| Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site |
| beardies |
Fox Deterrent Suggestions?Does anyone have any good tips? Read lots online but are they old wives tales or factual? (before I send my hubby out to pee along the boundary line?!) Sadly, we lost one of our rescue hens to a fox in broad daylight this morning. It appears to have sneaked in from neighbouring farmland and taken her as she and others were dustbathing. It must have been pretty desperate (probably feeding cubs?) as we were only a few hundred yards away mucking out stables and the horses and ponies were in the paddocks at the time. We have spent the remainder of the day putting up chicken wire to reinforce that part of the fencing which, typically, was the only part without stock fencing / chicken wire. Any further suggestions gratefully received, thanks! |
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| JoH |
Lost five yesterday. Shotgun. | ||||
| Forget-me-Not |
Fox deterentShotgun sounds good to me, the only other one I've heard and don't know if it's a wives tail is wee. I think male wee around the perimeter, plus your dogs if you have one. Also...... is is it your hair in tights hanging up????? Am I stark raving mad or have I read that somewhere?
Beth |
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| beardies |
Sorry to hear that JoH, I'm upset enough over one (saw the little b*gger run off with her but she was dead by then). Thanks both for advice. Despite having campaigned hard post 1996 for a total gun ban in Scotland, I am now being hypocritical and thinking this is our solution. I have also heard that dog poo around the boundary is good, anyone else heard that? Plenty of that here! |
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| JoH |
They'll just come back if you don't. I have no qualms about defending my animals/birds. | ||||
| kimmie |
its the sent of the dogs....whether through their feices urine or what ever it is you want to call it.....is suppose to scare them off, they think its another fox's area, so keep away....thats the theory anyway.
Beth it was on River cottage that Hugh put human hair on his fences (as well as peeing all over the place) to keep them at bay as for stark raving mad....according to Maria....yes you are 
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| Smooth Hound |
shotgun, or though i have heard geese are good, with a gander, apparently they make a din, either it panics the sly fox, or it gives you a warning, 
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| wildgarlic |
A fox will take a goose though - we had one taken while sitting on eggs. She would have fought to the end to defend her eggs but still lost the battle.
Really sorry to hear about your losses Beardies and Jo :-( |
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| Forget-me-Not |
FoxesThat's right!!!Hugh FW!!!! Chickenopolis. If dog poo does the job, I've always got it if everyone needs it. Yes Kimmie, Maria's right, we're two peas in a pod
Beth |
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| lachlanandmarcus |
oh no, Im so sorry. Blasted things. Shotgun seconded :-( |
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| monkey nuts |
I have never killed anything intentionally but I must agree with the shotgun solution! Last year I had my favourite cockerel, another cockerel, four chickens and nine ducks taken by foxes!! This was in just two attacks seperated by about 6 months...bloody awful things..grrr. | ||||
| Dale |
anyone who wants thier foxes blasted.... give us a pm thats Dick`s job as a part time gamekeeper. bloody things took a hen 9 chicks and 12 eggs last year.  
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| Julie |
We don't seem to have any problem with them although I know there is a huge beastie around, I've seen him.
Our dog still has his balls and he seems to like taking a dump over near the hen houses. I wonder if the scent of male dog is a deterrent? The girls go nearer to the house but Stinky is a very private kind of boy  and doesn't like to be watched...stage fright, as my daughter puts it
Anyone want to bag a bit up and try it out?? 
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| Maria |
 
Julie, talk about chuckle, what are you like! Thanks for cheering my morning with doggie toilet humour. Been using neeps as diversion therapy (got application to write). |
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| IainC |
Would have thought a rifle would be more effective against a fox than a shotgun? Was certainly what my granda used to use (although thats a while ago, it's maybe just what he had to hand). | ||||
| beardies |
Unfortunately the fox returned this evening, must have been watching as it struck about 20 minutes after we came in from the garden. We have lost a blackrock and a bantam hen and our gorgeous cockerel, Barry. Many thanks to Myra and Jim for their response to my hysterical phone call! Have been on patrol all evening with air rifle but, despite having seen it once, it hasn't yet returned. Chickens will be relegated to spare stable until further notice and a vist to local gun shop is priority for tomorrow. Can't believe how sad we feel this evening. | ||||
| Maria |
Oh no  So, sorry to hear!
Have no suggestions that will help...have no hens yet! I can't help wondering if the pee would help? Could you have a friend visit (if you're dogs would be ok with a visiting dog) I bet you could do with an extra pair of eyes after today! Again...so sorry...just don't know what id do!!!! Would the pee/pooh distract it maybe...although Julie's stagefright (sorry that tickled me ) Stinky would be no help. The scent might deter fox long enough for you to get some practice with the gun.
