gavclojak Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 (edited) Ok so now I am truly terrified, had my ex batts 2 weeks today and we knew there were foxes about, although I have not seen one in the garden, well that was till this morning at 7am, I chased him away then he popped up on my next doors fence and watched them until he spotted me. Two hours later no more sightings but as scared to go out! The girls are in a secure enclosure, I am not too worried about the perimeter, I have a 6 foot fence with an extra 3 foot of trellis at the back, steel mesh and net doubled across the front of the run which is approx 8 foot high and chicken wire dug down about 8 inches with concrete slabs on top. He got in over my next doors fence which we are going to add an extra 3 foot of trellis to today and the across the back on the exterior of the fence we are going to place carpet gripper so mr fox can't climb, that area Is unused so have no worried about anyone hurting themselves. Here is my problem, it's a large enclosure and we have roofed it with very strong fruit net and stapled all the way across the top, secure but not solid.....my question is, what else can I do to protect them? Any ideas will be fab Edited June 16, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Foxes are as agile as cats and very good climbers. I'm afraid fruit cage netting won't keep him out once he finds his way up there. You really need a solid roof on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 Extra trellis the whole way round then I think and that will make the fence approx 9 foot, I can't put a solid roof on as its too big and would turn that area into a greenhouseI thought as the fox couldn't balance on it he would be to scared to stand on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 How strong is your netting? I'd worry that it might rip if the fox did manage to get on top of the roof. What about putting another layer on top, maybe plastic netting that definitely wouldn't rip but would avoid the "greenhouse effect"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 What about making a wire mesh top for the run, you know a trellis frame with wire stapled to the top. Just had a fox scare myself. I've always known foxes came in the garden but the bantam girls woke me Saturday 04:45 screaming and banging about then the big girls started up too. So out I blunder calling the dogs to come help. Arrived just in time to see a young fox bolt up the side of the big girls run and under the front hedge. It obviously didn't like being chased by a giant pink marshmallow. So lessons learnt 1. Shut the pop hole doors at night. 2. The dogs won't protect against anything (the Millie whippet simply moved bedrooms, Woody sausage turned over under his blanket, Zelly sausage sauntered out to sniff the grass after it was all over. ) 3. Double check run security. Everyone is ok but Twitter seems a bit stunned (think it was her crashed into the side of the run flapping about). Phew close shave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 In my experience if you have foxes about it is best to do everything possible to keep them out. I think strong wire netting on the roof would be a very good idea. I've lost all my girls to a fox twice and it is the most horrible sight to find in a morning. I don't mean to scare you, but I really wouldn't want that to happen to anyone else. I've recently spent a lot of cash and time making sure they are secure. Not only does it keep the girls safe, it means that I can sleep at night! It really is well worth it for many years of happy chicken keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 Thanks I have spent weeks doing all i can do, fencing, securing, watching. i can only do so much i am afraid, i have a massive fence..please see 1st post..ect.....ect....ect...it is becoming an obsession now. i really am not worried about the night as they are tucked up inside the coop but during the day when they are in the enclosure. if anyone can look at my first post and tell me i am doing something wrong then am happy to take constructive critisism... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I don't think anyone is intending to criticise, it's just that experience says that a fox will climb anywhere a cat could - 6' or even a 9' fence is no barrier. You are right in saying that they don't like loose fixings such as trellis which they can't walk along, but I wouldn't rely on that for safety and of course if the trellis comes down then the fruit net may also come down. Foxes mainly survive on scrounging, eating small rodents and so on - a chicken is a valuable prize to them and they will take significant risks to achieve it. The only way to be really secure is to have a fixed roof, either weldmesh stapled to battens, or plastic roofing although most people have weldmesh underneath the plastic, and just use it to keep the rain off. If the sides of the run are open, it doesn't get too hot in there. I appreciate you have got a large run, as you say, and perhaps this is going to be expensive but in that case I would consider sectioning the run and covering maybe part of it, so that they are only in the uncovered part when you are out in the garden with them. It would be awful to find that after all your care and hard work, the fox had found a way through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 oh thank you, my message sounded fed up didn't it....didn't mean too, just frustrated... we are going to try to steel mesh the roof this weekend and will look in to electric poultry fencing on the back/sides, i have to be careful not to hack my neighbor off as she has a cat too... you