newlaidegg Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Hi there I am up at this ridiculously early hour because my little boy got up and on my way back to bed I looked out of the window and saw Mr Fox lurking in our garden. We have had an eglu for four days and are going away next weekend for a few days. I had hoped to leave the hens in the run but now can't sleep with worrying. I don't really have anyone who can be relied upon to remember to lock them in and then unlock them in the morning... Is there anything I can do? What does everyone else do? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I would get a fox watch, they've been really highly recommended on here. It would be awful to come back and find the chickens injured or worse. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I agree...get a fox watch. I saw a fox twice last week sniffing around my girls. I then replaced the batteries in my fox watch .....and I haven't seen him since, and there have been no footprints on the Eglu's and no alarm calls from the girls....so I think they must work. Get the man in your life to water the grass around the Eglu...that has "deterring" properties. You could also try "Silent Roar"...CLICK HERE... or "Get off MY Garden" ...CLICK HERE... They're both quite useful, but do have to be reapplied after rain. The manufacturers of Silent Roar make no claims about it being useful against foxes, but many people have found it to be. You can get both from a decent garden centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I recommend a Foxwatch, but if you have the Eglu run and it is properly set up and secured, your hens should be ok. I know that there are rare cases of hens being attacked through the run, but they are very exceptional. Make sure the skirt is weighed down or pegged so it can't be lifted; make sure the clips, especially those on the door, are secure, and they should be fine. The Foxwatch is good for deterring Inspector Fox from making further visits, though. If you google it you'll find several suppliers, but I got mine from www.primrose-london.co.uk, and it was very quick delivery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I would get a fox watch, they've been really highly recommended on here. I have had my Foxwatch in place for three days now, last night I saw a fox in the garden, it seemed undeterred by whatever noise the Foxwatch was emitting I have read on the forum that it takes a while for a fox to realize that the horrible noise is connected with his presence around the chickens, so if I were you I would get a Foxwatch NOW otherwise it may not deter a fox straightaway. www.primrose-london.co.uk do 24hr delivery. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I s'pose there's always the chance of the odd deaf fox being out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 aswell as a foxwatch, I would hang some human hair in a pair of tights/stockings around the run also male urine is supposedly a detterent. All these things combined and making sure the run is secure and you should be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Hi newlaidegg, I also worried about going away and leaving my hens for the first time. I've left them 3 times now and they've been fine (and I've only had them 6 months). When I'm away, I leave them in their run with the eglu door permanently open. I know it's secure but I feel better if I weigh down the skirt of the run with huge plant pots. Finished off with a shower curtain on top of the run, dust bath box full of dirt and a log to perch on. Then my chicken sitters only have to pop by once a day to feed/water/egg collect. I came back from a weeks hols just last Saturday and the girls have been perfectly OK (but the grass took a hammering - in fact after 1 week of the run on the same patch there wasn't much left, but it will recover.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Thanks for all your advice, not sure that OH is willing to shell out (pardon the pun) on more equipment for the hens, he keeps asking me how much a box of eggs costs in Tescos... So I think I may follow hen watch's advice and hope for the best. The eglu is well pinned down with tent pegs and I may add some rocks for good measure. The fox would have a hard time digging under because we live on the side of a very rocky mountain... Will follow other advice over peeing etc., that should be an amusing conversation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
