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[Guest]

We lost 2 of our girls to a fox attack last week

 

These are old photos taken before their garden was fenced in.

 

Their WIR and coop (different from one in photo)

 

They have a garden in front of the WIR

 

Their garden is from the dyke to the edge of the monkey puzzle tree, until today their garden was fenced in with high fencing against the dyke, and other fencing around the perimeter of their run - this however didn't stop this fox.

 

My husband dug out their whole garden today and has built a framework to effectively let them have their whole garden still - but safely and completely walled in.

 

The sides will be almost 7ft tall with a 1foot overhang to prevent the fox getting over. The sides are being set in a channel of concrete so he can't get under either.

 

We plan to leave the top open? Is this unwise? We want them to get the sun etc and it to be as 'outside' as is safe.

 

Any thoughts/ideas?

 

Thank you

Edited July 7, 2012 by Guest

[Olly]

Could a cat get into the enclosure? If so, then a fox could get in.

 

Having had an attack already, I just wouldn't take any chances. My hens live in their WIR unless I can be there to supervise free-ranging. I think the only alternative to keeping them in the run is to install electric fencing.

[Guest]

Once the second enclosure is finished - a cat won't be able to get in, cats/foxes have never been able to gain access to the WIR. It's hard to describe but it will be another area around their garden pretty much identical to their WIR. They hated being shut in the WIR hence the fencing/walling in of their garden.

[Egluntyne]

Foxes can scale pretty impressive heights, so I'd put a roof on.

[Guest]

Foxes can scale pretty impressive heights, so I'd put a roof on.

 

Even with a foot long overhang?

[The Dogmother]

I would too; I have seen foxes scale quite impressive obstacles and your dog fox seems to be very wily. I'd put some beams across and doubled weldmesh on the roof.

 

OH is a saint doing all that

[lillybettybabs]

Foxes can scale pretty impressive heights, so I'd put a roof on.

Id agree there!

[The Dogmother]

Karen, do you get foxes in your field, or has OH been taking pot shots at them?

[lillybettybabs]

We have them in the field which worries me but our garden probably stinks of dogs so they never have

attempted it. The hens are only FR if i am in the garden as you can never say never!

[sparkysmum]

Hi & welcome back to the forum Terrible news about your hens & encounter with this fox. Re making your hen garden safe - would electric poultry netting not do the job Seems like a much less labour intensive option than building an enclosure big enough for your ladies. Alli x

[The Dogmother]

I'm not sure that electric fencing would stop this fox, although it might be a good addition to their fortifications. It is usually a good deterrent but doesn't always stop them.

[Guest]

We considered electric netting until 3 nights ago my friend who stays in the village itself lost all her hens (9 of them) to a fox attack at noon - the fox got over the netting and back out - unharmed That kind of made me about electric netting. Added to this, the farmer that lost all the ducks had the same electric netting and the fox got in/out again seemingly unharmed.

 

All the wood is bought, the big posts are sunk into the ground and the panels are now made - so the garden enclosure is well on its way to completion.

 

The fox was back 20mins ago whilst i was having a coffee near the back door watching the puppy and the dogs - the crows (thank God for crows) yet again gave away where he was - even so, he hung around for about 5mins - every so often jumping onto the dyke around the field constantly scenting the air and staring. He was completely unbothered by the sight of a red haired Scotswoman in her PJs banging pans together and shouting.

 

Can foxes laugh. I think he may of

[The Dogmother]

*ahem* Excuse me madam, but what were you doing still in your PJs at that time of the day?!

 

I wouldn't dream of doing that

[Guest]

*ahem* Excuse me madam, but what were you doing still in your PJs at that time of the day?!

 

I wouldn't dream of doing that

 

Snort I've been some what way layed this morning and havent made it out of them yet - i have however been cleaning the house in said PJs as well as shouting and waving like an idiot at the fox

 

Hee hee - i never stay in my PJs

[lillybettybabs]

Electric fencing only work if the fox has a part of it's body on the ground, mid air he can touch it and not

get a shock - Help for digging underneath but not for jumping over sadly.

mine is used to keep Fran the Terrible in.

[Guest]

Our thoughts are that with this new outer (like the inner WIR) he cant get underneather (concrete) he cant get through the solid sides - if the 1ft overhang works as it should he wont be able to get over it either - and short of parachuting in or us leaving the gate open ot *should* be safe. The idea came from a friend who has had chickens for 30y on a farm - she has never had a successful fox attack in all that time. I'm we can say the same someday

[The Dogmother]

Fingers crossed for you Wendy.

 

I have to admit to being fascinated by his tenacity, especially as you think he may have an operation site; part of me wants to know his history. My guess is that he was a tame fox released into the countryside, but you're the fox expert; what do you make of it?

[Guest]

Fingers crossed for you Wendy.

 

I have to admit to being fascinated by his tenacity, especially as you think he may have an operation site; part of me wants to know his history. My guess is that he was a tame fox released into the countryside, but you're the fox expert; what do you make of it?

 

I'm frustrated, annoyed, angry, worried...but like you, oddly fascinated by this fox. I'm no expert but i have worked with foxes as well as watched them for many years and (did ) have a great love of them until last week

 

There is something odd with this one - from the odd marks on his LH rear leg (it looks like an old surgical site to me) to his tenacity to...well everything really, in a weird, weird way i almost admire him although i want him gone...does that make any sense at all?

 

I think he is a relased fox who has possibly been in an accident...the leg with the odd marks on it isnt picked up fully when he walks and i notice that on his tracks in the field every 4th step or so, he skiffs the top of the foot along the ground..only that leg

 

I just found out this morning that apparently a fox is a regular visitor to a cottage in the village where he is hand fed

 

Grrrrrrr.

 

That may account for his behaviour - but i feel there is more to it

 

I could be thinking about it too much however

[The Dogmother]

That's interesting; I am fascinated by him too.

 

My friend had a problem with a similar type of fox at their place a couple of years back; he was totally fearless and laid siege to the place, picking off the chickens and stalking the cats. They trapped him in the end; he was a magnificent specimen but had been tamed and fed by someone living in the next village.

[Guest]

It's so wrong to do that isn't it? At the end of the day a fox is a wild animal and should have a healthy fear of humans