are right, the only way through ans the only clink in my Armour is the roof so will see what i can do, until then i have my poor son on sentry duty....DOH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I really wasn't criticising! You have obviously put in a lot of effort to protect them. I just think it would be easier to concentrate on making the enclosure really safe so you don't need to worry about them when they are in there. Making the garden foxproof sounds like a much bigger task. If it's a big enclosure, they will be happy spending time in there - then they can free range when you are about to watch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 oh so we are now putting steel mesh with battening across the roof this weekend, so it will be steel mesh then doubled with industrial strength fruit net, we are also fitting anti jump posts to back of mine and my 2 next door's back fence....might also employ a security guard to sit in the garden and watch them all day too..)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Steel mesh sounds good - I'd put weldmesh, then top off with a polycarbonate roof, you can always use tarpaulins to provide shade. The fox sounds very confident and not fazed by humans, so he's unlikely to be deterred easily. Something in our garden disturbed the hounds last night - I just went down and let them out in the garden - whatever it was wouldn't have stayed around long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 Yes, i was strange as soon as he saw me he was off but only to peek over the back of the fence. to be fair he did look terrified and i have not seen him since, and have not seen him or seen any evidence of him, but i don't doubt he is there...an i right not to worry about nights, he would have to get through my counter measures and then have enough energy to break into a cube also another question....the dirt on the ground of my enclosure is decimated, what would be good to put down on a large area that the girls will like and will also deter flies and smells although a wash down the enclosure every night and pick up poo's with baby wipes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Congratulations on the new ex batts If you are thinking of electric fencing then this might be an option for the top of your enclosure: http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Garden-Fence-Pond-Electric-Fence-Kit.html We have it - we have never had a fox attack but we had a couple of cats coming in that haven't since the fence went up so hopefully it will keep the fox out too. It is quite discrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Ok so he was back last night about half past 11, he didn't make it in to my garden but was in nest doors but made a run for it after being scared off by next doors ginger Tom..... Thank god the girls were in there cube...I feel like I am under attack, thank goodness they seem to scare easily and there is lots if coming and going during the day in neighbouring gardens so that may deter him. We are redoing the roof, we are adding a layer of galvanised wire netting on top if the netting we have, it is wide enough gauge so mr fox won't be able to easily get purchase on it otherwise he may loose his footing and he is quite sharp too. May also look into that electric fencing but am worried about that as next door have 2 disabled children!! What more can we do....I am becoming obsessed and my poor OH had been working sooo hard for the girls bless him There was a squirrel on the fence this morning and the girls were not happy but it nearly gave me a cardiac arrest!! GET A GRIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I'd be vigilant but otherwise try not to worry. He will be persistent though. Have you thought of getting a FoxWatch? I hear they are effective, but that you need to wire them into the mains rather than rely on a battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Thank you for your prompt reply, am going to google fox watch right now XXX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Try searching on here too =- there were some threads a few years back about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 ....might also employ a security guard to sit in the garden and watch them all day too..)) I'd be happy to apply and could start in September for a small fee - but not in eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Amazing, send me your CV:))))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 You are doing everything you can. I have a device called a FoxWatch which is supposed to emit a sound that repels foxes. It doesn't work on cats, is all I know, as one of them is stalking my Pekin. It was a present but I think they are quite pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Oh thanks for your kind message, I looked at that but it got really bad reviews on amazon, would be happy to pay if anyone said it did the trick. Oh goodness what a conundrum:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 What about getting the chaps in your life to eh pee around the perimeter of the run and garden. It apparently helps keep the fox at bay. An added layer of defence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have heard that too, am just worried that my three boys hanging around gardens with there trunchons out may arouse the suspision of the local neighbour hood watch:))) i even looked in to lions poo but that got "Ooops, word censored!" reviews....parden the pun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 There's not much that'll keep them out apart from physical barriers or electronic ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
