Advice needed for fox proof run

[Rustysflock]

Hi all
We are currently building a much bigger enclosure for our beloved feathered friends. Out current one has a roof but this one is built around and incorporating our 15 year old oak trees.
At the moment we have dug the mesh about half a foot into the ground and built up stone then earth on top. We are worried about fox’s getting over the top. It is about 8 foot high at the mo and we were going to put a bracket on and have some wire coming out at an angle (sort of what you see at army barracks) will this keep foxes out? Would be absolutely devastated if one got in!!
Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[cavemanrich]

Consider Electric Hot Wire. or Electric fencing. Then bait the wire and let the predators experience some JULES . It does not harm or kill the predators, just educates them.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[JurassicChicken]

We have had problems with foxes also. True story: a few years ago when we would free range our chickens, my wife was on the porch reading when she heard a commotion. She looked up to see one of our hens running as fast as she could, being chased by a fox, who in turn was being chased by our smallest dog, a 10" high terrier mix barking and snarling loudly as she chased the fox. Chicken being chased by fox, being chased by small dog with attitude. The dog's noise ( and probably my wife's sudden proximity to the chase) scared the fox enough that it broke off the chase and veered off to run down the mountain. The chicken made it back to the coop, and the dog spent the rest of the day sitting on the side of the yard, looking down the mountain and barking until she was hoarse.

Back to your question, I raised the fencing on my run to 8' high with a triple layer of fencing. Since the run abuts an old work shed, I mounted a motion sensitive light on the side of the shed. It has two bright spotlights that come on when anyone or anything comes within 10' or 15' of the run. For a long time I left a radio playing inside the shed throughout the night. I think that helped, too. If you use the radio option I suggest either country music or classic rock. Political talk radio made the hens irritable and egg production dropped off.

 

[Rustysflock]

Excellent advice. Great story about your fox chase, i can imagine that with our faithful hounds. I’m sure the political talk would indeed bore the chickens into poor egg production, may i suggest a little jazz? We have motion sensors on our gate to our property, why not the chickens! Fabulous idea i will be putting this to my husband.
Also as we have used trees as our posts, we think the root structure would also deter Mr fox?

 

[Rustysflock]

Consider Electric Hot Wire. or Electric fencing. Then bait the wire and let the predators experience some JULES . It does not harm or kill the predators, just educates them.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,, and

Hmmm i would love to ‘joules’ Mr Fox. Purely for education purposes of course

 

[6sablehens]

We have fruit trees inside the run and have mesh on top, to keep birds and predators away. Make sure theres not anything they could climb on against or next to the fence. They are surprisingly good climbers!

 

[Rustysflock]

We have fruit trees inside the run and have mesh on top, to keep birds and predators away. Make sure theres not anything they could climb on against or next to the fence. They are surprisingly good climbers!

We have cut all branches on the outside and will have mesh overhangs. Hopefully they wont be abke to get over that?

 

[6sablehens]

The foxes might still be able to climb it. I’d recommend running some electric chicken wire around the fence.
It looks like a nice run!

 

[Howard E]

Hmmmm........a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

OP went to a great deal of trouble to bury "chicken wire"? and then pile up rocks along the base?

The problem being chicken wire only works to keep chickens in. A great many predators......coons in particular.......can simply rip through that stuff. BTW, within a year, around here, a buried chicken wire would be rusted out and gone. Few if any wires are made to be buried.

So as pictured, your best bet is to install a couple hot wires around the perimeter. Lowest about 6 inches or so off the deck. Highest up towards the top to scrape off any climbers. Use 5 inch stand off insulators and if the chicken wire fence is grounded, anything climbing the fence will be grounded and will get zapped.

 

[Rustysflock]

Hmmmm........a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

OP went to a great deal of trouble to bury "chicken wire"? and then pile up rocks along the base?

The problem being chicken wire only works to keep chickens in. A great many predators......coons in particular.......can simply rip through that stuff. BTW, within a year, around here, a buried chicken wire would be rusted out and gone. Few if any wires are made to be buried.

So as pictured, your best bet is to install a couple hot wires around the perimeter. Lowest about 6 inches or so off the deck. Highest up towards the top to scrape off any climbers. Use 5 inch stand off insulators and if the chicken wire fence is grounded, anything climbing the fence will be grounded and will get zapped.

Thank you, great advice. Will invest in some electric fencing. Anything to keep them fox’s out! Didnt realise they could rip through it!