Fox returned and had another go...

[Eco-Chic]

Could hardly believe the state of the coop this morning. The door to the roosting area was covered in thick mud and the fox had chewed off the wooden rails that hold the windows in and gouged around the bolt so the keep is loose. He must have been sooo close to getting in.

Neighbour told me the dogs were going mad last night but I was exhausted and didn't hear them. Teddy JR is covered from head to foot in mud and has a very swollen fore paw. I think he may have tried to dig out fox or rat and has been bitten. Back to the vet in the morning.

10 minutes ago I stood in a headless rat that one of the other JRs brought in. Didn't realise what it was (short sighted) so jabbed my finger in ~ was nearly sick

I'd like to chuck it out to the starving fox but I know the bloody dog will just bring it back in again

The Chooks are doing well after the attack last week. Still losing a lot of feathers but they seem happy and are laying again. I've place an enormous double glazed unit infront of the coop and run door. Cross fingers foxy won't shift that!

[flighty1]

hi there sorry to hear of your fox problem. Unfortunately I found that once a fox had been lucky once he would keep coming back. Have you considered putting electrified netting around the area or even just a single wire around the bottom of the coop.

[Eco-Chic]

Hi Flighty,

Yep, I'm looking into electric netting now. I'm really quite shocked at what foxy has done to the coop door. If it had been the other rubbish one I have he'd have been in there no trouble.

I have a pile of wooden planks in what was the pond and I'm wondering whether there is a fox den in there or rats' nest or both even. Shall have to gird me loins and move it tomorrow.

[flighty1]

hi there, dont know if you are aware but you can get different heights of netting, the company I purchased my netting from have several sizes. see link for info
Electric netting.
I lost about 20 hens and ducks one night so brought a couple of the high nets and never lost another bird to foxes, local vandals yes, but no more fox problems. You just need to check the battery regularly. hope you get it sorted. Other than netting there are also various other legal, humane ways of getting rid of foxes, so you should be able to get something sorted.

[Nicos]

I got the fine mesh 4ft high fence from the same company and have been very pleased with it.

It really sounds like you are dealing with a very determined fox though doesn't it?
I still lock my gals away at night as early as they will go in and let them out when it's fully daylight to give any foxes a chance to be in bed.
It's on all the time.No point in tempting them eh??
We did have footprints in the snow at the other side of the garden- well away from the fence and they did raid our bin, so the fence must be putting them off!
(Mine is mains operated)

It has one flaw however....me..sometimes I forget to turn it back on if I've nipped in to check for eggs.
From the footprints though I think the foxes already consider it a no go area ( we had 5 foxes in the next field last spring)

Any piccies of your damage???

[Liza]

Sorry to hear your JR was bitten, I hope you sort your fox problem out chic.

[RichmondHens]

So sorry to hear all the bad news Eco. We have used electric fencing for five years now with not one fox attack so I think it is well worth it.

[Suechooks]

So sorry to hear all the bad news Eco. We have used electric fencing for five years now with not one fox attack so I think it is well worth it.

Yes me too but it's belt and braces for me since the guy opposite on the allotment site dug the fox from its earth with his Jack Russell and then it came back and took a pen full of his growers. (It had been living on his plot fed by a previous occupant for years)
Hope you're feeling better Eco-chic? and you're able to sort him out.

[mr darcy]

bladdy nightmare...poor you, sort it quick!

[Eco-Chic]

Just got back from the vet with Teddy JR. Poor little dog, his whole leg is horribly swollen. He's had an anti-biotic jab and I've got anti-biotics to give him throughout the week. I think those jabs work really fast. As soon as we got back he wanted to go outside for a pee.

Thanks for the link Flighty, I'll have a look in a mo.

[Eco-Chic]

Nicos, I'll take some pix of the damage in the next day or so to show how determined the fox is. I'm still gob smacked at the damage.

I'm waiting for the Electric Fence people to call me back.

[Eco-Chic]

Electric Fencing Direct will be delivering 50m close net, 4' , dual energiser, lead out cable on Tuesday.

Nice lady, was very pleased with the personal recommendations.

I shall be eating left over growers pellets and an egg a day for the foreseeable future

[Liza]

Did the double glazing work last night ?

Poor dog if the fight was with the fox I am sure it would worse off

[Nicos]

I shall be eating left over growers pellets and an egg a day for the foreseeable future

...just think of it as a belated birthday pressie!!!!

(I like the fact that it's green-and sort of blends in. All the ones I've seen out here were bright orange with huge open mesh!)

( the other thing I like about it is that I'm positive it's saved my chooks lives!)

[Suechooks]

Eco-chic - have you actually seen a fox? The level of damage sounds more like a badger. The are very strong and could have caused the damage you describe particularly if it was low down on the door. It could also have given your dog a nasty bite. Just a thought