Roksteddie Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 We've had a war with foxes for a few weeks now. Evidence of them returning night after night, causing more and more damage. Then one day last week we heard Whitney screaming her head off and rushed out to see that 2 young foxes actually had Mariah! We scared them and they released Mariah, who stumbled over to us... a hell of a lot of feathers missing. Feathers everywhere! Miraculously she survived and all 3 are pretty much back to normal now. Anyway that night they came back about 6 times an hour and have wreaked havoc in our garden every night since. They have repeatedly destroyed the tarp covering the run, they poo on top of the coop and run (and anywhere else they please) EVERY NIGHT! They dig up plants and around the base of our pear tree EVERY NIGHT! Can someone please point me to the most effective, but chicken friendly fox deterrent ????!!!!!(I'd rather they were deceased but know this is not an option). I'm not overly worried about the girls - they seem to be very secure in their Go Up no matter how much they persist. It's just the constant mess and destruction that's driving me mad! On another note can anyone recommend a more robust run cover than clear tarp as I can't keep replacing it at this rate?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 There are various things you can try but none of them is perfect. There's the Foxwatch, an electronic deterrent - some people say this works, others say it doesn't make any difference; read the reviews on Amazon and make up your own mind but it might be worth a try. There are lots of other suggestions that you'll find on here - human wee round the garden (get the males in your family to help!), human hair; anything that changes the garden will tend to put them off, so just doing some gardening, maybe clearing any undergrowth in the areas where the foxes are coming into the garden or doing something that blocks their route might help. However all of these are just deterrents. The foxes will keep coming back because you've got something so tempting. Please don't risk free ranging unless you can be there to supervise - as you've already seen, they can be there in an instant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 I would suggest a walk-in run; Emma, who used to be on this forum, lived in Birmingham and had daytime foxes in their garden. They built a walk-in run for their girls and only let them out when they were in the garden themselves. A gamekeeper friend has a nice sideline business 'extinguishing' urban foxes - it's quick and very effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 I've no idea if it works, but my MiL has a couple of realistic looking fox statues which she keeps in two different places around the garden. Allegedly if a fox sees another fox it doesn't know it will apparently run off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 I wonder does the male pee work. My boys are very lazy and I have caught them peeing on bushes rather than be bothered to come in to use toilet. We live at country park and I have never seen Mr Fox in garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 We have literally tried everything and I personally think you won't stop them and the only thing you can do is make sure your defences are strop enough to stop them getting in to your girls and only letting them FR under supervision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roksteddie Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Has anyone ever used a fox control company? They look rather expensive and I wonder that even if we have our current 2 visitors taken care of, another 2 would return. These 2 are so persistent that I doubt anything would deter them really... guess I could try the urine thing tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Sounds like they may be siblings form this year's litter. If you get rid of them, there will be more taking their place, I'm afraid - it's a case of managing the risks. I would build a walk-in run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Yes we used a wildlife control company. Well we got advice from them. They suggested the trap to buy, what to bait it with and what to do to encourage a fox to use it. We didn't need to do any of their suggestions, our fox was so cocky he walked into the trap the first night we baited and set it. The wildlife management company wanted £369 to come and dispose of him. My friend over the road, knew someone who did the deed for £20. Bargain, best £20 we have ever spent. Despite everyone saying, don't shoot it, another one will take its place its been 5 months now and no sign of another one. If we did get one I would do the same thing again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I bought A professional fox trap, Funny enough, I haven't seen any foxes since then, baited it and the only thing I keep catching is my neighbor's dog, then baited with apples I caught rabbits, I bought a wildlife hunting camera no foxes shown up. Funny enough last year early in the morning I saw my hens "led by the rooster" following something across the fence, magpies flying over, I thought a hen flew out of the fence and they are looking at her, then I saw a big red fox looking at them drooling across the fence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 they said to continue baiting and setting it for the next fortnight to see if we could catch a vixen, but all we caught we next doors cat and a hedgehog. Thats fish flavoured cat food for you. The saddest thing is that my husband has offered to build me a fox proof secure run so I can have some more girls, but I am too scared, I have guinea pigs and a tortoise as well so daren't endanger them again. He built me a lovely fox proof hutch, but the fox used to patrol round it, frightening them. Frightened me too, I now have a fox phobia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I have said this before, but the fact that you've never seen a fox in your garden doesn't mean that there isn't one around. Some make themselves more obvious than others, I know Millie-Annie had a particularly problematic one, and I reported earlier this year about the one coming into my house through the catflap. I haven't seen that particular one for a while but I know there is still a fox around - I can smell it every morning. Gavclojak is spot on; defence and only free range when you're there to watch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Having two large lurchers helps.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Yes, yours coming through the cat flap really freaked me out. I have never smelt fox and there are no signs plus the security light doesn't come on like it did when he was about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 In an update to this, I have deployed a range of new 'weapons' to deter the fox who took one of our girls and so far it seems to be working (we used to see the fox once every few days, and haven't seen him at all since doing all this): Installed 2 motion sensor solar lights. One is situated on the side fence next to the cube, the other is situated on a pergola which overlooks the run. Installed 2 motion sensor 'sonic' deterrents. The neighbour's cat doesn't like it much, so I'm taking that as a good sign. Installed an electric fence that gives quite a kick! Sprayed the garden with fox deterrent scent - and I don't blame him because I'm not a big fan of the smell myself!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
