The Poultry Keeper

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Monmouthshire

Yesterday the fox caught one of my Welsummer x light Sussex layers. I'm not sure how, as he was trying to drag the corpse through the electric netting. Snow too deep for me to pick up a rock to hurl at him, but I got the headless chicken. Electric netting is pretty ineffective in deep snow I have discovered. He was back again today and caught a Marans, but didn't get away with her - or at least I don't think he did, as despite a load of feathers, they were all in one spot and none on his escape route. I've got marans in three runs, so if she flew, she's probably in the next run where one of her sisters landed yesterday - these are big heavy birds. I skinned the first and am slow cooking her - a three year old would be tough roasted! I just hope the thaw continues now.

Farandawayjo · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject:

Blimey! I never realised electric fencing was bad in deep snow. You certainly seem to be having a bad time with that fox. I expect it's that hungry trying to get anything not frozen just now that it would take risks. Hope our thaw starts soon too.

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2206 Location: North Cornwall

Did the man with a gun manage to get any of the foxes Henwife or are you still after the same lot like us?
Any good setting a trap? Thats our next move.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Monmouthshire

Son has offered to lend me his gun, but as I've never shot, wouldn't have it to hand, and would almost certainly miss, I declined. I suspect the foxes have bred early and are hungry. For the last few years we've been snowless and the fencing has worked. His footprints were around the outside of all three lots of fencing this morning, but the snow is thawing rapidly now.

CP · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject:

I guess the snow works like long grass does on the electric fencing. You have to cut the grass under the wire, don't you? That will mean having to shovel snow...! Twisted Evil

Good luck with keeping all your hens safe. Wink

(snow's all disappeared here. Smile

)

mcleod-girls · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject:

so sorry about your hens Sad

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1955 Location: Cheshire

Yeah me to, Im sorry to hear that. Did you say he just got the one hen in the end?

I must say that I would never have thought to use the bird he didnt get away with (seems an obvious move now you have said it!)

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1426 Location: Leicestershire

If you try a trap, it need to be completely buried so none of the wire is visible and it looks like a burrow, I borrowed a trap when I was having trouble but had no joy with it at all as I just used it as it was, the man I found to help me told me that trick, but mine seems to have disappeared, hopefully someone else shot him, my man snared one but he said it was only a youngster. Have you tried the local hunt, they may be able to send someone to help?

Itsybitsy

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2206 Location: North Cornwall

Sorry Henwife, oldage getting to me, Confused

it was Itsybitsy who had the man with a gun. Embarassed

Will try to remember to burying the trap Itsy, will have to do it on one of my good days Laughing

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1955 Location: Cheshire

Oh! ...I'm not having a dig at you, but I feel very uncomfortable with the thought of the use of snares, that's a nasty way to die.

Now...I'm going to ask a really daft question (Brace your self for this!) If the fox knows there are chickens, then it is always going to check the coup out on its 'rounds' each day, so why don't people just leave a tin of cat food out for it? That would fill it up and it wouldn't need to catch a chicken?

(Before you roll round the floor laughing, bear in mind I was a born and breed city girl and the rare glimpse of a fox in the city was a treat.... Shooting a fox I could cope with, but slow death really upsets me)

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2206 Location: North Cornwall

I thought that with Magpies. Had a pair nest 2 years running in a big conifir. Thought to myself, I'll feed them well and then they wont take the baby birds from the nests of others.
BIG MISTAKE. They take everything. Magpies do well with all the feeding and build up in number. Chattering all the time and taking our food from the garden table. No trouble now, we catch and cull everyone we can.
Oops, I mean Magpies Wink

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Monmouthshire

To some extent the 'feed the fox' theory works - I've heard it from country bred people who sling their dead birds 'over the hedge' and claim to be untroubled by foxes which are now to be in the area. This is the first time I've had fox trouble since investing in electric netting, so I still think it was snow rather than a wilier fox. The hunt used to come out periodically and scare the foxes - we live in a steep sided, wooded valley which is difficult for riders but bliss for the hounds.

I've just realised that since I've had guinea fowl, I no longer have magpies - I wonder if there's a connection.

mcleod-girls · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

From what I hear a fox will just kill and kill as long as it can. I heard of a fox that killed lambs night after night and just left them there.

Is it true they don't like the scent of humans? I have my boys out there peeing against the sides of the run to deter a fox we have on the prowl (it took all 5 of my neighbours hens last week) anyone else heard of this?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Monmouthshire

Yes, and female pee doesn't work, only male!

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1978 Location: norfolk

My brother does this - he lives in Croydon (well someone has to) and last year a fox kept taking all the ripe tomatoes. (Really, he actually saw it). He tried peeing at four corners of the garden and it worked!