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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2221
Location: North Cornwall
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 Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject: Archie the brave |
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Our lake is double fenced all round. Outer fence of sheep netting with two strands of barbed wire at the top. 18-24 inches inside that is 4ft electric poultry netting, without sags and all well pegged to the ground. There are 6ft.6inch high double gates into it with wire in the ground at the base to stop diggers and it has electrified wire up the sides and over the top.
All run with 6000-7000 volts running through it.
Just before 7 am this morning, BIG commotion down there. Through coat on and ran down. Archie the big Appleyard drake had everything in the middle of the lake and was doing a grand job of keeping them all together, swimming up and down. I couldn't see anything so walked round to the far side and at the bottom of the bank was a fox. He heard my sharp intake of breath and with no effort cleared both fences with ease.
Any suggestion for next move.
Thanks |
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mojo
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 10873
Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| apply for gun licence |
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Aussie Chick
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 2737
Location: Milton Keynes/ Brisbane
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| OMG....no idea! But good on Archie! |
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fenwoman
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 933
Location: Tydd St Giles, Cambridgeshire.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Archie the brave |
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| Jan wrote: | Our lake is double fenced all round. Outer fence of sheep netting with two strands of barbed wire at the top. 18-24 inches inside that is 4ft electric poultry netting, without sags and all well pegged to the ground. There are 6ft.6inch high double gates into it with wire in the ground at the base to stop diggers and it has electrified wire up the sides and over the top.
All run with 6000-7000 volts running through it.
Just before 7 am this morning, BIG commotion down there. Through coat on and ran down. Archie the big Appleyard drake had everything in the middle of the lake and was doing a grand job of keeping them all together, swimming up and down. I couldn't see anything so walked round to the far side and at the bottom of the bank was a fox. He heard my sharp intake of breath and with no effort cleared both fences with ease.
Any suggestion for next move.
Thanks |
Yes, move the poultry netting away from the stock fencing and give it some sags. Seriously. It may be too close to the more solid stock fence which the fox can see to gauge height. It is close enough for him to clear both easily. Also try hanging some wind chimes down there and some cd's. The faint jangle and flash of light might be enough to make him thing someone is standing hidden. |
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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2221
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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Good idea, the CDs. Will do that tomorrow.
We took advice about the gap between both fences and were told too much makes it easier to get a spring up. First time we've had any trouble in 18 months that we know of.
Tomorrow the power is off all day  |
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fenwoman
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 933
Location: Tydd St Giles, Cambridgeshire.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| The thing with the netting is that the fox cannot see how high it is and because it is uneven and not solid he will be nervous of jumping it. That's the theory anyway. I have used only poultry netting for the last 20 years or so and never hasd it breached but there isn't a clear run up to it and no clear landing on the other side either. Perhaps you can block the run up to it by some method and make the other side no suitable for a clear safe landing? Not sure how you would do it but in my small space I have poultry housing near to the fence which makes it hard to leap over and land on the ground safely. |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 15982
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Think you'd better camp out there tomorrow! 
Must've been a bit of a shock to see the fox inside what you thought was a safe area. Can't really offer any advice though, sorry. Maybe have a go with what fenwoman suggests. You have nothing to lose because the fox can already breech your defences as they are now.  |
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Knobby
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 6707
Location: North Warwickshire
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:39 am Post subject: |
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| Good old Archie !! |
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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2221
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Chicken Palace wrote: | Think you'd better camp out there tomorrow!
You have nothing to lose because the fox can already breech your defences as they are now. |
Yes, bit worrying that. Made some changes today while the power was off, and hung up CDs. I just cant see how he got in altho he did. Its much more difficult to get in than out and where he went out he had a good run up to the fence which there isn't any where to get in. He went out into a big load of brambles 
Just hope the local game keeper gets him soon.
Knobby, Archie is a wonderful duck and really looks after his girls, and yesterday morning he was a good friend to everyone,he seemed to know what to do. |
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mojo
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 10873
Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| mention to the local gamekeeper there is a reward of 12 eggs for a fox less locally....no i mean it |
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