coop idea for foxes- Will it work?

[jrv116]

So I've not yet started my chickens... I own a 7 acre lot with other similar sized lots in the area. I really want to freerange my chickens... I've seen some tall fences (7' or so) of chicken wire at our local farm... I was wondering if I built a wall of fence somewhat close to the coop, and then had the coop inside with maybe a top or higher entrance, would chickens be able to jump the fence in the evenings / on their own and enter the coop and still be safe from foxes. I assume foxes cant climb vertical fencing? or is this wrong?

My goal with this idea is that if a fox comes and the chicken is semi-close to the coop/fence they can fly up over the fence and be safe from the fox... If I have 20 + chickens, the fox might get one or two but I'd assume that I'd have critical mass to survive fox attack??

thoughts?

Am I giving too much credit to the chickens here?

 

[layalittleeggfo]

Arfaid to say foxes can jump high fences, ee were going to FR in our garden. we have a 6ft fence surrounding out garden, when my dad startled the fox on only the 4th night of having chickens it got over the fence like a polvolter at the olympics!! Luckley didnt get the chooks and we soon made radical changes to their coop and run. Not seen it since not saying its not been back, but we havent list any chickens

Also i have known foxes kill several chickens sometimes whole flocks (friend had 15 wiped out in 1night) tben it just took either what it wanted or all it could move (4bodies) left the heads of them behind as well as the rest of the chickens it had killed

 

[grandpaw roo]

Foxes can climb and WILL climb trees.Best way is rid yourself of the foxes.

 

[teach1rusl]

If you have a bad fox problem in your area, just make sure your chickens are secured inside their housing each evening, let out each morning. Or even if you enjoy freeranging, build a secure run (with wire as a roof too), but let them out at your leisure.

And yes, you are giving your prospective chickens far too much credit. Plus, only certain breeds can fly well enough to clear a 6 ft. fence...some of my breeds can't get their butts more than 3 feet or so off the ground. Foxes are almost as good as raccoons at scaling/climbing.

 

[centrarchid]

If fencing in a relatively small area, then consider electrified poultry netting. Ideally birds will not leave fenced in area but fencing can be moved periodically to prevent over grazing a given patch.

My games are a good as any when it comes to evading foxes but they are not the greatist strategist when it comes to avoiding fox. They will not fly to a specific location to avoid a predator unless they have had practice / experience and flight path goes from perimeter of foraging range back core range which ideally would be roosting site. More reliable anti-predator response is simply to fly up into a tree where refuge is a good 10 feet up and birds ideally will have an alternative elevated site to fly to in the event fox tries for bird at first site.

 

[JackE]

Yep, a fox will go up and over a regular fence. I have a fox problem here. They WILL take more than one at a time too. I learned that the hard way. I'll second the electrified poultry net idea. That's what I did, and it's done the job for me. I've had the fence up now for a year. The birds get to come out every day, and I have had no more losses.
Jack

 

[Branumdragon]

Your birds might be able to fly over... Ours could, but we clipped her wings. The question, besides just could foxes get in, is whether they would have the sense to fly back in if a fox did show up.

 

[heronz]

A friend of mine tried something like that and the foxes just plain outran the chickens and with the new fox pups being born soon they will come in groups.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I used to free range years ago and once witnessed a stray dog attack my flock. The birds were foraging right next to their coop, they didn't go in. In their panic they scattered and ran and hide where ever they could. None of them flew anywhere and if they'd had to fly over a fence to get to safety they'd have been lunch. They hid themselves fast and amazingly well and I dealt with the dog. No losses that day but after seeing their absolute panic and considering the potential loss I don't free range anymore. I now have a setup similar to JackE's and it works great.