Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[superjules]

Hi All,

 

I collected my chickens and their Eglu yesterday after seeing them advertised on this forum. (I'll post some photo's once I've taken some and worked out how to load them on!)

 

Anyway, I got up this morning to find pawprints on the top of the Eglu They are far too small to belong to my dog so I think they were either made by a cat or a fox.

 

Just wondering if anyone on here has had the same experience and if anyone knows how to tell the difference between cat and fox pawprints? I can't see any other signs of a fox having been in the garden but obviously I am more than a teensy bit worried!!!.

 

Thanks everyone,

Jules

[Christian]

Take a look at this and try and work it out -

 

 

If it is a fox, you can get a foxwatch. just do a search on the internet, many people on here have one and say it works well.

 

All the best

[superjules]

Thanks for your quick reply Christian.

 

It's a bit difficult to tell as they are smudged from where whatever it was has been sliding about on the plastic surface. Or maybe I'm just in denial.

 

Our houses are built on a big triangle so the garden backs on to other gardens on all three sides so I hadn't anticipated there being foxes around. They do go on the recreation ground 200yards away though so I shall consider this a lucky warning and make sure the chooks are shut in every night.

[beach chick]

what on earth is a QUOLL????

[Christian]

Hehe. Take a look here

 

Glad I could help, even though we still dont know what the mystery creature is?

[lisa33]

I want a quoll. They're cute.

 

[beach chick]

and there was me thinking you just couldnt spell QUAIL!! bless, I'd like one of those!

[Jules.]

I have footprints on the top of my eglu, too- and big long scratches

[Olly]

in theory, a foxprint can be distinguished because you could draw an X across the middle of it and it wouldn't touch the pads ... does that make sense? cat pads are closer together, you couldn't draw an X between them.

Not always that easy to distinguish!

 

I wouldn't take any chances. I live in a suburban area, gardens on all three sides ... they LIVE in back gardens, especially if there's an old shed or a space underneath one. It's very likely to be a fox.

[Egluntyne]

Have a look at my avatar...one of the moving pics is a fox paw print.

[Popcorn]

... they LIVE in back gardens, especially if there's an old shed or a space underneath one. It's very likely to be a fox.

 

Very true Olly. Our next door neighbour has a regular sleeper under one of their bushes, tucked right under underneath. It was only by chance they spotted it. We get Fox Prints all over our Eglu. We've always been really sensible and never let the girls free-range without supervision. I'd never trust a fox.

[Jules.]

Egluntine, I always thougt that footprint belonged to a badger for some reason....

[Egluntyne]

What is a Quoll, Christian?

[The Dogmother]

I think those Quolls are gorgeous?

 

We have loads of foot prints on the eglus, they all seem to belong to Biscuit though.

[superjules]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

 

I do think it's a fox. Although we sometimes get cats in the garden too. I'll see what happens tonight. I've moved the eglu onto the lawn where it is more level and in the middle of the garden. Does anyone know whether foxes at all worried about crossing open spaces like some other animals are?

 

I'm not sure a foxwatch would be appropriate for us as we also have a dog who has been driven mad enough by the chickens arrival already! I've checked on the foxwatch website and it says that dogs can hear it.

[beach chick]

there probably arent that many quolls in hertfordshire either...!

[Olly]

Does anyone know whether foxes at all worried about crossing open spaces like some other animals are?

 

It may depend on the individual fox, but not in my experience. Inspector Fox strolls across my lawn as if he owns it (he probably thinks he does!)