Carol U Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 We had our first serious fox attack last night and I am happy to report that although it tore the plastic cover over the run and dislodged the feed and water pots, it did NOT manage to get into the run itself. I leave the eglu door open at night and now feel much more confident that the girls are safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Oh no! How are your chickens after the attack? What a shock for you all - i get the OH to pee around the hen hotel to try and put them off but this method isnt fool proof. Im so glad the eglu stood up to the rigour of the attack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 That was close. Phew. I hope the hens are not too traumatised. Unfortunately, now that Monsieur Reynard knows that your girls are there, he will be back so be extra vigilant.....and get a foxwatch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 The girls are fine thank you. They were a little slow to come out of the eglu this morning, but once they saw us they were clamouring to be let out as usual. Since then, they have been charging round the garden as if nothing had happened. We are planning to step up the peeing round the boundary, but are not sure what else to do. What is foxwatch? Does it work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 ....This.... is a Foxwatch. I think they do work. I got lazy and didn't replace the batteries in mine, so have been visited by a young fox yesterday and the day before. There was no sign of him this am....I put new batteries in last night Mind you...I would never rely on it totally, but I think they do help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 Thank you for the foxwatch information. Don't the hens themselves set off the foxwatch? Also, does the noise affect them? Many thanks and sorry to keep on about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Lucky escape The foxwatch is set off by the hens. I don't know if it bothers them or not It's a clicking noise when the alarm goes off (out of our hearing range), I think they are aware if right in front of it, probably not if a distance away. I actually put mine on at night, others do have it on continuously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy-Mama Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Glad your hens are alright! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Glad everything is alright...... The frequency of the foxwatch is out of our hearing range and chickens, but it probably will affect dogs and cats....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 The hens do set it off but it doesn't bother them. I change the battery about once a month. You can get mains adaptors. I didn't bother as I didn't fancy a flex trailing up the garden. It will affect dogs, but not cats....all to do with hearing frequencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 How awful, I do hope the girls werent to traumatised by it. i got up to let the girls out this morning, and one of came up to the gate to meet me before i even got in the run, !!!, where she was last nite i really dont know, and just soooo thankful that the fox didnt come otherwise she would have been had. Guess i have to go back to counting my chickens........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 Very grateful thanks to all members who helped me with information about Foxwatch. I am off to buy one this morning. I'm happy to say that we weren't visited last night, although I did shut the eglu door so that the girls wouldn't be frightened again. Also, as the OH didn't feel he could pee round the outside of our perimeter in full view of the neighbours, (wimp) we tried putting the pee in an old spray bottle and finely misting the outside of the fence. He said it was much easier that way and hopefully, anyone watching would think it was weedkiller! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 My DH would think i was off my trolley asking him to pee around the fence, or even into a bottle for me, Guess Foxwatch will win the day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I get my son and his friends to oblige......they think I'm mad anyway so weren't phased when I first asked them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal & ella Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 We lost a bantam two weeks ago to a fox. Up until then the presence of our two kelpies had put it off but unfortunately they were out walking with me at the time that it happened. I've tried the pee thing (I was already used to it as I add it to the compost: it's supposed to make it decompose quicker) but it's not put it off. I've plugged up the offending gap in the hedge with some cuttings from a shrub with huge thorns so will now sit back and see if it works. Unfortunately, the fox watch won't work for me as the kelpies often go in with the bantams so it would effect them too. Our dogs sleep outside in a covered run but I have toyed with the idea of putting a kennel in the area where the bantams live in case Mr Tod comes back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plinksta Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 We have one female fox and two dog foxes that visit our garden and we've had a serious fox attempt this week resulting in a big hole under the Eglu and mega rips in the cover The garden must be drenched with OH pee cos since he got into the habit he's become almost obsessive!! but it doesn't seem to have deterred foxy this week. I leave the Eglu door open at night so I was amazed because after what must have been a fairly scary and disturbed night, the girls all still delivered their eggs the next morning - superstars. Our big fear now is when the girls are free-ranging in the day, unfortunately the foxes are active in the day-time as well as at night. I've just looked at the Fox Watch and it looks good - if a bit expensive. perhaps I'll also try asking the hairdresser for some hair clippings and try spreading them around the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 That was close! But, if it were me, I'd take it as a very serious warning. The foxes will def. be back. I know the Foxwatch is an extra expense, but I'm urging you to get one or take some other strong action, just so you don't look back next week saying "I wish I'd got the Foxwatch"..... Many hens are happily & safely in Eglu runs and even free ranging. But, once a fox knows there are chickens, it will look for an opportunity. You just don't want even one unsafe minute, that's all it takes. Deterrents are clearly not enough in this case, it needs to be as foxproof as you can get it. Even the Eglu, although brilliantly fox resistant, needs something extra with 3 determined foxes visiting. Maybe read around the forum to see what others have done. Better safe than sorry, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 I agree with Sheila... Please don't allow the hens to free range unless you are in the garden with them, for the time being at least. Foxes aren't called sly for nothing....although to be fair to them, they are only doing what comes naturally to a predator. Top tip....get a proper Foxwatch....those from B&Q have had very poor write ups. ...Silent Roar... which is essentially granulated lion poo has been found to have some success at keeping foxes away, although it was designed to get rid of cats. The manufacturers make no such claims as yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Can any one advise...... I have a friend who wants chickens at the bottom of her garden, but there is a fox earth there Before the chickens the foxes MUST go. HOW can this best be done Someone suggested to me a mole smoke and then fill the holes, has anyone tried this? Any thoughts? I do think an Foxwatch will be a good investment after the residents have been evicted or otherwise........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickendave Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 on the subject of foxs we live about half a mile from a garden centre thats also sell rare breed chickens,we have 6 hens ourselfs that free range all day and as we work shifts there on there own quite a bit, the guys that breed the chickens have had a few fox attacks,they lost a couple yesterday,but we have 2 border collies and 1 jack russel that love the hens and are outside with them when we let them out untill we put them to bed,would a fox try to get them with the dogs or would he smell the dogs scent and back off.if he did try i know the dogs would go for him but i'm unsure would a fox even try with my hen guard dogs around..regards dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
