![]() ![]() The floor and the roof of the run should have fox proof wire netting. The key elements of good fence design also apply to fox proof chicken coop design. ![]() Yes, you can buy chicken coops that are already fox proof. Wouldn’t It Be Easier To Just Buy A Fox Proof Chicken Coop? If anyone who is getting chickens or have got chickens and dont know how to keep fox’s out then watch this and try to improve your chicken pen as much as you can – please beware, this video is a little disturbing. It’s also a good idea to keep the backyard clear of any rubbish or objects that might give the foxes a place to hide or allow them to approach your chickens under cover.ĭon’t forget that foxes are excellent climbers and they might be able to use overhanging trees to bypass your fence. Keeping your compost bins covered and removing any old pet food or food scraps around the property will also help to reduce the attractive smells that draw the foxes to your backyard. Motion triggered sprinkler systems may also work.Ĭhemical repellents (both organic and synthetic) are used overseas with varying degrees of success but be aware that the use of some of these substances may be strictly controlled by Australian law. Foxes have learned to associate lights with being hunted by humans and will often stay away. Some people have had success using various types of repellents including motion triggered lights. And a determined fox may still have a go at your chickens despite the presence of your dog. Keeping a guard dog can be effective but it’s no use letting the dog sleep inside the house at night. Trapping, shooting or poisoning may reduce the number of foxes in your area but these tools won’t necessarily protect your chickens, as foxes from other areas will quickly move in to take their place. In any case, the use of poisons such as 1080 requires a licence. The risk of unintended poisoning victims including children and pets makes it a potentially very dangerous. ![]() Shooting is prohibited in urban areas and poisons are strictly controlled. In addition, the sheer numbers of foxes in any given area is frequently very high so for every fox you trap there will be others waiting to pounce. Live trapping may work but foxes are very wary and trapping doesn’t necessarily prevent a fox gaining access to your chickens. Alternatively you can spread a wire apron out from the fence line to discourage foxes from digging. Yes, foxes will dig to get into your chicken coop or run so you need to extend your fence some 450mm under the soil. Gates and latches also need your attention.įoxes are clever enough to push open simple gate latches and it’s always a good idea to have two types of latches including a self-closing mechanism to prevent any chance of inadvertently leaving the gate unlatched. Like any thief, a fox will try the door first.Įssentially, gates need to be built to the same specifications as the rest of the fence. You can get reasonably-priced solar powered units that will easily power a few wires around the top of your fence. Steel posts are more difficult for foxes to climb than timber.Įlectric fencing can be a useful addition but electric fencing on its own will do nothing to deter a determined fox. You may need to add reinforcing where wire netting panels are joined to prevent Mr (or Mrs) Fox pushing through any gaps.įoxes are great climbers too so consider adding some protection to your fence posts to make it harder for them. ![]() The mesh apertures sizes should be no larger than 80mm to prevent foxes climbing through the fence. Fox proof chicken wire netting needs to be 0.9mm in diameter or thicker, as foxes will chew through lightweight wire fences. You should also add an outwardly curving top to the fence.Ĭhoose your wire carefully. To be safe you probably need to make your fence 1800mm high. Your first line of defence in making your chicken run fox proof is fox proof fencing around the perimeter.įox proof fence heights need to be considerably higher than 900mm because foxes can easily jump a 900mm fence. How Do I Make My Chicken Fence Fox Proof? There are a number of ways to protect your chickens from fox attack including:įoxes are not fussy eaters and love all breeds of chickens from Astralorps to Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds to Longhorns, and Silkies to Wyandottes so you need to be as wily as a fox to protect your flock. Their exceptional, climbing, digging and jumping skills combined with their innate intelligence make them an adversary that needs to be taken seriously by any chicken lover. – but probably for very different reasons.įoxes were introduced to Australia in the mid 19th century and have done incalculable damage since then to Australia’s native wildlife and farm stock including poultry.įoxes have become pests even in urban areas. Unfortunately, foxes love your chickens as much as you do ![]()
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