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| myra |
we went to Beardie's last night with the air rifle and all four of us patrolled for ages, but this fox seems extra cunning, you can almost "feel" it watching you but still you can't see it! What it had done was horrible and having been there twice now it really does have to be killed. We will be going every evening that we can until the deed has been done, will have to take Sam and try to get him to wee around the perimeter fence (Sam's a dog not husband by the way!) | ||||
| Ina |
Now, I always knew things were a bit different in Germany - but this has me stumped:
Thieving Fox Amasses 120 Shoes http://www.spiegel.de/internation...t/0,1518,629778,00.html#ref=nlint Maybe an idea to distract "your" fox - supply a few shoes around the boundaries in the hope it'll take them away to play with? (Sorry - I know it's a serious problem - I just couldn't resist this...) Edited to add - it probably proves that the human smell doesn't deter them all.
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| IainC |
If it's as cunning as that, is it worth setting some snares (as much as some people hate them)... although you'd obviously need to be keeping a good eye on it a lot of the time in case anything else got caught up in it. | ||||
| nina |
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't shoot at a fox with an air rifle.This would be a really cruel action.Even modern air rifles don't have enough power to do the job.Weapon of choice would be a rifle(as IanC said)A shotgun would be OK as well.I have no problem with killing a fox but don't risk wounding an animal and allowing it to suffer.OH says it would be illegal to shoot a fox with an air rifle.Snares are OK if checked regularly.
I really sympathise with you-I remember finding 20 ducks with their heads bitten off one day,just massacred.Not taken for food,just killed and left. |
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| myra |
didn't actually say that any of us are a good enough shot to hit a fox, or a barn door come to that, but more to try to scare it off on a temporary basis on the night of the raid until something more serious could be done. A load of my chickens were found like your ducks, Nina, with heads off and none taken for food, turned out to be a badger which returned the next night to try to get the rest of the birds. Unfortunately with badgers being protected there is little you can do about them. | ||||
| kimmie |
is it definatly a fox? could it be a stoat/weasle or badger...you may have seen the fox once....but are you sure its that thats taking them and not one of the others?....just a thought
I hope you manage to deter what ever it is thats doing this to your birds....fingers crossed for you. |
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| beardies |
It was same fox both times. First time I saw it as it disappeared with the body of my rescue hen. Tuesday night it was in my paddock less than 100 yards from my kitchen window having killed 3. After my barefoot hubby chased it away he ran into the house to put on boots and the cheeky b*stard returned and took the cockerel's body. When chased down into the valley it turned and fronted up to my hubby (who's a big bloke!) on at least half a dozen occasions. He said it was a scrawny looking thing so believe it to be a vixen with cubs. Having spoken to locals in the last few days it has been seen on a few occasions recently. IainC - thanks for suggestion of snares but they would have to be on either my land which is a no-go with horses and ponies or neighbouring farmland with cattle and calves, so not an option really either. Nina - as Myra has said, the airgun was a temporary deterrent, although I resent Myra's comment that I couldn't hit a barn door
Anyway, I now have several volunteers on patrol with rifles/shotguns so hopefully it is a solveable problem. Meantime chooks seem to be enjoying life in a stable, plenty straw to root around in, pond liner filled with sand grit to dustbath in and as many titbits as they can enjoy. Oh, that's all except Boots who is sitting tight on her clutch of eggs and is oblivious to anything going on outside
Thanks to all for advice etc, it is a comfort, and will keep you posted |
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| myra |
sorry if I offended you Beardies, forgot your nickname is Annie Oakley and you are a good shot! Don't know if you noticed, I didn't even have a go - wouldn't know one end from the other!
Hopefully get some sort of result before then end of the weekend, otherwise your chooks are going to be completely spoiled and will demand luxury and treats constantly! |
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| Julie |
It's not a very bright critter if it thinks there is much meat on a rescue hen
We had a problem with feral cats a few years ago but the fox doesn't seem to bother us. Apart from the dog presence (more likely the wee than the poo I've been thinking) I wonder if the electric fence around some of the perimeter makes a difference too? Do you have a flock net you could put up around your hen house and switch it on at night? |
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| beardies |
Think that's the point Julie, it's not very bright at all! Think perhaps as we only have bitches here, the dogs are not putting it off if you know what I mean? Can't even think of anyone with an entire dog I could borrow. To electric fence our total perimeter would cost a fortune and not be practical. The hen house is now located in a spare stable so they are safe and secure until fox is dealt with. In two years with free ranging hens this is the first time that we have had a problem with a fox; although we have seen them on neighbouring land they had never before been brave / stupid / hungry enough to come closer. |
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| Ina |
I remember when I worked for a market garden near Glasgow, we had fox problems (they had some free range poultry, too), because one of the lovely neighbours fed the foxes with bought in chickens so they wouldn't go hungry!!!!!!
Townies, hey?! Of course, the foxes got quite used to being near human settlements and eating chicken; they had no problem if it wasn't T*sco's finest, but live... |
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| Sassinak |
It's not just townies.
