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Original poster

Chickens - need fox advice

11 replies

littlebrownmouse · 06/02/2008 19:46

I'm hoping to get some chickens in the early summer as a birthday present. We'll probably get an eglu with a run but will let them out during the day. The problem is, we live in an area of high fox activity (there's regularly one or two on the school field even when the kids are out). My dilemma is, can I leave them out of the run to roam in the garden when we are pottering about the garden hanging washing out, in and out of the house etc or will that be too risky? Is it OK to have them in the run the whole time except when we are actually in the garden? Are Eglus really 100% fox proof? If I get them out in the garden while I'm gardening will I be able to tempt them back into the run? Will they escape from my garden or do they stay close to thier teritory? So many questions!!

OP posts:
needmorecoffee · 06/02/2008 20:26

Don't. Our 3 hens were killed by a fox in the middle of the day with us in the house. It took about 20 seconds.
When we get new hens they wont be allowed out of the eglu

nannyL · 06/02/2008 21:03

we have hens at work

just 2 weeks ago my DB came downstairs... we were all around, have builders in who were banging loudly (Literally knocking a chimney down) and at 10am fox had poor hen in his mouth

DB chased fox away roaring / screaming / frightening the fox and throwing balls at it...
He chased it the WHOLE way out of the huge garden... he is also 6ft 6 so not exactly small.

The fox returend to the garden 3 times, while DB was still out there (sorting out poor chicken).... fox only left for good after DB had thrown a full size havy wooden garden chair at the fox (and hit fox with the garden chair )

Yes the fox DOES venture into our garden even when we are there...

has been seen many times and the children actually like chasing away the fox

Original poster
littlebrownmouse · 07/02/2008 20:07

Will the Eglu be safe? Surely its not normal to be laying awake at night worrying about the safety of chickens that I haven't even got yet!

OP posts:
needmorecoffee · 07/02/2008 20:10

Eglus are pretty fox proof. tough plastic and the run is thick wire they can't chew through with that skirt thingy so they can't get underneath.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 07/02/2008 20:16

You can let the hens scratch round the garden when you are out there with them, gardening or having lunch or playing with DCs - but not if you're 'in and out' of the house because foxes are fast workers.

Otherwise, keep them in.

There is another thread on foxes and chickens at the bottom of chat. It isn't for the faint-hearted though.

mylovelymonster · 07/02/2008 20:26

Hi - I know some people who have chickens and after losing quite a few to local foxes they settled on a type called Wellsomers (no idea of spelling) which are able to flit up into trees at the sign of trouble, and these have been very successful - lovely eggs too - so maybe a partiklar variety like this might be an idea? - if you have trees?? Other than that, don't have a clue.

Lauriefairycake · 08/02/2008 00:23

I have an eglu, you could easily put a couple of tent pegs around the plastic skirt too. I let mine out during the day when I'm not around but I have a very small town garden and its totally walled. If I lived anywhere where there were foxes I would not let them out unsupervised.

After a few days of having them they take themselves to bed at night - as soon as its dusk but putting them away is a touch more of a challenge - i crumble some interesting food like a biscuit into the run while saying 'chook, choook,chook' and they come charging up the garden to get there for the exciting food, then I can lock them up easypeasy. Mine don't leave the garden but thats only cos its walled, in our last house they climbed through the hedge and visited next doors kitchen and pooed on their floor

There is enough room in an eglu run for them to be happy - but I wouldn't just keep them locked up there now as they are used to wandering about - have you seen the new cube on the omlet site ? Much bigger run! - I want to upgrade

Think I may have answered some of your questions...........

Lauriefairycake · 08/02/2008 00:24

putting them away in the DAY if you want to lock them up is a lot more of a challenge as they only take themselves off to bed when its dark

Triathlete · 16/02/2008 16:49

Get geese instead. They'll see off a fox easily. And geography teachers (remember that, Mr. Rattigan? )

marmadukescarlet · 25/02/2008 11:53

Get a man to pee in the garden, the scent puts them off.

Electric fence are great, but no good for children.

Why would anyone have an eglu, when for a similar price you could have one of
these?

These are way cuter and also can be fitted with a fox proof skirt.

(I'm just ordering a big one - Maggie's dozen - and a pen from here)

needmorecoffee · 25/02/2008 13:19

Ah, but having had wooden coops for 2 years, they are harder to clean and are prone to mites hwoever careful you are. We're getting an eglu now cos I want easy-clean.

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