So the neighborhood fox has finally discovered my chickens. (The addition of five rabbits had something to do with that, I think!)
I'm satisfied that my coop is secure, but I'm not so sure about my run.
I can't bury wire right now, the ground is frozen. And I can't use electric fence, I don't have an outside electrical socket. So I have run wood from the base of the run (which is a dog run) out for about 18 inches. It's secure to the ground, can't be lifted up or slid around. So digging under is unlikely.
But the roof isn't so secure. How determined will a fox be in climbing a 7-foot chain link fence, and then trying to get through the roof? The roof is wire, but loose wire. It's certainly not human proof, and not racoon proof, but I'm not sure what a fox would do.
I saw the fox last night. A beautiful creature. On the small side, but a beautiful glossy coat and long thick tail. We stared at each other from about 20 feet apart before he turned and loped away across the street. I live in the city, so shooting him is out. Can't fire a gun in the city limits. Not so sure I'd want to, anyway. The fox is pretty necessary to the ecology around here. Without him, the local feral cat population (thanks to neighbors who don't spay! GRRR!) would probably be out of control. 5 or 6 ferals is plenty, I don't want 20 or 30 or more! So my chickens may have to remain at risk in order to avoid feral cat problems. A difficult dilemna to solve.
But in the meantime, what about the loose wire criss-crossing my pen roof? If he got up there, his legs would fall through, but not his body. He'd have to intentionally wiggle through, but he could do it if foxes think that way. (Not sure how he'd get out, afterward, that would be interesting.) I wish I had a photo of the roof, but it doesn't show well in pictures. Imagine a cherry pie lattice crust and you have the basic idea. Or those construction paper placemats they have you weave in elementary school - same idea.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I'm satisfied that my coop is secure, but I'm not so sure about my run.
I can't bury wire right now, the ground is frozen. And I can't use electric fence, I don't have an outside electrical socket. So I have run wood from the base of the run (which is a dog run) out for about 18 inches. It's secure to the ground, can't be lifted up or slid around. So digging under is unlikely.
But the roof isn't so secure. How determined will a fox be in climbing a 7-foot chain link fence, and then trying to get through the roof? The roof is wire, but loose wire. It's certainly not human proof, and not racoon proof, but I'm not sure what a fox would do.
I saw the fox last night. A beautiful creature. On the small side, but a beautiful glossy coat and long thick tail. We stared at each other from about 20 feet apart before he turned and loped away across the street. I live in the city, so shooting him is out. Can't fire a gun in the city limits. Not so sure I'd want to, anyway. The fox is pretty necessary to the ecology around here. Without him, the local feral cat population (thanks to neighbors who don't spay! GRRR!) would probably be out of control. 5 or 6 ferals is plenty, I don't want 20 or 30 or more! So my chickens may have to remain at risk in order to avoid feral cat problems. A difficult dilemna to solve.
But in the meantime, what about the loose wire criss-crossing my pen roof? If he got up there, his legs would fall through, but not his body. He'd have to intentionally wiggle through, but he could do it if foxes think that way. (Not sure how he'd get out, afterward, that would be interesting.) I wish I had a photo of the roof, but it doesn't show well in pictures. Imagine a cherry pie lattice crust and you have the basic idea. Or those construction paper placemats they have you weave in elementary school - same idea.
Thanks for your thoughts!
