Devastated

[Hashette]

Trouble is that once you've let them free range, there's no going back. My lot are shut in for an hour in the morning to make sure they get a good beak-full of layers' mash before they go out, and after about half an hour the lot of them run up and down in front of the door to the run pecking the wire and yelling to be let out.

I'm sitting at my desk not thinking about work, and trying not to worry even more than usual about them. Next door's hens are much nearer the field than mine are as they've got them in an extra paddock at the bottom of the gardens, and my neighbour is around all day, but I'm still wibbling

[digthatchick]

It is a very difficult time for hens (and us ) at the moment, the foxes have cubs and they need feeding. Mine had free ranged for a year, and like yours, they went barmy if they were locked in their pen (which is 16' x 18' ) I am increasing the size of the pen and will only let the new ones out when someone is out with them. Just remember if someone tells you foxes sleep all day and come out to hunt at night, they are wrong! Our chooks were killed between 9.30 and 10 am on Tuesday and yesterday I saw the fox in the next doors garden at 11 am. When March / April is here, the cubs would have left the parents and more people will be in their gardens so there should be less worry.

Chick

[Glutton4...]

... they said electric poultry wire is the way to go- they won't try and jump over it - or dig under it. It was described as a nylon fence- similar to sheep fencing ( square holes) and has posts incorperated into the netting. No top needed.

Runs off a battery or mains.cost £90.70 for a 50m coil... Anyone got any experiences with this stuff?

Yes, it's what I use. I got two lots of 50m in the end, so they've got loads of room, and I got the power unit that will run off a leisure battery or mains. It gives quite a jolt, and Mrs. Fox didn't go near it when she visited a couple of weeks ago. Gave me a h*ll of a scare though .

I think when they go out in the paddock, I'll invest in 'Heras' type panels inside the electric mesh as an extra precaution.

[MaureenHall]

Wow!! you've still got grass! The hens look really happy in their run though and the fencing looks just the job

[digthatchick]

I have just spoken to the domestic Fowl Trust in Honeybourne, (to order more chooks) they told me that most fox strikes are in daylight now, as it is easier for them to hunt in the day and urban foxes are not really that afraid of humans. She recommends electric fencing, keeping in pen or free ranging with extreme vigilance.

[Nicos]

Right....I'm going to get electric fencing! Decided!

I've spoken to the guy at this site - and he was very helpful....I'm going to do more research- but this is for you to get an idea!

Electric fencing and netting systems information and details

As I have bantems, I'm going for a finer , close mesh version.
Like the fact it's green and comes at 4ft (1.2m) height!
How high is yours Glutton?
...and what is a Heras panel?????

[Hashette]

Can't afford it

I got home tonight, flew in, grabbed the torch and ran outside. Thankfully all present and accounted for.

What's the general opinion, lock down until March/April, ignore the yelling, and hope the neighbours can do the same? They'll go mad, but at least they'd be safe in the run

[poppy_lillysmum]

Hi, sorry for the delay, I blew up my hard drive, and just had a new one fitted. the stuff is called Renardine 72-2, and the can says, it's protects home garden, farms, small holdings from Cats, dogs, rabbits, foxes, moles and badgers. I'm not sure where he got it from though, but i hope this helps.

[frias]

Hi, sorry for the delay, I blew up my hard drive, and just had a new one fitted. the stuff is called Renardine 72-2, and the can says, it's protects home garden, farms, small holdings from Cats, dogs, rabbits, foxes, moles and badgers. I'm not sure where he got it from though, but i hope this helps.

Renadine has been banned since 2005 I think. Hilary B mentioned earlier but she did say somehing about EU rules.

[seasprout]

[QUOTE=shirlthegirl43;350601]What a bummer! How on earth did the fox get in with 6 foot fencing?

QUOTE]

Yesterday at work i disturbed a sleeping fox in the bushes, it easily cleared a 7ft chain link fence to run away. They just climb up, not jump.

I'm sorry about your hens.

[frias]

Can't afford it

I got home tonight, flew in, grabbed the torch and ran outside. Thankfully all present and accounted for.

What's the general opinion, lock down until March/April, ignore the yelling, and hope the neighbours can do the same? They'll go mad, but at least they'd be safe in the run

This is something we have to decide for ourselves but I think I know what the answer would be from someone who has had chickens killed by foxes. I do the same as you except I am in the fortunate position that I'm home all day. Still can't be outside with them all the time though. Know just what you mean by once they've free ranged.

[poppy_lillysmum]

Renadine has been banned since 2005 I think. Hilary B mentioned earlier but she did say somehing about EU rules.

Didn't realise it was the same stuff she had quoted. My mum gave to me after my chickens got killed in 2007, as it had been in her garage since god knows when, cause my dad use to get mad about the foxes pooing in his garden, and he past away in october 05, so we gave it a go, it is a bit like creasote, but it works brilliantly, and haven't had any problems since, with any animals, trying to jump the wall.. i will be searching the internet all night now, to see if it's safe for the chooks, but i do put it on the outside wall, not the wall in their run.

[frias]

If I could get some I'd use it.

[poppy_lillysmum]

I've got a whole can full if you want some!!!! not too far away.... did just check the web and got this page up Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) and it does say about not using it after June 05, but i didn't start using it till apr 08, so does that still count. Not sure what to do now?? Any idea's???

[frias]

I would keep very quiet! I think all stocks should have been disposed of by June 05.