dutchie Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) I can now post as finally after 6 years I am the proud owner of two chickens! I've always wanted some, and joined the forum in February 2006 after reading about Omlet in the Finnair inflight magazine. I researched it all on this wonderful forum and concluded the Eglu was what I wanted. But then didnt proceed due to having a lot of foxes digging up the garden, and also worries about having to have someone look after them while we were on holiday. But my girlfriend bought me an Eglu classic and two chickens for our anniversary a month ago, knowing I've always wanted chickens. How fab is she! So now I have 3 fab chicks Our chickens are named Athena & Starbuck (from Battlestar Galactica, the new series where Starbuck is a girl) Omlet delivery, setup and explanation of what to do was superb and very friendly. Chickens are doing great, and are so much fun! We had one go broody whilst away for 5 days and our chicken sitter didnt realise the importance of removing the eggs. We had mentioned this, but never mind. A plant pot in the nest sorted that and it took about two weeks for her to start laying again. The only fly in the ointment, or coop, is that I was cutting back a big tree at the back of our garden yesterday, to get more light in and use that part of our garden to put the Eglu as well. And guess what I saw when up the tree cutting down branches. Neighbour who's house adjoins our garden at the back of our house was feeding a fox and cub! Feeding them raw chicken. Aggghh. We had thought we had no more fox problems, as the foxes havent been into our garden at all for about four years. And we'd even been letting our chickens freerange over the last month. Had even discussed that maybe it would be safe to leave them freeranging whilst we were in the house busy. Up to now we've always been there keeping an eye on them. So very worrying to know foxes are being fed not ten metres away from our chickens Anyone know how high a fence foxes can jump? Anyway, that aside the chickens have been a real joy, and I just wanted to say hello after all this time! Dutchie Edited August 2, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Hello, and welcome! Your girls look lovely What a shame about your neighbours! I'm not sure the max height a fox can jump but I know they can definitely get over a five foot wall which is what they do to get into my garden. Better to be safe than sorry, I would say don't free range when you're not there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Oh welcome to the wonderful world of chicken keeping What a shame about the foxes .. Not sure I can give any advice except to only FR when you are at home..and have a word with the neighbour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Just wanted to say welcome to you and your girls, what a lovely present, hope you have many years of enjoyment and lovely eggs of course! I think if foxes are that near you won't be able to FR unless you are with them as there have been posts on here about foxes coming into gardens even with people around and they are so quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Hello What lovely girls you have and such a super bright Eglu. Bet it makes you smile each morning. For the foxes, have you thought of some electric netting. You can get it from The Omlet Shop or Flyte so Fancy but lots of other places too. If you are not sure what you need just give them a call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Hi, congratulations on getting such a lovely present. Everyone on here is brilliant, and you will find all the answers you'll need. As for your fox feeding neighbour, you could maybe take them some eggs and explain about not encouraging the fox because you have chickens. You never know until you ask. Mind you, maybe the fox would be less hungry if it's being fed ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. AndreaT, the fences are two metres high now, so I'm not sure if it can get over. But we dont want to take the risk now we know the foxes are there, so will carry on free-ranging only when we can see them. Shame as we had been hoping to be able to let them out whenever we were home. Did manage to speak with the neighbour when I was back up the tree finishing the remaining trimming. He says it's his wife that feeds them and that he'll have a word. He thinks foxes are a pest himself, but is not sure it will make much difference, as she likes feeding them. So I'm not holding my breath. But going round with some eggs is a good idea Luvachicken. Cubby Chook, yes the colour is great, and my girlfriend chose it because I'm a Dutchie. So the chickens have been clucking for the Dutch Olympics team Will have to think about electric netting. Our garden is small and the chickens like to be amongst the plants, so electric netting wont work if it's touching shrubs. Also still testing whether the grass can cope with them being rotated on it, or whether we'll have to go for a static setup. I'm thinking in the winter it definitely wont cope. Getting a garden shredder delivered tomorrow to shred the tree bits, so at least I can make wood chip now if I need to. That's how I justified the purchase to my girlfriend anyway, always wanted a