Fox resistant run entrance

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Fox resistant run entrance
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wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Oct 29, 16 8:23 am Post subject:
I am considering alpacas. It just seems a lot of money to spend on a hobby (I'd have to build fencing, shelter and feed/hay storage).

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Sat Oct 29, 16 9:24 am Post subject:
My neighbours have 12 adult alpacas and 6 youngsters,and they continue to lose chickens,lost a gander last week.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 16 9:41 pm Post subject:
Here's my new pen. I've used six foot 'Jumbo' plastic release pen netting with a strand of electric wire at the bottom and the top, to stop both the digging fox and the scrambling fox. This was completed a few weeks ago and I have every confidence in the set up. Last edited by Bodger on Fri Nov 04, 16 5:48 am; edited 1 time in total

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 6:52 am Post subject:
Bodger's pen is constructed like mine except I use two strands of wire around the base. I have used that design for fifteen years and not had a fox get through. Back to the original post. I still haven't decided how to let the chickens roam the paddock during the day.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 8:26 am Post subject:
As long as they know where they roost at night, I'd manually open the gate for them in the morning but then you or someone, would have to be there to close the gate on them ASAP after they'd gone to roost.

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 9:05 am Post subject:

Bodger wrote:

I'd manually open the gate for them in the morning but then you or someone, would have to be there to close the gate on them ASAP after they'd gone to roost.

Which is my problem. I currently work shifts.

Until I devise a solution I will open the gate when I can shut it and am home at roost time.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 11:46 am Post subject:

I have to put mine away early if we are not going to be back from activities or days out before dark. I give them treats when I put them away, and they learn to follow the bowl in, even it's not dusk. Then they are in their foxproof run, so are safe, even if a few don't make it to bed before the door shuts. I have some new ones at the moment, who haven't got the hang of yet, though.

I give mine mealworms, for which chickens (in my experience) will do absolutely anything.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 16 9:35 pm Post subject:
the electric "portcullis" things for pop holes work ok and can either be set on a timer or to close/open using a photo electric cell as a trigger for the relay the dirty 4 dozen did ok with one of those until foxey decided to get dinner during the day.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 8:56 am Post subject:
This is what our gamekeeper does:

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 10:48 am Post subject:
I'm intrigued, but completely lost. Can you explain how it works? It appears I need to look at electric. I have just lost 14 out of the 17 large fowl from the paddock this morning. The garden bantams are fine, and one of my layers managed to escape, for once. Naturally, one of the others is a surplus cockerel (how do they know!?)

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 12:05 pm Post subject:
The limited space between the fence and the electric wires means that foxy will inevitable get a nice little shock whatever he tries.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 12:31 pm Post subject:
I see. Do the birds get through the bars, or can it open? Do they fit through ok?

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 5:13 pm Post subject:
Birds fit through. Foxy doesn't

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 16 11:59 pm Post subject:

I see, thank you. I keep reading that foxes fit through five inch gaps, and they do look less than that. I think my light bodied layers would fit ok. Not sure about the meat birds. It does look a good idea, though. Better than risking them getting shut out. Are the bars on the portcullis electrifyied, too?

Sorry to bombard you with questions. Foxes are rather uppermost in my mind this morning....

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 16 6:56 pm Post subject:
Nope, bars are not electrified. The intention of the bars is really to slow them down enough to get a nasty shock on the wires.

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