Fox deterents please??

[Anonymous]

Hello again,

Well the inevitable has happened.........went out to feed the girls this morning and outside the henhouse were some big foxy footprints. Lady next door heard the darned thing in the night. All girls safe, thank goodness, but I am worried now he will be back! How do I deter him, please? I have a tiny town garden,6ft fences on 2 sides and the 4ft fence between here and next door, she has a cat flap in her gate and I suspect it got in through there and then hopped over the fence off some stuff she has stacked against the fence??
I have blocked up the cat flap (it's pouring down so her moggy won't be out tonight!) and I was worried about the bolt slides on hen house and run......I thought Mr Fox wouldn't take much working to open them? So I have put some wire up against them to cover them - the wire is the strong galvanised stuff from the run extension we are making.
I have 2 stockings hung over the hen house filled with hair the barber gave me but was wondering what else I can do about the unwanted visitor? I tried to talk Dad into peeing in the garden as I heard men's urine was a good deterent, but he was convinced I was winding him up!
I have also heard tiger poo helps but I can't see how, as Mr Fox will obviously not come across tiger poo in this corner of the coastal north east of England so may just think, sniff sniff, strange poo! OOH chicken dinner???
Any advice greatly received!
Best wishes to all except foxes!!! 06
Lem X

 

[darkbrowneggs]

As long as your hen house is safe and the hens are inside, you should be ok.

If you are worried you could staple wire netting to the outside if you think the sides are flimsy and it might scratch in, and you can get those little bolts that you can slide a padlock through which would be real belt and braces. When we had a lot of badger problems a few years ago I did the wire netting to about 3 ft high and had a turn down bolt and everything was ok

I wouldn't worry about the cat flap as any fox can jump onto a 6ft fence from a standing start.

You could see if you could borrow a fox trap, but then what would you do with the fox if you caught it - it is hardly fair to take it out into the country and dump it where it will have to fight the resident foxes for territory, and probably end up eating some country dwellers hens.

The only other line of defence might be a length of electric wire fencing run from an old car battery, the wire is cheap, but the energizers can be a bit expensive, though highly effective against foxes.

All the best and try not to worry too much I have a fox which visits pretty well every night, and hasnt ever "got in" anywhere, in fact he mostly mooches round a bit on the off chance then goes to catch mice in the field.

Most often birds are taken when someone has forgotten to shut them in, or has come home after dusk, though mine does come in the day during the season and pinches my birds, and I think that is just "not on" :x

All the best
Sue

 

[Tim]

I used to have my hens in a field without an electric fence and the only thing I used was Lion's dung around the hedges from our local safari park.

They were always locked up at dusk though.

It works when fresh and I believe because they are territorial they don't want to cross into said beasties territory :lol:

The hedge grew wonderfully well!

 

[charlielavin]

Get a cat!

Our cat 'big lad' (the name was my boyfriend's choice, not mine but its very apt! ) seems to keep them away, he even came off best against one not to long ago. I think maybe I should hire him out as a fox repellent!

On a more serious note I've heard human hair works, though I agree that probably an electric fence might be the best option.


Charlie

 

[Anonymous]

hi,

electric poultry netting is quite good as a fox wont jump over it as it cant land on top and wont launch itself into fresh air. even if its not electrified its still good stuff. it also allows your birds more space to roam.

a man weeing round the enclosure does work as does hair but apparently it has to be male hair not from ladies to have effect! its not nice but dog poo also works or getting a dog to pee round the place works.

the best bet for 100% peace of mind would be to have a coop with a run on it pegged down so they are safe day and night. also change the fittings that come with it for proper locks rather than fox friendly twisty ones!

i also have an automatic door so when the light starts going down the door shuts automatically. it can also be set for a time of your choice. it also opens when the light comes up. these are great as you dont need to be home at 4.30 every night in the winter to shut them up to bed but they are not cheap!

good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all this! I have mens' hair hanging up in stockings above the hen house.........my hairdresser is actually a mens' hairdresser, I am the lone lady that goes, and he said he will keep the clippings the days I go so I can get fresh with every chop!!

My henhouse now has padlocks, and unless the fox can get into my kitchen for the keys, I think that should be safe! The run is enclosed and attached to the hen house and when the girls are free ranging in the garden, someone is always watching over them.

I hope I have outfoxed the fox!!!

Tiger poo though........imagine ordering it off the internet! It will probably repel my postie too!!!! Ha ha!!!