[chooksquacks]

I've had chickens and ducks for 11 years and our enclosure has always been fox proof. We've 4' equestrian netting with a top rail plus mains electric wire on the outside at 6 inches from ground level, fox nose height, top rail height and then on top of the 4'4" fence taking it up to about 4'7" in height.

We found a beheaded duck (during the day) two weeks ago, we lost a chicken yesterday and I caught the fox today again. It bolted towards the fence, cleared the entire lot in one swoop, grabbed a duck (she's touch and go) before dropping her and bolting out. I was INSIDE the coop the WHOLE time in broad daylight! I saw the whole bloody thing. The fox saw me, came in anyway, panicked as I ran at it screaming, leapt out and then turned and sat there looking at me. Electric is working well as a goat came to see what the fuss was about in the next paddock and got zapped.

Has anyone else had this? I'm thinking this may be one we have to trap and relocate as I've never seen anything like it. Completely ignored the electric and took such a running leap to clear it I'm not sure putting any more electric out will work.

[Anke]

It may be quite difficult to trap a fox as brazen as that, someone with a gun may be quicker (I don't normally advocate killing foxes, but this one sounds as if s/he could clear you out of poultry pretty quick. But of course they may already be feeding youngsters, so that may not be an option that you find acceptable...).

[chooksquacks]

Having got within 18" of it I can say it was absolutely massive by fox standards, after more than 30 adult years in the countryside and riding through it I've never seen a fox so big. If that was a vixen I'll eat my hat. Whilst I didn't think to check for testicles in the panic I think it must be a dog fox.

[macgro7]

I had a fox jump over 6 ft fence, rip a net roof open and still get in!

[Cornish man]

You will have to kill it or it will be back and you will lose the lot.
Use a decent trap or shoot it quickly.

[docsal]

We had similar. I suspect these brazen foxes may be rehomed from the city by folk/charities thinking they're being kind to animals. Not very kind to our poultry though when foxes who have no fear of humans come to visit! Re-homing tends to just create new problems. On this occasion I agree re shooting it

[arobwk]

Anybody here have an 'out-turn' on top of their poultry enclosures AND maybe with a high-level electric wire as well ?

[Not so easy to jump/climb/get-around such an arrangement, but would be interesting to hear whether anyone has adopted such an arrangement and whether they have fared better against foxes.]

[chrismahon]

Clearly the fence isn't high enough, but the top rail gives a solid line to aim for when jumping over. The top electric line will have no effect if touched as there is no circuit to earth. Ours is 5' 3" with a strainer wire at the top and has never been breached. our electric lines at the bottom are set to stop digging or climbing.


Obviously increasing the height isn't going to be simple, but perhaps adding some obstruction around the fence to prevent a run up to it would work?

[arobwk]

Obviously chrismahon is right (fence not high enough), but you need to consider an out-turn at top of fence and combine that with measures (electrified or otherwise) that provide a further stand-off hazard preventing fox getting a run up.


Of course a really really high fence with fox-proof mesh (maybe inclined outwards as well) would be an option.  Expensive !!

[chrismahon]

I was wrong with the height. The strainer wire at the top is set at 5' 10" but sags with the weight of the mesh down to 5' 8" between the posts. The mesh is deliberately kept loose to prevent climbing in the event that the electric energiser fails and there is a turn-out at the bottom of 1' to 10", stapled to the ground.

[Rupert the bear]

Piddle.

I still apply pee* around the boundary of the chickens and duck pens and have been doing this for many years and so far nothing taken from the pens by foxes , the badgers on the other hand broke in for feed and had to be       
re-educated over a period of weeks.

* your choice of application method either collect in a bucket or "manual " application

[macgro7]

Sadly doesn't work with "our" urban foxes...

[Q]

Piddle.

I still apply pee* around the boundary of the chickens and duck pens and have been doing this for many years and so far nothing taken from the pens by foxes , the badgers on the other hand broke in for feed and had to be       
re-educated over a period of weeks.

* your choice of application method either collect in a bucket or "manual " application

I pee on my neighbours allotment plot and he has never had foxes.. he hasnt got chickens either though..

[arobwk]

Piddle.

I still apply pee* around the boundary of the chickens and duck pens and have been doing this for many years and so far nothing taken from the pens by foxes , the badgers on the other hand broke in for feed and had to be       
re-educated over a period of weeks.

* your choice of application method either collect in a bucket or "manual " application

I pee on my neighbours allotment plot and he has never had foxes.. he hasnt got chickens either though..

Neighbour to Q - "Q, would you like some of my surplus lettuces" ... "Thanks kindly, but I'll pass"   

[Womble]

Piddle.

Now now, there's no need to be so rude and dismissive of a serious problem!

* your choice of application method either collect in a bucket or "manual " application

I use a small purpose-built hose that I've had for as long as I can remember.