Mr Fox & electric fencing

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

Had a visit from Mr Fox yesterday and my 4 girls are all gone - always lock them away at night & let them out at 7 am to free range in our 200ft garden.
I let them out as usual and checked on them late morning - all that was left was lots of feathers and 2 x headless bodies. Horrible! What makes it worse is I was in the house and didn't hear anything!!

The garden doesn't seem the same without cluckies so we know we will have to replace them pretty soon BUT how can we protect them from Mr Fox. We do have a secure house & pen but it's not that big and I don't like the thought of the new girls having to stay penned.

We're thinking about electric fencing but it looks expensive - besides Ebay does anyone know of a supplier who offers bargain prices? What height of fencing is needed? I worry that Mr Fox may just jump over it - just like he jumped over our fencing yesterday. Any advice most welcome.

I suppose the alternative is to build them a bigger secure pen and only let them out when we are in garden!?

Many thanks

[minskey]

Oh I'm so sorry for you. I bought my electric fence from my locla feed store, S.A.P.S., they seem to be a small chain so there might be a store near you. It is just under 4ft by 75ft and cost £75. I know we have foxes locally but I have been ok. i don't know if it is the electric fence or just lucky so far.

[Suechooks]

Oh dear Gorsty how really horrible for you. I guess it's the event we all dread.
I'd be inclined to build a bigger fox proof pen and keep the girls in there while you're not supervising them.
Remember the fox only has to get lucky once, we (and our chooks) have to be lucky all the time.
Big cyber hugs from me{{{{{hug}}}}

[polo]

HI Gorsty,

So sorry to hear that. Its the thing we all dread. Good luck with the new pen, I'm sure there will be some good suggestions coming along..

Polo

[Gorsty]

We do live in the country so you do expect it but we hadn't any problem until NOW. Just feel gutted that I didn't hear them - normally if I hear any alarms I go & investigate but can't believe that he'd got all four of them and I didn't even know.

MOH is talking about installing a baby alarm up the garden so that we can tune in to the outside world so if we hear anything we can react.

I know it isn't MY fault but just feel so miserable.


They had a wonderful life just hope it was over pretty quick for them.

Any further advice really appreciated.

Many thanks for your codolences XX

[Flummery]

What a sad tale - we all sympathise. It's your worst nightmare isn't it? We only let ours out when we are there - we go and read in the garden room if we aren't working in the garden. Maybe you can increase the foxproof run area and just let them out less often.

[Glutton4...]

My sympathies mate, that's awful. I bought my fence on eBay, and string an extra 'trip-wire' round the pen too. They are about, I know as they leave little piles of stinky dung around to let me know!

[Hilary B]

Foxes rarely jump clean over a fence, they usually rest a paw or so on top as they go, and will rarely attempt something that isn't fairly solid-looking at the top. The electric 'mesh' isn't solid-looking (better for keeping chooks at home too, as MOST of them perch on top when going over a fence) so the risk is not bad. Also, it usually has a low wire that a fox would touch while attempting to dig under.
Nothing is totally safe, but an electric fence is as good as it gets. Secure runs that are big may be difficult to roof, anf without a roof, it isn't fox-proof.

[petal]

I am so sorry, you must be very upset. i got my electric fencing second hand, if you look around you will find a good deal. it really is very effective.

[Gorsty]

High intensity red L.E.D.S

Hi folks

Just been to see a poultry friend who used to use electric fences but the fox dug underneath it - he now swears by solar powered units which flash with high intensity red lights - has them alll around his perimeter fence.

Apparently they are used in order to control all kinds of creatures who see the red lights as predators and keep well away. The only problem I see is that these packs only come on at dusk and go off at daylight!!!!

MOH is an electronics engineer and reckons he could come up with a mains operated version which could keep going all day and night. I wonder whether red lights would work as effectively in the daylight?????

Me thinks it would be prudent to extend the secure run and only let them out when we are in the garden.

Have you any experience/heard of this deterrent?

Bye for now

[Feather]

Hi folks

I suppose the alternative is to build them a bigger secure pen and only let them out when we are in garden!?

Many thanks

I'm so very sorry about your poor girls. When we first got our hens I had them on the lawn, kept in by a circle of chicken netting, not electrified. Then my neighbour lost some to Mr Fox and i got really worried about having to count them every time i went out into the garden. So we did build them a lovely large run, weldmesh under the base, over the roof and all round the sides, and although it makes more work finding greens and grass for them, at least I know they're always safe, and i don't have to shut the pophole at night so they can get up and go to bed when they like. I've fixed several high perches for them, part of the run is covered and dry, and really I think they're better off than on what would have been a mud patch rather than grass by the end of the winter. I'd say go for it, you can always let them out when you're around, and meanwhile you'll have a reassuring feeling that they are safe.

[Gorsty]

My new girls

Hi folks

I know its probably a bit too soon after Saturday BUT my friend Bert had some Warren POL for sale so now have four new girls. I had a restless night - kept on waking up and looking out of the window - not that I can see anything up the garden like, when its dark!!

Obviously they are going to have stay in the pen for a while until we get organised. MOH is going down the red L.E.D route, baby alarm as well as extending the run.

Apologies but I shall repost my email about red L.E.D.s under Fox deterrants so I can get feedback from those who haven't been involved in this thread.

Once again, thanks for your help - you never let me down when I need you.

Gorsty

[Flummery]

We were advised to keep new chickens in their enclosed run for the first fortnight anyway - so that they know it as home and will come back to it when you need them to - although our tarts will follow you anywhere for a tablespoon of sweetcorn! Good luck with your new flock and I hope you manage to come to a workable solution for you.

[chris]

I'd love to put an electric wire around the top of my border fence, but knowing my luck some scrote kid will try and jump it, get a shock and then sue me.

I've resorted to 100mm concrete base, 3" fence posts, and weld mesh roof + sides. Going to spring the door to. They do roam around our garden during the day though.

fingers crossed for you !

[Hilary B]

Foxey is unlikely to dig under an electric fence if set up correctly. An extra wire, 6" above ground and 6" outside the main fence, should prevent that, because he digs close to the barrier he wants to by-pass, and he'll get a shock to the ears or nose as soon as he starts trying to dig.
I remain less than convinced about 'deterrents'.....