Omlet cube and run

[Silvermorgan Moon]

I lost my Bantam cockerel a few weeks ago, vanished without a trace in the middle of the day. Today when going to put the girls away I found black feathers in the paddock and no Doris. Found a body this time in the corner but no sign of injury. I presume it was a fox?

 

The hens always free range in my 1/4 acre paddock during the day time but I will have to keep them shut in their runs now. Do you think electric fencing might keep them safer?

[Minnie&Moose]

Very sorry to hear about your cockerel and your hen - that's very sad. We have electrified poultry netting and in the 3+ years we've been using it have not lost any hens to foxes or badgers. Although we live in Oxford we have a badger that visits the garden most nights and used to see foxes in our garden very regularly - both during the day and at night. So I would think it's certainly worth trying.

[majuka]

Very sorry for your losses

 

Like Minnie&Moose I would second electric fencing. We have never had a fox attack either before or after we got the electric fencing. Prior to the electric fencing we had some new cats start coming into the garden frequently and I kept hearing stories from people that had kept hens for year with no problems and then a fox attack. I knew that if a cat could get in then theoretically so could a fox so we got the electric fencing. I have heard the cats trying to get in on at least three occasions and get zapped so I know it certainly works for them!

[Silvermorgan Moon]

Thanks both

 

We have the fence up although I have still seen a cat in the paddock so need to review it's siting!