Could we, would we, should we?

[Caro]

Hi there,

I've been lurking on this forum for a while, even though we don't have chickens. However, we're beginning to seriously think about getting them. My OH has been researching hen-houses and I've been reading your comments about cold baths and warm baths etc etc.

However, we are in a leafy conservation area within a large town, and have loads of (urban) foxes in the area. Are we silly to even contemplate keeping chooks? Can you ever get a totally fox-proof house and run? And even if we did, wouldn't the foxes terrorise the poor chickens in the run?

All advice gratefully received,

Caro

[MaureenHall]

Oooooooooo good question!!! Yes, it is possible to have a totally fox-proof run. It'd be a lot of work but definitely possible (see Flummery's thread about her set-up). Do you actually see the foxes around a lot during the day? If so, then the chooks could get a bit spooked by a fox staring in at them. During the night they'll be locked away anyway so won't see them. There's bound to be loads of replies to this thread

[MrsC]

Hi Well we have a fox in here and it killed the kid's guinea pigs, we now have chickens and even I have trouble getting into the run. I have used heavy duty mesh and on the roof of the run some of those brass fireguards (think they're brass) not only stapled in but tie wrapped every couple of inches. There is nowhere to dig at all around the run, we made sure of that. I think if you plan it really well and look at all aspects from a fox's point of view (possible entry points) then you won't go far wrong. I'd go for the best mesh etc that you can find. We payed a far whack out for the mesh etc, but got the wood for the hen house and run for nothing. Hope this helps!

[HayleyB]

Yep, there's lots in towns that are doing it, can't see how anyone with even a small garden can find an excuse not to

[vicky]

I think you can totally fox-proof but it will be expensive. You will need to use weld mesh not chicken wire and use it over the whole of the run plus into the ground. Also the house needs to be fox proof too, if it's not entirely in the run.
I have found a movement sensitive light helps deter them during the night.

[Caro]

Ladies,

Thanks for your comments ... how about if we got something like the "Eglu" - maybe the cube with extended run? The basic run looks tiny - is it anywhere near enough even for 6 chickens?

And yes, we see the foxes during the day. Apart from musky smelling patches round the garden they've never been a nuisance ... but then no-one round here has chickens!

I'll keep reading and have a look at the set-up.

Thanks again

Caro


I've just looked at the price of the Eglu .... hmm 6 chooks, say 200 odd eggs a year each ... that's 50p an egg before feed and other costs!

[beulah59]

I suspect that you'd find the cube run, even extended, rather restricting after a while ... but you could build a walk in run yourself and use the cube as the chicken house.

[MaureenHall]

I think I'd forget about the Eglu - far too expensive! I think I'd concentrate on making as big a run as possible and totally fox-proofing it (under and over!). Then think about the coop to go inside. Eglu's are "pretty" to look at and easy to clean, but in my 'umble opinion they're over-priced for what they are. Chooks aren't bothered about design, as long as they've got somewhere safe and secure, warm and cosy to lay their eggs, then anything will do

[RichmondHens]

Yep - One comment about the Eglu cube - even with the extended run they are still too small for the supposed 6 chickens that you can keep in them. The house has plenty of room, but the run is mean. My friend has one, and she has only 3 chickens, and she still lets them out to roam free in the main garden as the run was so obviously too small. And yes I agree with Maureen, they are hideously overpriced.

[RichmondHens]

Anyway, how about electric fencing to keep out foxes? It worked fine for us down in Suffolk - never lost a single hen (but my neighbours did - they didn't use it). We've stopped using it electrified up here in Norfolk as don't have a fox problem but it still works as a basic barrier to keep hens in.

[Hilary B]

Apart from keeping foxes and other hazards out, a chook needs:
Space to be a chook (to scratch around, dust-bath, and squabble with other chooks)
Somewhere to get out of the rain
Somewhere fairly dark to lay eggs (with bedding, eg straw, shredded paper or Hemcore)
Somewhere to perch (out of the rain)
Food
Water
Affection

If you can provde all these, the details matter not one little bit!

[TPeers]

I Built a large walk in run in the garden using metapots and 8' 3x3"s. The posts - (11, it's an odd shaped run) cost about £12 each the metapost abour £4.50 each This is covered (top and sides) with 1" weldmesh - about 6 'packs'.

I then contrapted a stable door pair from spare lumber and mesh.

The mesh laps out by 9" and is secured by a course of bricks and on the hedge side I have covered the ground between the hedge and the run with permeable membrane.

Approx cost for the run is £300 - a lot less than an eglu and about twice the size of the 'extended' run area for the cube. But so far it has been fox proof - and it has been there over a year and we have foxes in the garden by day.

Hope this helps.

Terry

[RedThorn]

Hmmm you even have to ask??? GO FOR IT!!! lol

If you look at Lynda66's thread and loads of others, you'll see you can build a strong coop for a little!

All the best

[beulah59]

To be fair - the price of the Omlet products includes a great deal of care and service ... all the feeders, a sunshade, someone coming out to set it up for you etc etc ...

[Hilary B]

To be fair - the price of the Omlet products includes a great deal of care and service ... all the feeders, a sunshade, someone coming out to set it up for you etc etc ...

Only thing it doesn't include is someone to collect the eggs and clean out.......