We have a neighbourly squabble going on here at the moment (I'm not actually part of it - yet!!) One neighbour, a dairy farmer with quite a lot of land, is sheltering and protecting a family of foxes. Him and his wife say the foxes have plenty of land to hunt over and so won't bother anyon else  How naive is that?
The second neighbour told people of these foxes and a couple were killed. Obviously not enough were killed from my point of view. It stands to reason that even if you have well behaved foxes who only eat the many rabbits on your own land. Once they breed and the young mature, they will need extra space and will spread out probably making the existing territory inadequate. I have never had a problem with foxes until this year. They took a run of young Cochins. They dug up my dog I'm assuming that is where my pair of call ducks has gone - been trying to convince myself they flew down to the fisheries lol |
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| Ina |
Oh dear - I hope not! They were lovely... 
Wouldn't you have found some trace if they'd been taken by the fox? |
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| IainC |
Surely the horses and ponies can't fit thru' your fencing (which is where you'd set your snares)? Only issues with snares is ensuring that your cat(s) or small dog(s) don't get caught in it when trying to get thru' and checking them often enough so that anything that does get caught doesn't suffer too long. |
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| beardies |
Okay hands up to my ignorance of snares
Horses might be miniatures but they are not THAT small
Will look into this further, many thanks for the advice |
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| IainC |
Got an idea you were thinking of "man traps"
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| beardies |
Naw, don't need another one yet, haven't worn mine out
Yes, you're right, I was doh! |
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| Julie |
Just backtracking a bit.....The fox doesn't always leave much evidence of his visit if he catches them sleeping for instance. He will just grab one by the neck and scarper, to eat it elsewhere. You may find the feet and a few feathers under a hedge in the proximity perhaps or a few feathers wherever he made his exit dragging the carcase through a fence. They love ducks and geese best of all. If you shoot it, another will just move into it's territory and that one might be even more experienced.
I was thinking of the 50 meter electric flock nets with integral posts that you can buy, rather than fencing the whole perimeter. Erected around the hen house it would give them a decent sized safe area to roam in and would be easily moved if wished. I have two and they have come in handy for all of the animals over the years. They were half price so I snapped them up and they have proved to be a great investment. I'm not suggesting that other folks should do the same so don't all jump on me, but I tend to work on the theory that if I make it as difficult as possible for the fox to get my livestock, he will go where there are easier pickings instead and it seems to be working. Whereabouts are you Beardies? Are you near enough for me to bring Stinky for a peeing visit? |
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| Maria |
How's it going Beardies? Are you fox free yet?? | ||||
| beardies |
Sadly Maria it's got much worse as we lost our little cat to it the other day. However, we have today gone down the snare route with a professional pest controller and are hopeful of being able to let chooks and other pets back out as soon as it is caught. Thanks for asking. |
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| Smooth Hound |
i was talking to someone today, who is trying leaving a radio on quite load by the chickens, i shall call there again in a couple of weeks and see if it did the job | ||||
| Smooth Hound |
i think he was quite impressed when i told him my chickens had classical music
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| Maria |
so sorry to hear. I hope it is caught quickly so you can have some peace of mind. It seems such a long time to be on guard. Sending hugs. Did you try the dog pee/pooh? |
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| mike and louise |
I am very disappointed to hear that people are even considerng using snares on here. They are a cruel and indiscriminate form of killing. One of my cat's lost his leg in a snare.
