I've been keeping hens for over 20 years without any issues with predators even though I lived in a rural area. I recently moved to a town and didn't count on the wiliness of urban foxes. I've just lost all my hens to a fox. It must have been just as it was beginning to get dark or just as it was beginning to get light as I have an automatic pop hole cover. Either that or the silly chucks didn't go home to roost. Sadly the fox dug a hole under the run, despite having a skirt of chicken wire on all sides. I'm heartbroken but don't want to give up and wondered what you guys think to my enhanced security and whether you had anything else to add.
I'm going to put prickle strip all around the perimeter, 2 inches under the fence, into the run and 4 inches outside. In addition, I'm going to set up a PIR security light and install an ultrasound device with flashing lights. I've been advised that sensory deterrents for foxes should target at least 2 senses and these cover 3. I've also been told that it takes about 3 weeks for a fox to stop trying to get into its "larder" before all these deterrents deter it.
Any thoughts?
I'm going to put prickle strip all around the perimeter, 2 inches under the fence, into the run and 4 inches outside. In addition, I'm going to set up a PIR security light and install an ultrasound device with flashing lights. I've been advised that sensory deterrents for foxes should target at least 2 senses and these cover 3. I've also been told that it takes about 3 weeks for a fox to stop trying to get into its "larder" before all these deterrents deter it.
Any thoughts?
