The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Lagmore on May 07, 2012, 01:20:00 pm

Title: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: Lagmore on May 07, 2012, 01:20:00 pm
Hi All.

I have lost a couple of hens over the last few weeks to a bloody fox - he never comes during the day and as long as everyone on in their sheds by dusk everything seems to be OK. the problem i have got is one of my bantams has gone broody and is sitting deep in one of the hedges and i cannot get to her to move her - is there anything i could be doing to scare foxes from this area?
Title: Re: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: robert waddell on May 07, 2012, 02:45:34 pm
shoot it :farmer:
Title: Re: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: suziequeue on May 07, 2012, 02:47:25 pm
 here are my twopen'rth:

Electric fencing around the run
Dog
Title: Re: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: Sylvia on May 07, 2012, 02:57:56 pm
Can you not hook her out with a walking stick or similar? If you do it at dusk she will probably settle into a broody coop with her eggs. Hook them out gently too.
Title: Re: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: jaykay on May 07, 2012, 08:55:06 pm
I'd do whatever you can to get her out, including cutting some of the hedge. The fox will get her!
Title: Re: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: in the hills on May 07, 2012, 09:33:26 pm
He will get her or some other predator will. We have lost a hen this year that was sitting out but couldnt be found. She only managed two nights out and then we found a pile of feathers ..... in a sort of burrow deep in our neighbours hedge. Eggs were still there. We were really upset and had searched the hedge with our neighbour the day before .... just so well hidden.

Try all you can to get her out.  :(
Title: Re: How to keep a fox away!
Post by: Hannes on May 07, 2012, 11:37:11 pm
I've just lost two hens to the badger presumably. They must have been sitting or sleeping near where their old shed used to be, and in the one night where I did not check if they are home in the new shed, he must have come, all whats left is two piles of feathers over the lawn, 10 meters from one of our houses  >:(
I am sure it was the badger, cause they are incredibly spreading in the moment and there are footprints and muddy tracks everywhere around and under fences. He never comes in daylight either to say hello, better for him, I'd hit him with something then.... my neighbour also lost 5 hens in one week....
get Your ladies home or remove the predators is IMHO the best advice...