Kitchen Garden Forum

I have a approx. 12m. X 10m. hen run (7 hens) surrounded by a 2m.high chain-link fence. The hens are secure in chicken shed over night and enter the run during the day. The earth scratchings in the run suggest the current fox ( seen often in the daytime by ourselves and by neighbours) can get into the run. If the chain-link fence is insufficient to keep out the fox, has anyone experience of the use of electric fences?

aebd

Evening aebd,
Why not have the fox shot by a licensed pest controller?It might save a lot of heartache in the long run.

Hello aebd
I guess that you think the fox getting into the run by climbing over the top of the wire fence. One way to prevent this is too have the top foot or so of the fence angled outwards by say 45°. The fox can't get over this. As your fence is chain-link you might find it easier to simply run a few rolls of 2 ft chicken wire round the top supported by simple brackets to angle the wire outwards.

I think that you might find an electric option rather expensive even with one of these smaller torch battery powered fencing units.

John

John, many thanks for the angled chicken wire addition suggestion to the top of the existing fence.Seems it should be a really wothwhile improvement , and I shall try it.

aebd

Why not have the fox shot by a licensed pest controller?It might save a lot of heartache in the long run

with a little knowledge of the foxes lifecycle - you'll find this suggestion won't solve your problem.

Foxes are territorial. In urban and country areas their territories butt up against each other.

If you shoot the fox - either...

Foxes in surrounding areas with expand their territories and so you will now have a new fox visiting your chicken run...and you are back to square one.

or, come October, fox parents decide it is time for the kids to leave home. So these youngsters will go in search of their own territories.... luckily you will have provided an area free of a rival fox and complete with chickens....and so again you're back to square one.

Rather than paying anyone to shoot your foxes - it is best to try and deter them from your garden. Good fencing is the best way to spend your money. John's suggestion of angling the top of the fence is an excellent one. Plus, remember the fence should be high. Foxes get into my garden by jumping over a 6 foot high wall!

Also make sure the fence is dug into the ground - to make it difficult to dig under it.

If hungry enough foxes can get through fencing. Remember chicken wire keeps chickens in - it won't keep foxes out. Use strong fencing for extra protection

Can I recommend you read Unearthing the Urban Fox by Trevor Williams and Andrew Wilson of the Fox Project. http://www.foxproject.org.uk/. Which explains a variety of ways of deterring foxes from your land with recommendations of electric fence suppliers.

They also have a fox deterrence Helpline on 01892 826222.

good luck

Christina Fox
(yes that really is my name!)

Great advice Ms Fox

Is it possible to increase height of the Run ? Also electric fencing even single stand is effective so don't give up on that too easy