fox fear

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fox fear

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silkymania

Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 1

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 05 8:48 am Post subject: fox fear

just had a bit of a scary experience. It was 9.00am in suburbia and I was just about to let my chickens and ducks out. My dog had been hanging around the window for a while in anticipation of going out, she'd seen what I had not.
She managed to catch the fox and flip it as a pinball frenzy hit the garden with the fox trying to flee, it did scale the fence and was off.
BUT I'M WORRIED!. The fox looked quite young, maybe mother in tow?
we've heard from neighbours that foxes have sat in their garden, so we knew they were around, but this has gone one step further.
Do you presume after a scare it would come back, anyone had similar expereinces any handy hints?

jacky

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 05 10:49 am Post subject:

I too had a fox in my garden this morning - it scarpered pretty quickly when I went out, but generally they aren't especially timid.

We've got masses of urban foxes in Brighton - they prosper on the huge quantities of food they can scavenge from binbags. They are becoming as much of a nuisance as the seagulls.

When I first got my kitten I worried about her becoming foxfodder, but they seem to co-exist quite happily. I've got a picture of the two of them about a yard apart, quite relaxed. I'd be more worried about hens and ducks tho', unless their run is very fox-proof.

Sound like you've got a good guard dog though

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 05 11:12 am Post subject:
If you look about foxes are around all the time in most places. We live in a leafy suburban road and I've seen them at all hours including during the day when our hens were out in the garden. Luckily one of our hens chased off the fox. I will not let hens out in our garden unless I keep an eye on them, at other times they are shut into an ark with a wired base.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 05 12:22 pm Post subject:

Jacky, you are right to be concerned. You may be lucky, and the encounter with your dog may have scared it off permanently, but you do need to be aware of the possibility that it may come back.
Foxes are very good at climbing, jumping and digging so if you are concerned, then it would be a good idea to add a wire top and bottom to your chicken run. I do know of people who run an electric fence around their chicken run because they have lost chooks, but let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Being aware of the situation is half the battle - at least the fox didn't choose to make that first visit after you had left the house.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 05 3:34 pm Post subject:

Jacky - Judith is right, at least you (and your canine friend) were there to see it.

Like treacodactyl, we have hens in our garden who are in an A-frame during the day and are housed in my haybarn on an evening. Our hens at the allotment are in an enclosure which has fencing going a good foot or so below ground, but it is not covered above. If I saw a fox prowling about I would have to re-think and do anything within my power to deter it. Would probably end up with some extra electric fencing!

JonO

Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 119
Location: South Birmingham

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 8:58 am Post subject:

Well Silkymania is my better half and I can happily report that no fox has been sniffing around last night/this morning so it seems to have had a bit of a fright !

It is bin day in the local area so maybe it prefers cooked chicken ! We leave our chucks/ducks out all day and only put them in at dusk usually and in over three years have never had a problem (Foxes have been seen next door but never cross the boundry) This one looked quite young so I was thinking maybe it was trying out some new territory ? It just happens that yesterday a bird of prey landed in a tree nearbe and watched the chucks for some time... when it rains it pours !!! (I expect killer moles next)

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 9:04 am Post subject:

Let's hope you're right. We had a visit from a young fox last year; it was sniffing round the pen that I had a mother and chicks in. The hen made such a racket that we woke up and sent the dog out to escort the cub from the premises. As far as I know it hasn't been back.

JonO wrote:

I expect killer moles next

I have this picture of them converting molehills into gun turrets. Best not to joke about these things

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 9:31 am Post subject:

Urban foxes are, sadly, a fact of life.

A council wheelie bin policy reduces the problem - and seagull problems too. People that helpfully put out their plastic bags the night before are a right menace. The foxes rip open the bags and the seagulls spread the mess far and wide. Rats like bags too.

It might be worth asking around to see if any neighbours are putting out food for the foxes. This will naturally encourage them to stick around. And once they have discovered your larder, its just a matter of time before you get trouble...
Presents of eggs might possibly help to dissuade fox-feeding - but if the poultry are disapproved, the feeding might even be deliberate.

If there are foxes around, don't think your chaps are safe just because its daylight. Foxes are great opportunists.
It'd be a good time to review and improve security for yourselves and the birds.

Jb

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91ï¿½ N

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 9:42 am Post subject:
Given the time of year is it possible that it was a youngster looking for a new territory? I think it's about now that hunts would be culling fox cubs as the more effective method of control but when would the foxes move out and establish their own territories?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 11:29 am Post subject:

JonO wrote:

Well Silkymania is my better half

That's quick work, she only joined yesterday.

Are you hens and ducks fenced into a pen? If so how tall is the fencing?

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 05 11:32 am Post subject:

Josey Wales

Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Location: Gower

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 05 4:22 pm Post subject:
Do not trust Vulpes vulpes, for he will find a way!

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45502
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 05 5:10 pm Post subject:
electric fencing ...i say no more

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