shredder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Wow you have had a long wait for chooks We started with two Omlet girls just like you, within a week we had two more Your looks lovely and bright, have you pegged the run down, I think if I was you knowing that you have foxes in the area I would peg it down (pegs you can get from Omlet) or put some bricks around the edge to weight it down. Enjoy your chooks, keeping chooks is great but rather addictive Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 If we had a bigger garden we'd probably would be getting more! We've been paranoid from the start and been pegging the run down with pegs from our tent You're right about it being addictive, but being in the garden is so much more fun now. Anyone know why the bbcode and smilies dont work in my posts? I have them switched to enabled in the forum preferences, so not sure why it's not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 I don't know but it may be that you are a new member and sometimes I think you have to register so many posts before you can do certain things. I am sure a mod will be along later who will know the answer. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Love the color of the eglu! and congrats on getting chooks. My parents live in Middlesex/Surrey and they have a big fox problem (not a problem for them as they don't have chooks but they have taken the odd old cat) and I have seem them jump up on to and over their back gate which is over six foot high. I think if they want to they will find a way over any fence/wall so just make sure the chooks are secure when your not in the garden. I have a friend in the same area and they have a fox visit every day and the electric netting suggested by Chubby Chook has worked for them. Good luck with the new chooks - you will love having them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Yes Lotty, you're probably right that they can jump over, they're pretty athletic foxes. Or they could just tunnel under. Did speak to the neighbour doing the feeding, but she's been feeding foxes for years, and apparently someone else further along feeds them to, so I doubt it will stop. Heard from another neighbour who lost their pet rabbit to foxes, so did mention that, but not sure it will be enough to stop her feeding them/ Unfortunately our small garden isnt really that suited for electric fencing, as it's on a slope and therefore terraced into three parts. Might have to think about a WIR instead if we want to give them more space when we're not around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Cant seem to add them to the original post, but seems I can use bbcode now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Congrats on your new lovely chooks Love your photos! I have fox problems where I am - a neighbour lost their hens not long ago in the morning. I only let my chickens out with Omlet netting when I can supervise, otherwise it isn't worth it and they stay in their run. I would love for them to FR all the time but it isn't fair to put them in danger. Enjoy your new pets x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Congratulations on your new girls... Foxes will easily get over a 6 ft fence in my experience and will attempt more if they can scamble up and over. I totally agree with Mrs B's comments and our Vet is very sure that chickens are not harmed by not free ranging, but definitely harmed by becoming dinner...so don't feel guilty about not letting them out, just give them the most space you can and enjoy them. Just a word of warning, be very careful about letting them out even when you are there...if your foxes are very bold and not bothered by humans they may still try to snatch a girl when you are out and about with them...it happened to one forum member! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaspersmum Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Congrats on the new chooks - how exciting! I agree with earlier comments. Ours have been confined to a large covered WIR since we lost lovely Maisie to a fox a couple of years ago. They have plenty to do with perches at different heights, hanging food and a big dust bath - to be honest whenever we go out to see them they're usually all alseep in a big pile in the dust bath so they clearly don't 'need' quite as much room as we've given them! I think 1sqm per bird is recommended, and as much space as you can spare has to be good for them. We did try and let them out in the spring for a supervised mooch while we were clearing the garden, only a couple of them hopped out for a quick nose and scratch about but they were all soon back in the comfort of their run so we shut them back in. Made us feel better that they're not longing to be 'outside'. Another bonus is I now have plants - with flowers and leaves and everything - and the decking isn't covered in poo!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 More lovely pictures. I just love your fox coloured Eglu and grub / glug (ooo I'm an so and so aren't I?) You'll soon find that proving lots of chicken games and boredom busters while they are in their run, with haning apples, greens in nets, perches etc. etc is all part of the fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
