seeing animals in a cage. In the wild they take their chances, so I will mirror that. I have to say though, if I knew that I lived somewhere where there is fox activity, I don't think I would keep them at all, but that's just again about the cage thing. I am lucky that I have never seen a fox here, or any signs of poo or other activity. My OH built me a great WIR, but to be honest, it never gets used!

[sadietoo]

Mine used to free range whilst I was out..and then we had the fox attacks (last one in the middle of the day) and now they only free range whilst I am around, and by that I mean when I am actually in the garden or have a clear view of it from the house .. We are not particularly urban, our foxes live on the local nature reserve and fields around and about...but I guess someone feeds them down the road because I often see them around at dusk and dawn. I would be interested to know how many people who have experienced a fox attack continue to free-range unsupervised? It's a horrid experience

 

Edited to add, mentioned this "debate" to my OH and I think he summed it up quite succinctly when he said it depends entirely on the number of foxes in your immediate vicinity and has little to do with husbandry....

 

I personally think too much is made of the "caged" thing..provided they can exhibit natural behaviour, like scratching streching their wings, perching, dustbathing etc I don't think being in a secure run is any worse than being out free ranging in the garden.....you just have to be sensible and not overcrowd the run.... but that's just my view....

[catriona]

With our first pair of chickens we started letting them out more & more, with no signs of danger, until they were allowed to just go out & in as they liked ... until about 4 months after getting them we found them killed by a fox.

It was so upsetting that with our second pair we've been alot more wary. If we aren't at home they get put away, and once it gets dark we make sure they are locked in safely. But they get to spend most days free-ranging, at least part of the day, and they love playing in the hedges and flowerbeds. I've spotted a couple of foxes at night since so I still worry, and think it's better safe than sorry!

 

CJ

Donna

[Chortle Chook]

I personally think too much is made of the "caged" thing..provided they can exhibit natural behaviour, like scratching streching their wings, perching, dustbathing etc I don't think being in a secure run is any worse than being out free ranging in the garden.....you just have to be sensible and not overcrowd the run.... but that's just my view....

I suppose it comes down to how big the 'cage' is and how many the space is shared by. My 20x10m garden with its high fences could be regarded as a cage of sorts for my 9 chickens. Occasionally I've tried leaving one of the gates open for a bit, while I watch to see what my chickens do. The gate does not give directly onto a road but onto a small pathway where I park the car. It is covered in what, from a chickens' point of view, I would imagine would be yummy grub full bark chippings. However not once have my chickens gone out. I guess they are happy with the 'cage' I have provided them with. As a result I'd have no trouble at all with a nice sized WIR with lots of different things hung up in it. However having seen how active my chickens are (they are on the go all the time) I would hesitate before putting around 10 chickens in something much smaller.

[jlo]

I have never let them out whilst I am out. I used to let them in the garden if I was at home. Then we lost Esme to a fox so now they only get let out if I am in the garden and our dog is on a walk with another member of the family. They have a largish (6m x 6m) secure area where I am certain they are safe as I have seen foxes quite regularly in the garden but they haven't managed to invade the run.

[Monty14]

Mine free range in our garden whilst OH and I are at work. I have lived in my semi-rural village for 14 years and never seen a fox, however I have read that a fox will not go into a garden where dogs have been (I have two) as they are repelled by dog urine.

I initially kept them in a run which they kept trying to get out of, now they scratch around happily. My mum pops in to check on them a few times a day so I'm lucky in that respect.

[The Dogmother]

I think i can dispel the rumour about foxes being repelled by dog urine - I have two dogs and a vixen which visits most early mornings when the chickens are tucked up asleep.

[Monty14]

Must be to do with location then....although we are in a village there are no foxes, yet I work in an urban location and see them sometimes. I think all the Cheshire farmers shot foxy woxy!

[jlo]

Mine free range in our garden whilst OH and I are at work. I have lived in my semi-rural village for 14 years and never seen a fox, however I have read that a fox will not go into a garden where dogs have been (I have two) as they are repelled by dog urine.

I initially kept them in a run which they kept trying to get out of, now they scratch around happily. My mum pops in to check on them a few times a day so I'm lucky in that respect.

 

Just to say that Esme was taken after we got our dog and we have frequently seen foxes since then!

[Monty14]

It must be down to food sources and population control in locations, I can't think of anything else. In Cheshire most farmers seem to eliminate foxes easily (I'm not posh, live semi rural near Northwich). Not a fox seen here - Neighbours last saw one 20 yrs ago - and my gals free range as I see fit.