The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sallyw on February 08, 2009, 02:33:47 pm
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Hello folks, We have a smallholding on the edge of a village, currently only with eight chickens but new pigs on the way.
Anyway, in the last week we have seen two foxes. One in the evening on the patio and one at 10 o'clock this morning on the front lawn. I know it is inevitable but it is the frequency of seeing two different ones and their boldness.
:o
I ran at them making a noise and they stood there looking at me as if to say 'wow, she's got a problem....' (my son did say i could have a part in a scary movie with a performance like that - thanks) ;D
So, does anyone have any ideas. I don't fancy shooting it/them myself. Apart from anything how do you know they will appear?
I know it is the snow but i suspect they have always been there. We are getting a dog but i am not sure how much good that will do - I will get the dog sooner if you think that may help.
The chickens are behind a six foot strong fence so not easy access although i do free range them round the garden when we are hear - but not anymore.... :chook:
Look forward to your advice.
Thanks
Sal :pig:
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A fox can jump a 6 foot fence with ease, seen them do it myself. A dog would put off a fox during the day (maybe !!) , but foxy would soon learn that the dog is indoors asleep at night ....I have 4 dogs yet have seen a fox within feet of my yard. It may be one of those times that you only need do something when they cause a problem . Shooting may be the only real option with a determined fox though .
Russ
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Hi,
I'm afraid I have to agree with rustyme, remember the saying 'sly as a fox' - if they are determined, even your own little chicken alcatraz would be at risk. BUT having said that, there may be enough food in the area for them (when there's no snow) that they won't bother with the chickens.
Good luck,
Karen :pig:
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Thanks,
I am sure that when the snow goes they will be less interested.
My husband and the four boys (under 8 years old!) have all just come in from making the snow yellow ;D
They have heard that will deter a fox!
Good excuse to get a new dog though! (provided the dog leaves the chickens alone!)
Its a worry...
Sal
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Hi,
Shooting them is the only way of getting rid of them,the only problem is for every one you shoot eventually
another will take it's place.
Unfortunately it's inevitable if they are around the odds are pretty high of a free meal.
I shoot on alot of land in Norfolk and Bucks and it's a full time occupation keeping the fox population down.
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I think you are getting some really good advice here. Our garden is surrounded on one side by a 20 foot wall, on another side by a stream with deep banks and a six foot wall around the rest. I haven't seen a fox yet but I'm beginning to be nervous. We have 2 hen pens. The first has 7 foot fencing and is dug well in but the new smaller one isn't dug in but goes right down to the ground and has 7 foot high fencing. Do foxes only attack at night? The hens are locked in their hen houses when they go in at dusk. The houses are study new wooden ones. Can foxes still get at them? We are fairly new to having hens so are watching this site with interest.
Brenda
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foxes will mainly go on the prowl at night , but that doesn't mean they won't have a go during the day. I have seen many sussing things out in daylight . Even had a few take chickens pheasants etc during the day. Foxes can eat their way through chicken wire...I had one bite into the wire and then twist till it broke away , then he just popped into the run . I was watching from a shed right by it so as he went in I just jumped out and off he went . They can chew through softer older wood , but new solid timber may be too much to do at one sitting. Always keep an eye on the woodwork though just in case one is having a go. Try not to leave dustbins near any fences or walls as they can use them as stepping stones ... Once you have done everything that you can to stop Mr Fox getting at your stock , he WILL find a new way to get at them. In the end there is only one way to stop a fox.....SHOOT IT . It is a horrid thing to say , as I really love foxes . I think they have such a hard life , but, when push comes to shove ....BANG.....Then wait for the new one to move in ....
cheers
Russ
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Urinating round the perimeter of the area does work. My late husband used to go out with our GWP bitch every night around 11pm and although we saw foxes during the day fairly close up - in our own fields, they never came to the chicken run. We'd have known from Hester's body language if there were any around, and she has a sort of whooping kind of bark for marauders. Very useful dog to have around, and big, so she is scary for human variety of unwanted guests too!
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when we were at our previous house we got wiped out by foxes, killed 15 ducks and all the hens, we found the most dangerous time is when snows on the ground during bad winters, they seem to go that extra mile because of hunger and will loose all fear to get at your flock. even though ours were in good secure housing. would agree with rusty and get someone in to reduce the population.
