Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[Sandychick]

This is the second time I've lost all my chickens in the last few months and I have no idea how to keep the fox out. Since the last time just before Christmas, I haven't let the new girls out at all unless I am quite literally next to them in the garden. I've been totally paranoid but was absolutly sure that I had done everything to keep them safe from foxes. Last Wednesday night, they were all in the run and on Thursday morning, I found them all dead. I'm devastated. The fox had dug it's way under the (fox proof?) eglu run. The run was well pegged down and is on an area full of tree roots so I just didn't think this was possible. Has this happened to anyone else or have I just got a freak fox??

 

Not sure what to do now. They have a walk in run with an opening out to the attached eglu run. The walk in run is on slabs with abiouse, and I'm thinking of slabing under the eglu run and bolting the run to the slabs. I prefer them to scratch about in the ground but will have to hope they are ok with wood chippings on slabs instead....any thoughts?

 

The eglu run has kept the fox out for the last 6 years so I'm now assuming nothing is safe. If I get a new chickens, I have to be 100% sure the fox can't get to them - it just can't happen again. So my next question is, are walk in runs completely fox proof? I'm wondering if it's possible for a fox to rip the wire mesh off or anything? Any thoughts, suggestions here would be great.........

[Redwing]

I think you've had some awful luck

 

The run on slabs sounds like a good idea, you can put a 'skirting board' type set up around the run and make quite a deep layer of woodchip if you are worried about them not being able to scratch as much. I'd say the woodchip in my WIR is probably about five inches deep

 

A fox has tried and failed to get in to every one of my runs, I check the mesh regularly to ensure no weak spots or missing/rusty staples and only use quality strong mesh (not chicken wire)

[Cheeky Chooky]

So sorry to read that It must be devastating to have it happen once, let alone for a second time *hug*

[cluckingmad]

Oh sweetheart, I am so very sorry Our WIR is on a slab base, set on concrete (I lost my five beloved ducks to a fox as a teenager, never forgotten how it felt)... I take it it was *definitely* a fox? I only ask because badgers are very difficult predators to outsmart and dig even better than foxes - alternative if it wasn't a big hole is a rat (you'd be shocked how massive them actually are in the wild).

 

Sending lots of hugs xxx

[chuckmum6]

Poor you, so very sorry to here this, my cube run also sits on tree roots, so I will need to rethink. I think if I were you I would defiantly slab around your run. Once again so sorry for you.

[Luvachicken]

That's a really sad thing to happen.

I'm so sorry it has happened to you and your poor chickens.

 

You have made us all aware that we shouldn't be complacent about foxes.

 

I send you a big hug xxxx

[Purplemaniacs]

So sorry to hear your sad news.

 

Chrissie

[counturchickens]

So sorry to hear your news. Our run to is on concrete, we use wood chip on top so they can scratch around.

[Egluntyne]

Very sorry to hear it. I agree that siting your WIR on slabs would be the answer.

[jambo]

I'm so sorry to here about your loss

 

My run is set on slabs too so I second what everyone else is saying

 

This happened to someone I know and they read somewhere that the best fox prevention is human urine once a week they just sprinkled some round outside of the run not enough so they could smell it but the fox will smell it and as there they are scared of humans they wont go near it well that's the idea anyway I've never tried it but I've read on other forums that it has worked for some people I suppose anything is worth a try to keep your girls safe

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's horribly bad luck, I'm so sorry .

[redsunset]

Awful news to read. I would also be gutted if anything happened to my girls now. No foxes here but not to say a polecat could not appear one day and my lot are free ranging all the time. Very sorry for your loss.

[Sandychick]

Hi all. Ok that's decided, I'll get some slabs ordered and start again. Thank you everyone for your kind comments and suggestions – it really is very much appreciated. I think the run will be something like a fortress by the time I've finished with it. I will of course still be completely paranoid though when I've got chickens out there again

 

Hopefully I'll be back on here in a couple of weeks with a happier post and pictures of some new chickens

[chuckmum6]

Good for you!

[Purplemaniacs]

Glad to hear that you have decided to get some more chickens.

 

Our eglu runs and WIR are all on slabs with bedding on top.

 

Looking forward to hearing about your new chooks.

 

Chrissie

[cluckingmad]

hurray!! So pleased to hear you're going to get some new ladies

 

And nowt wrong with it being like a fortress Since your post I've been checking on our broody like a mad woman, she's so vulnerable out there And the babies are due on to start pipping any time now so am pacing up and down like a right frantic expectant parent!

 

Honestly, wasn't this fretful when I had our son, I was totally chilled out! Now my baby girl is sitting on eggs I'm positively loopy with nerves....

[chuckmum6]

Can I just recommend some tent pegs I bought from Wilkos, to secure my run, they are long 20cm ish ice/rock pegs. I have hammered them through stones and some old tree roots - without any problems. They cost £3 for 4, I am return the omlet pegs I bought.

[mollyripkim]

So sorry to hear about your girls, what an awful thing to happen. I am another one with my WIR on concrete with a deep layer of woodchip, the girls love scratching around in it. Good luck with your new plans.

[atsw]

Sorry I'm a bit late in on this thread, but I too have my WIR on concrete with a layer of Aubiose and my lot are perfectly happy scratching around in it. I took this line of defense when my Eglu and Run was penetrated by a fox in April 2006. It dug under the skirting near where the run attaches to the Eglu and got both my girls. I've had no problems since that date, the WIR and it's foundations have resisted all invasion attempts by everything from foxes to rats and mice.

 

Good luck with the new start and condolences for the double heartache of the past.

 

Andrew