The Poultry Keeper

nugget · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 14

In December i had flu and was sat resting downstairs, when i heard the hens screaming outside... I was right next to the window so i looked out, coming hurtling towards me was one of the hens legging it closely followed by a fox, which then grabbed it in its mouth and was violently shaking it! I could not believe that it was literally right outside the window! I screamed and hammered on the window knocking down a picture on the wall which then broke a plate, all very eventful! I then turned away as it was horrible to watch.
In a few minutes i decided i should go and put the others in so i went out, to my surprise all of them were there, including the one that was attacked looking smug although with considerably less feathers. Saved from the foxes mouth, I still cant really believe it! I have been keeping them in recently as that was the last straw as the fox had been coming for a regular lunch. Has anyone any tips for a fox deterrent?

CP · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject:

There are a few that we are using at the moment. Hang human hair in nets, have a radio on in the coop, and male urine around the perimeter fence. Shocked

Whether they work or we've just been lucky so far, I can't really say for certain. Confused

I'm sure if you look on the threads on this forum you will find several regarding foxes.

So glad your girl survived her ordeal. She's one lucky chicken! Very Happy

nugget · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 14

Thankyou, I will have to give them a try I would much rather them having free range of the garden again. The human hair is an odd one do you think it is the scent?

fenwoman · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:50 pm Post subject:

stephen · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:02 pm Post subject:

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

did it get accidently wired up to the door handle too Stephen?

stephen · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:48 am Post subject:

No. I decided that it would be our luck that some burglar would try and break in and we'd be prosecuted by the police, not the man breaking in.

nugget · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 14

where would I be able to get it from?

stephen · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:01 pm Post subject:

The poultry netting or the engergiser?

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

I agree with Stephan, electric netting has always worked for us and we have a lot of foxes around. But you have to get in the habit of checking the batteries ( I use rechargeable caravan ones) because the fox will know if it is flat!!!

fenwoman · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject:

And keep checking to ensure no vegetation is earthing it out. You can either strip along the bottom or spray a weedkiller along.
My own energiser has a red light which comes on if the power is getting too low and warns me to swap batteries. I just use old car batteries and they seem to last a good 2 months .

stephen · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject:

Yeah, Nigel is very good at mowing the perimeter.

And as for the charging, we put a solar panel on the shed to charge the leisure batteries (rather than car batteries), so there is 170Ah of charge available pretty much all the time when we have both batteries up there. The solar charger wasn't even very expensive - less than the battery - from Maplin.

We've got a clip-on light that we've put on a run of wire that flashes when the voltage drops too low.

stephen · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject:

Oh and snow. Snow is very good at shorting poultry netting.

mojo · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject:

seems malmo can supply the snow

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

Electric fencing is the only way to go,then have some male friends urinate in a big jar and pour that around the outside perimeter of the pens.At night use a radio on a talk station inside the pen.You should have no more problems.If your chickens aren`t in pens,then you need a good dog or two to patrol your yard.