Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[savena5630]

There is one particular fox which keeps coming back to my poor girls, not even at the usual times like dawn and dusk, but throughout the day!

 

He/she even jumps on top of the eglu, and has chewed away part of the waterproof cover for the run!

 

An old man down the road is supposedly feeding a family of foxes in his garage, which I think is where this fox is coming from, but the council annoyingly said that they can't do anything about it.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

[dutchie]

Sorry to hear about your fox trouble.

 

My neighbour in the house at the bottom of my garden also feeds foxes, raw chicken legs unfortunately.

 

I read male hair and urine deter foxes, so have used this around my garden. I used some old stockings cut up to make parcels to put the hair in, and tied this around the fences and trees in my garden. And the urine is easily applied

 

The foxes haven't been bothering my girls yet, as far as I know. Whether that's because the deterrents work or it's luck is anyone's guess.

[Olly]

Hair, urine etc may deter foxes - it's my belief that urban foxes however are so used to the presence of humans that it doesn't make much difference. You could invest in a Foxwatch, which is a sonic deterrent - views on the effectiveness of this vary, but it may put the fox off using your garden. Try moving things around, cutting back plants and generally disturbing the area that he/she crosses as they don't like change, but I'm afraid the temptation of your chickens is probably going to overcome any sort of deterrent.

 

On the positive side, most urban foxes don't live more than 18 months or so. Although another fox will almost certainly come along to fill the space (especially if there's a handy den and a source of food) it may not be quite so persistent as this one. At least you know that there is one around, and can up your defences accordingly.

[HennyPenny59]

You could consider electrified poultry netting to surround your setup ... The fox might still come and investigate but at least it wont be able to get as close to your girls as it is now.

[charly1979]

I agree with all the suggestions above.

 

1) Male Urine (not sure why it has to be male perhaps its just easier to do ?) around your run when my mum had a probem my son and nephew thought it was great that they had specfic spots to piddle on (7yrs old love things like that)

2) Human scent so if you are with your girls a lot that would help, mind you if they are being fed by another human they may not associate that smell with anything -ve

3) Electric fence of some sort, I have read that they can sense the electric and dont like ??? I know that when mum had to get some female geese the farm she bought them from swore by it and it was something she then went on to do but I suppose that option depends on your set up etc..

 

I really hope that you can sort this out its something I dread and expect everyone on here does too !

 

PS Just had a quick google and this looks pretty nifty allthough pricey but years ago my dad had a sprinkler set up on a sensor by the pond, kept cats away and the herron so I expect there would be a DIY soultion also on google

 

http://www.foxolutions.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11&zenid=en10ptpkn8ag2juhjmof15dk17

[dutchie]

Male Urine (not sure why it has to be male perhaps its just easier to do ?)

 

I'm guessing it's because it contains more testosterone.

 

So get a chap to sprinkle his tinkle round the garden and mark territory