Foxes

[digthatchick]

Er ... we feed ours They were born under our shed (3 cubs) now 2 years old, they come every night about 10.15 eat the remains of the cat and dog food and any other leftovers. If we haven't put it out they wait for it or come back later They leave the chooks and cats alone (chooks are locked up at night) and play chase with the dog!! I suppose it's better the fox you know!

Sorry crummy pics - taken through kitchen window - have some lovely video of them at 12 weeks with mum http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...1&d=1223664078

[lynda66]

i tried feeding our fox, but the neighbourhood cats always got there first, he doesn't come through till about 4am would be lovely having babies in the garden

[BrideXIII]

foxes can climb, BOY can they climb, my brother has just done a loft conversion in their bugalow, imagine his shock when on the first night they moved into their new bedroom, having left the window open to appreciate the breeze of the shore, a fox suddenly jumped in, imagine it's shock too, apparently it had been living in the loft the winter before. only way in is up a five foot high concrete wall along the top , jump onto the roof and in through the skylight.

[lynda66]

which is why chicken runs without roofs are not fox proof ...... they will also dig under if they can't go over.

[BrideXIII]

which is why chicken runs without roofs are not fox proof ...... they will also dig under if they can't go over.

well i will admit to a certain fondness for our urban foxes, after all, we nicked their land, they are happy to share, why shouldn't we.
I do keep the cats in at night, for all people say, and the official line is ( i rang the rspca and asked) they are no danger to cats, I personally have seen the consequences, but only in the pup season, when they really need the food.
up until last year it was not a real problem, bin bags are a source of food for them, this year however the council have put us finally on wheelies, good for us, bad for foxes.
we are right next to a railway line, so we have plenty, and at dusk, especially when its a bit foggy ( on the coast here) it is not unusual to turn the corner and come face to face with them, and you can often, if you are still awake, spot me hanging out of my bedroom window at 4 am, watching mom teach the pups to raid the bins, while dad keeps a look out, barking if he spots anything to worry about.
I know people say they carry disease, and cause havoc, and having seen the damage they can do to a chook run first hand, empathise with chook keepers. Get that run determinedly foxproofed, and enjoy one of the only wild creatures that seems to live in harmony with us, despite our habit of stealing their habitat.
I for one, would willing put up with smelly poo, to enjoy the company of our urban wildlife, and would hate to see their eradication.

[digthatchick]

Well said Bridey A little more harmony in this small world of ours would go a long long way. We share our world not own it.

[Purplebint]

I love our little fox visitors....or did until they started digging up my beds

I know they must be pretty desperate to be digging up worms and slugs in this weather but I'd quite like them to leave my beds alone.

We've put up a chicken wire guard over the garlic shoots and strawberry plants as a temp measure, and hubby is peeing in a bottle in order so spread some urine around to scent the place

I can't feed them, as I have two cats that stay out at night who would eat anything I leave out.

Not sure if there is anything else we can do?

[Runningwolf]

hiya just reading the posts on the foxes and thought I would add my view. Foxes are quite clever really and will usualy keep to their territory. Urine will work but has to be male for the testostrene (not sure bout spelling) the problem is after rain it will need doing again and yes could alter the PH level of the soil as someone else pointed out. I use this method to deter the cats from my garden which seems to work. I have never heard of the hair trick though. Foxes will dig under fencing as well as jump over it and i have heard that they can sometimes open gates to chicken runs. I know as a lad my auntie owned a farm in cornwall and she used to try and leave a bit of feed out for them. The farm cats never had problems with the fox as neither did the dogs and we used to find that the fox would steer well clear of them. foxes are distant relatives to dogs anyway. I do agree with the posts that suggest try to live in harmony with nature as we are all dependent on each other. regards runningwolf

[Two_Sheds]

I think people will be seeing a few more foxes now, as it's breeding time.

"Most vixens will be looking to set up home (sometimes) under a garden shed possibly in January.
This is in preparation for when she will give birth usually in March. Deterring the vixen before giving birth to her litter of cubs will be far kinder and easier than when she has." more info here: Problems