The Poultry Keeper

Scoop · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Somerset

I can't find out anywhere if a fox will jump off a six feet high shed into my poultry run (surrounded by electric netting) . . . I keep reading that they prefer scrambling over and into things so am hoping a mighty leap into the unkown will be a deterrent. The netting is about two metres away from the shed and the shed towers over the netting by about four feet so its not a case of a straightforward horizontal leap for the fox.

P.S. I did originally post a very convoluted question about foxes, sheds and poultry netting in this forum a week ago and thought I'd better simplify it!

leggy · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 10

id say yes foxes have been known to climb into willow trees in the fens and i was told as a kid that the only way a cat can escape a fox is too climb into a tree that has no low branches,so getting onto a shed roof would be no problem.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject:

I know someone who had a fox that got onto the roof of a shed and into the pen.

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 451 Location: gwent

i would say yes but by the sounds things if it gets in it would not get back out could you put outward leaning posts around 4 corners of the shed roof and place barb around to deter a fox from getting on there in the first place just as a precaution

Scoop · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Somerset

Thank you - you've confirmed what I'd feared! I can feel a trip to a DIY store coming on!

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2034 Location: North Cornwall

Scoop · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Somerset

Crikey. The more I hear about foxes the more I'm starting to A) worry B) panic and c) absolutely detest them! Having said that, following this weekend's downpours, the wet ground is posing more of a problem than predators![/i]

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1048 Location: Manchester

I've had a couple of flocks decimated by foxes, and have had a bird taken the day after I spent £60 on an operation - she had to be seperated for antibiotics and the isolation pen obviously wasn't as secure. But even with this, I can't bring myself to detest foxes - they are doing what they are built to do - I always think of it like this, if I was hungry and someone laid out a feast that I could see or smell but not reach, as soon as they were gone I'd try and figure out how to get at it!

Especially if I had some little ones to feed.

Scoop · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Somerset

Having seen the aftermath of my neighbour's ewes at the teeth and paws of foxes when they've been eaten alive after rolling onto their backs and been unable to right themselves and heard the pitiful sounds of twin lambs being snatched under cover of darkness . . . it may be nature, but I still detest it.

Sandra Hilton · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

So if I buy an electric fence/net then I still won't be able to stop worrying about my girls and the fox getting them Spana?! Oh drat! I do so want to have them in a field doing what chickens do best and I thought that an electric net was the answer to my prayers!!

Sandra

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 451 Location: gwent

our run is surrounded by fox dens!!our birds have been perfictley safe with a 6ft chicken wire fence 2ft under ground and angled outwards at the top at about a meter away outside we have electric stock nets running right around my dogs will not go near the fence when it is on once last year we actually heard somthing get caught in the net in the dark it made hell of a noise the following morning we got up there to find the nets stakes were out of the ground on two posts and the fence was wrapped around about 3 times over so whatever had run into it tryed to carry on running but obviousley entangled itself hopefully it will be like the dogs and know to keep away Wink

we were going to barb the top but never got around to it and to be honest i think if the fox was that desparate it would of certainly tried by now having cubs and all that this time of the year.just ensure your fencing is good and check regulary i would say i know it is costly but once it up it is up it is better than having to replace lost stock that the fox keep getting

Woodburner · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

I've finally given up on the idea of a large run and am making arks instead. Covered runs should give the maximum security. It's not going to be that much more expensive in the end (50 chooks) and it means less cost to start with. I would need at least one smaller run anyway for growers so it may even save a bit.
This system also means I will be able to control breeding with more than one breed. They should save me a lot of work in the vegetable garden too Wink