There was a post by Pete in the hills, back in 6 feb, 2008 about having them banned, perhaps have a look at it. |
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| Nix |
I must admit I'm quite shocked too. I have signed petitions calling for a ban on snares, all too often it's innocent animals caught and not the one(s) you are hunting. I'm not judging anybody and I understand that it must be very traumatic for you being in this situation, but I'm afraid that IMO snares are not something anybody that professes to care about animals/wildlife should even consider using. |
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| beardies |
Guys, I'm sorry, I've probably used the incorrect terminology here. This is a large metal cage which closes behind the prey when triggered and the catch is then dealt with by the pest control guy. He called it a snare but was not what I thought either at the time. Sorry for confusion caused, I wouldn't hurt any animals intentionally. It trapped a badger last night, was first time I had seen a live one, and it was released and happy first thing! Still hoping to trap this evil fox though! |
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| Pauline |
FoxesI used to work for a land manager (forestry) who did fox control as part of routine, but then decided to deal with 'problem foxes' only. Apart from some backlash from some farming neighbours, there was little in the way of difference to the results. Most species will produce to the capacity of the food availability- deer excluded.Foxes are part of the Scottish wildlife, and I agree that any problem ones need dealt with, as they will return to the same place over and over again. However, we are building more and more houses into land that once was primarily for nature, so the result is that we will encounter more and more problems. In some eastern european countries, they are still treating wolves the way we deal with foxes... as a damned nuisance. I must admit, I enjoy seeing them in the countryside. But then I am not an owner of hens or lambs. (And not a 'Townie' either) A legal snare ought to hold an animal until it can be despatched. An illegal snare, that isn't 'free running', through design or rust, will tighten to the point of injury, often severe. However, even with a legal snare, you can't underestimate the will of the animal to get out, and some awful injuries can occur through determination and survival instinct, particularly if the animal caught is a nursing parent or gets panicked. Not nice. Hopefully a combination of control of this one, and protection of the hens will resolve the problem. |
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| beardies |
I'm sorry, I've had it. I lost one rescue hen, then a hen, a bantie and my cockerel, now my poor wee cat and I'm being slagged off for trying to get rid of a rogue fox? Consider this my final post. | ||||
| myra |
Having lost four birds plus a cat I think beardies are being pretty kind to this fox by bringing in a humane trap to try to catch it alive, and having seen her distress each time she lost a pet I would understand if she was out to harm or even torture this fox but she's not, maybe a bit of sympathy for her dilemma wouldn't go amiss? She's not waging war on all wildlife, just one rogue killer fox. | ||||
| mike and louise |
I don't actually see anybody criticising catching a fox in a humane trap, even if it is going to be killed afterwards! The comments were directed towards the use of snares, things have now been clarified.
We are all sympathetic to somebody who loses an animal, but the initial impression a snare was going to be used, was bound to cause comment. |
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| nina |
I apologise if I have contributed in any way to upsetting Beardies but having re-read Myra's post(above) "we went to Beardies last night with the air rifle"and"We will be going every evening that we can until the deed is done."to me meant using the air rifle to kill the fox. Also looking back,by far,the vast majority of posts were sympathetic and helpful. |
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| Nix |
A humane cage trap is perfectly acceptable and I'm sure nobody would criticise the use of one in cases like this.
I would expect every person here is sympathetic to the problem and the upset it must be causing. The fact that an innocent badger was the first thing caught clearly highlights why the thought of using a snare was such a worry. It was simply a misunderstanding due to (as beardies said) incorrect terminology. |
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| Sassinak |
Ah but (Playing Devil's advocate here !!) how innocent was the badger?
They are as bad, if not worse, than foxes when it comes to chicken killing. They can actually cause much greater chaos as their strong feet and claws anable them to break through most chicken defenses. I think a killer badger on my property would face me with a real dilemma because I think they are great - but I love my chickens as well. Foxes I'm afraid I have no such qualms about. If I managed to catch a fox that was harming my birds it would be an ex-fox by whatever means at my disposal. Yes I am country folk and accept that foxes have a place in the grand scheme of things and as long as they do their killing on the other side of the fence they are safe from me. I am not about to carry out a vendetta against them. I would just protect the birds that I owe a responsibility to. |
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| Smooth Hound |
the cat thing would do me im afraid, im not a cat person, im a dog person, but i can sympathise, if it was the took, then i think i may go a hunting. rightly or wrongly. ive never heard of a fox killing a cat before, so this particular fox is a particular menace obviously. good luck on you mission beardies, and very sorry to hear about your cat. | ||||
| Smooth Hound |
incidently i wasnt joking about the music/radio. it wouldnt hurt to try, nice and load, no neighbours so it shouldnt be a problem. make it more active so to speak, appear like there might just be someone around | ||||
| Pauline |
FoxesBeardies- I don't think anyone was slagging you off. Everything I read (and wrote) was empathic or sympathetic to your plight.I have an interest in human ecology more so that standard ecology as there is no point in trying to think about any nature issues without the major impact and consequences of human interaction. The extent of varying opinions, and degrees of support or provision of information is one to be celebrated. I hope I caused no offence, but we all feel strongly about aspects which impact on our lives to considerable degrees, such as the loss of your pets/livestock, and thankfully, we all have the freedom and forum to say so. |
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| wildgarlic |
Ok - as I see it Beardies isn't even using a snare so I think things are getting a little confused and out of hand here. Let's all take a moment to reflect and digest all the info in this thread and most of all let us not fall out.
Beardies, I sincerely hope that that was not your last post and that you'll come back and join us because we all love you
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| Smooth Hound |
well put
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| IainC |
Personally, I'd still use a snare, as long as I could keep a decent eye on it... IMO the biggest reason a lot of people are against them, is that some people set a snare, and then check it once a week, etc which is very definitely wrong.
End of the day, what you are hoping/wanting to happen, is that you want to kill an animal that is killing your own animals. While a snare can kill innocent animals (esp if not checked often) I would personally take the risk (even with our two cats) over letting a fox come in and decimate what we have... (not that we even have animals other than our two cats)... and that comes from someone who was quite attached to the wifes pet fox. |