auntielizzie Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 There has been a lot of night-time fox activity in our road over the last few nights/early hours of the mornings. Obviously I'm a bit concerned about this, as we have seen them in the front gardens of the houses opposite, within about 150 yards of our house. I just wondered how they haven't discovered our chickens yet (we have heard them over the last couple of years or so at least. so this isn't a new thing)? Does anyone know how they usually find chickens - is it by smell? and if so, are they just outside the zone for smelling my girls? We have a side driveway which leads to our back garden, but we do have wooden fencing up so you can't see in to the back garden from the front of the house; the chickens then are at the end of our (about 60 ft) garden, so a fair distance from where the fox would be standing. This would be no obstacle to a fox though. Feeling very paranoid at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Auntielizzie, I know how you feel!!! We are near fields on the edge of town and even a few weeks ago were hearing foxes at night!! So far not seen any in our small close or that I can discern any evidence of any visits to the garden!!! But you can't worry overly, just make sure that your girls don't FR unsupervised and have a secure coop & run!!! Foxes in towns are much more common now, so we musn't get complacent! Mine have a cube and 4 metre run and aslo a classic with 2 metre run, I always close their coops up once dark. Feel very confident in the omlet housing & runs with the skirt!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 No sign of any visits to the garden (yet), so my wooden coop and run haven't been put to the test yet. I am planning this year to move the coop and put it on slabs for it to sit on (leaving earth on the inside part). Just hope no foxes come while I'm waiting as I guess they would easily dig under the run to get in to the coop. I always shut the girls in at night, but still worry that a fox could force its way into the house while the chickens are sleeping I don't leave them to FR unsupervised, although from what I hear fox attacks can be very sudden and quick, so not sure how safe they are if I am in the house getting on with something It is a worry isn't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 You say you haven't seen any signs of fox visits, but frankly I'd be amazed if he/she doesn't already know where your hens are. The fox can see, hear and smell much better than we can and has probably had a good sniff round already even if they've left no traces. They do often leave scent, spoor etc but not always. I am wary about free ranging even during the day, it depends on the fox and the area and how desperate they are but if you read the 'fox attacks' thread on here you will see incidents where hens have been snatched at close range. I let mine out but try to ensure I am physically in the garden for most of the time, or if out of sight that I'm engaged in something noisy like sawing wood or shredding waste. As long as they are shut up at night and the house is secure, they should be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Oh I'm sure they're around!!! When mine FR I am with them physically as my best friend lost her hybrids to a sneaky fox during the day when she was "around" on 2 occasions!! She re-homed the remaining hen and doesn't want to get anymore at the mo...still too sad and worried it would only happen again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 When we say supervised free ranging we mean being outside with them, a fox can nip in and out in a jiffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