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Foxes will be mating now so maybe not all that interested in your chickens. If they do try to take them I would advise shooting as they will just keep coming back until they are all dead. check your area to make sure there is not a den near you or your chickens will be feeding cubs. We have foxes that have come into the garden during the day even when the dogs can see them from the back garden. Being clever animals he knows the dogs cannot get out. Farmers round here do lamping before lambing and again in the Autumn.
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Not sure what area you are in but if you decide you want them removed i would be happy to assist !
as long as you are relatively close.
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We have foxes and badgers living in our fields. In 5 years we have lost one hen to a fox and that was on the main drive away from the pigs. I dont know if its coincidence but it appears to us that our pigs keep the foxes away. HM
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Thanks Guys, all really useful. We live in South Bucks. Would be delighted for someone to come and shoot it/them but statistically speaking that sounds like a rare chance. Do drop me an email if you think you can help.
The pigs are arriving hopefully in April but they are quite far up the field so I am not sure that will help although we didn't see foxes when we had them last year.
Tx
Sal
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Hi
We put human hair in socks all round the fencing and the entrance to the chickens - it seems to keep the foxes away but as our chickens wander out of the field in to the forest we cannot vouch for them then. But definitely human hair helps put the foxes off.
Nicki
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Hi .....bad news!! As someone who's been there and lost all but one hen...it's not good!
I first lost a duck in the Summer just before dusk, then shortly after lost some hens and my other duck in the mornings between 8am and 10am..... i always thought they'd be fine in the mornings...how wrong I was!!
Never had any problems when they were in the coop at night. I've since bought a new coop and a large run that fenced to 8ft high and covered with 200lb strain netting... but they'd still get in if they really wanted to. I see a fox when walking the dog at night most weeks, and when it snowed last week there were a whole family of fox tracks within 10metres of the chicken run.... so once they find the food they never forget. I'll be on their radar forever. The secret is not to get complacent!!! Always make a run thats as secure as possible and never let them free range un-attended!
The only solution to a fox problem is a gun! :-\
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And a roof on the run?
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.... I've lost 21 hens to both Foxes and Pine Martins..... in the last year....
.... shoot the Foxes... unfortunately shooting is not an option for the P/M's
Good luck, any-way....
Pete
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Years ago I lost 17 ducks one morning, I went to work leaving the kids and my husband at home. When i came home at lunch time not a duck in sight so went looking, not a pretty site bits oh bodies all over the place. My neighbour kept watch one night as he said he would be back for the chickens and sure enough he was shot while digging his way under the chicken run.
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Does an electric fence really work? We keep our chickens in a mobile ark but they are let out within a 50m electric fence during the day. We saw our first fox in the area for a few years just last week and are now concerned.
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Foxes are everywhere, even if you don't see them very often.
They will check out your poultry/duck pens most evenings/mornings on their way by, and if there is a chance to kill something they will take it.
Electric netting can be useful, but you must take care that it doesn't snag on other fencing or vegetation, as that will take the power down and allow the fox to raid. I had some beautiful laying ducks killed one Christmas night and, because the electric net had blown against the barbed wire stock fence, causing it to short, the fox was able to gnaw through a couple of strands and pull the headless drake through the net.........the ten ducks were killed, their heads removed, and left in the run
I keep quite a lot of poultry and have had some sad losses over the years.............I don't keep ducks or turkeys now as the foxes cleaned me out, even in broad daylight.
I used to try to live with the foxes and suffer the losses, but when you lose your best stock birds time after time it's hard to find anything endearing about them. I now operate a line of snares at various times of the year, for foxes, and finally have some respite from their predations. Having killed a pair just a couple of weeks ago, I will probably be fox free-ish for the best part of this summer................it's a bit late for another pair to move in, as most vixens will be settled in cubbing territories by now......until the neighbouring cubs start raking.
Foxes use the farm track past the house as a thoroughfare, and I've even had them in the garden, which is very small, scattering the hens. I would rather leave them alone but in the past eight years I've had to shoot them within yards of the house/outlying hen runs, at all times of the day and night.
My neighbouring farmer is very diligent, and there are some lampers about in the winter too, so the numbers are much more acceptable now.
If you do plan to keep hens in an electric fence run, I'd advise you to check the fence at least every morning, before you let the birds out, for power and freedom from entanglement.