fox help

[walldanzig]

Hi All I was recently given some new hen houses with runs attached and the floor was covered in chicken wire the fox has dug a trench all round it. You wouldn't believe the amount of digging. He bit a hole through the chicken wire and snatched the cockeral and bit the toes of both feet of one of them. Which unfortunatley led me to my first dispatch. Does ayone know of any sprays or anything that will convince the fox that this is not the place to be and to stay away. Someone has offered me a trap and I must say I am very tempted as at the moment I have no love for Mr Fox. Any help would be more than appreciated

[Bramble-Poultry]

dont know of any sprays etc, but i do know that mr fox steers clear of our house because of our two dogs. Maybe scattering a bit of dog poo around the run might deter him?

Alternativly, if you can lay your hands on some 2" square security mesh, lay a skirt of that around the run as it will provide a barrier to his digging.

Alternively, a few choice landmines might get the b'stard

[Nicos]

Sad news...especially as you'd gone to the effort of buying a coop with a mesh base. A determined hungry fox is a real problem I'm afraid

The best spray I am aware of is one of these......

[walldanzig]

does urine work or is that an urban myth

[Nicos]

Urine, human hair are supposed to deter....but you want to guarentee the lives of your chooks

[its hilly]

from livin in the country best suggestion is shotgun!
But like Brambles landmines do they sell them in Army and Navy stores?
On a practical note, laying paving slabs round the outside of the pen (or similar) stops diggin but sadly the little s*** will still chew through the wire.

[Eco-Chic]

Male urine, human hair and dog poo around the boundary of your garden is supposed to deter foxes.

I'm sorry for your losses. If you spray the bitten toes with gentian violet that may prevent infection and discourage pecking.

[walldanzig]

sorry eco the chicke had to be put away it was in a bad way it couldn't stand and just sat in the corner. I had to dispatch

[RichmondHens]

If you choose to trap him, make sure it is a humane one. You may not love foxes but they are just acting on instinct. If you catch him, make sure you despatch him humanely, ie get someone skilled to shoot him.

I would not normally agree with wire covered bottoms to the runs as I don't think this is particularly nice for the chickens, you are removing the only pleasure they have in an enclosed run (ie scratching about) but if your fox is as determined as you say, then it sounds like you need them.

[walldanzig]

he is Richmond already took one lot and is trying to get the second lot and almost succeeding the trap is just a shut door trap doesn't harm the fox. I wouldn't use snares as there are loads of wild rabbits and wouldn't want them harming. I do feel the fox population is increasing and becoming a nuicense but that is a discussion everyone has an opinion on. I feel the same about the run but I don't have a choice at the moment. the guy in the plot next to mine says he has caught 80 foxes in the last two years!!!! you just get fed up of them.

[petal]

When I was a lass any problems with marauding foxes were neatly dealt with by the local hunt (on foot, pack of hounds) you can but snare and shoot - I always felt the hunt was kinder - very quick - located and clean death no waiting in a snare for hours or possibly maimed by even the sharpest shooter(foxes are canny things - unless there are hounds around, but what would I know - i'm nowt but a cumbrian lass!

[Bramble-Poultry]

this is why when i first moved out here, the next door neighbour pointed out a small copse of woods where it was rumoured a fox den was. I then changed the design of the wire on the run from standard aviary panel type construction, to stout 2" square timber with 2" square welded security mesh. You need a hack saw to get through it so it is generally fox proof.

I say generally as the fox hasnt really tested it yet thankfully, but i know he is there, which is why we are very careful with bins and the like as we dont want to encourage him.

Having said that, i have had experience of urban as well as rural foxes. The rural fox is a gentleman, and as such we have a gentlemans agreement. If i dont lock up the birds at night, then what is left out is fair game for him. The trouble with urban foxes is that they come out in the daytime as well and have no fear of humans. They tear up the agreement and do their own thing.

The trouble we have had around here recently is that urban foxes are being caught up in town and brought out to the rural areas "as its more natural" for them. Wrong, they dont have any understanding of how rural life works, wander around in the daylight, get shot at, walk stright out into roads and if the humans dont get them, the very fact that they have been dumped in someone elses territory does not bode well for them.

Walldanzig, whilst it may not be natural for your hens, i would seriously invest in some security wire (or even heras fencing) as it might be steep at £70 per roll, but how much is it costing you to feed the local foxes? wire the sides and the base ad he shouldnt get in. Make sure that the wood for the house is sturdy and replace any loose or rotten wood ASAP.

Hope all goes well in the future for your birds - i cross everything i have for you.

[petal]

i have heard electric fencing is fantastic.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Petal, i agree that electric fencing is very handy, however the trouble with electric fencing is that sooner or later it shorts out from long grass, meddlesome kids etc and then the fox walks in and nails you.

By all means, use a stout fence, bolstered by electric but if you are having fox troubles i wouldnt rely purely on the electric fence. It was invented by a human and therefore prone to failure!

[Seamus]

it may be time to consider the double barrel, dont wanna sound cruel, but i put foxes and rats in the same catagories, vermin, we have had foxes take our lambs, so no mercy here