[helskitchen]

We have had a weekend away and returned to find a fox has been in and killed all of the hens plus a cockerel (and left them) from one enclosure, then taken quite a few hens and a duck with just a bunch of feathers and no bodies left over from another.  We are absolutely gutted, but this is the first time in over 6 years of chicken keeping that it has happened so I guess we are kinda lucky.  It has left 8 hens, 4 ducks 2 cockerels and the 10-14 week old chicks, so we accept that it will probably be back for the rest so they are being locked up tight from now on.  Going to check all the fences, houses etc and try to limit the possibility of it happening again, although we know that we can never be sure.

We have big enclosures, so were wondering if there were any animals/birds etc that can be kept in with the chooks to protect them a bit - geese come across as a bit scary, are they are possibility?  I know Alpacas do the job, but although we adore them our budget will not stretch that far!

Could anyone offer any help please, I know whatever we do there is no guarantee cos old foxy is a wily old beast, but anything to minimise the damage would be great.

[jameslindsay]

All poultry keepers dread a visit from the fox. I had 4 geese at one time and still lost the odd duck or hen. They do say that Alpaca's do a brilliant job at protecting them, I am sorry to gear of your loss.

[Beewyched]

Such an awful experience - poor birds 

Male dog pee is supposed to keep the Renyards away - do you have one (or borrow a neighbours) that will exercise himself around the exteriors of the runs (without harassing your birds  )

Alternatively, I remember seeing HFW putting up strands of human hair (from the barbar  ) & peeing round the boundaries himself 

[helskitchen]

Darren has been dispatched to do his duty round the enclosures, after a couple of ciders he was ready anyway 

Our dogs are both girlies, but I have been nagging for a boy dog for a while! 

Will try everything, thank you very much.

The worse loss was a silkie/sussex with a cockerel who was devoted to her, they all were lovely but we had had her the longest and had always been a bit of a loner til we got the cockerel, and they seemed to really dote on each other.  My lad bless him said at least they were together when they died 

[Sandy]

It is every bird keepers nightmare, they tell us to shut them up at night but the Fox can come anytime if its quiet enough. So sad but how sweet that you little boy had empathy for the chickens!!! Men just love to do something that comes natural!!

[SallyintNorth]

So sorry you have been raided.  It sounds like the enclosure is too big for electric fencing? 

I do hope your presence is enough to keep the remaining birds safe.  :fingers Xed:

[helskitchen]

Thanks all, the enclosure is quite big and I have read that the electric fencing needs to be kept completely clear or it will short out - we can't see the enclosure being suitable for it as along one side is a hedgerow and on another is a paddock which is being grown for hay.

Last night it came again, but Darren shot downstairs when he heard the dogs barking and scared it off, it went straight to the henhouse where it had taken some off the hens as if to collect the rest, but we had moved them all to a more secure house for the night (before the fox came they wouldnt all fit in it). 

Theres another egg farm doing a changeover in August so we will get some more hens from them, going to put signs on the gate to let our loyal egg customors know 

[Sudanpan]

Our two male (neutered) dogs pee all over the smallholding but this had no effect on the fox..... in fact the dogs are more interested in covering themselves in the fox poo - which STINKS 
Tish

[helskitchen]

Have arranged to go pick up some tiger and cheetah poo from the zoo nearby, hopefully I won't be expected to go in their cage wielding a poop scoop!   

Not costing anything so it's worth a shot!!

Also Darren asks if he wees round the fences how long does it last before he has to do it again?

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

  sorry to hear this, I just got my hens on Saturday and would be heartbroken if this happend, just build the best defence you can to try to prevent it happening again.

[Beewyched]

Our two male (neutered) dogs pee all over the smallholding but this had no effect on the fox..... in fact the dogs are more interested in covering themselves in the fox poo - which STINKS  
Tish

I think the dog pee has to be from entire males - something to do with the hormones.  Wonder if it's the same for men who've had vasectomies   

Edit - just hope they don't go for the rolling in the sh@te 

[Collie26]

Might be worth finding a local gamekeeper or a person with a FAC(firearms certificate) who is willing to put a few hours on a night lamping or just sitting waiting patiently! We have a couple local people comming and it has helped, i think in total 16 on 50 acres or thereabouts.

A shotgun will kill if at the correct range and cartridge used.

Hope this helps

[ambriel]

We've a healthy population of foxes round here, and one or two of them use our driveway as a shortcut, but they never seem to come into the garden where the hens are kept. Someone suggested this is because we also keep a fe Kune Kunes and the smell from their poo puts the fox off.

Dunno if it's true.

[SallyintNorth]

Our two male (neutered) dogs pee all over the smallholding but this had no effect on the fox..... in fact the dogs are more interested in covering themselves in the fox poo - which STINKS 
Tish

Au contraire.  Fox poo is PERFUME.     

Sorry everyone, didn't realise Dot knew my password.  Or spoke French.   

[AengusOg]

dog pee has to be from entire males - something to do with the hormones.  Wonder if it's the same for men who've had vasectomies   

Vasectomy is not castration.