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Foxes threat to unprotected greenhouse/ poultry residence
Sorry, I think I know the answer to this already, but would appreciate an input.
I have around twenty ducks and five chickens.
Their regular shed is in use and they are in my toolshed/ workshop making a terrific mess.
I have a greenhouse on order, a kind of rigid polytunnel type device using polycarbonate and coming flush to the floor, not buried.
I could use a chicken wire skirt buried to a couple of hundred cm, or order an electric fence, insulate the chicken wire and energise that, obviously it would all be above ground, about 50 cm above it.
Or I could leave it as is and hope.
I have not seen any foxes here although someone had poultry taken early evening in the summer a mile or so away.
Obviously I want to do the minimum and I thought the greenhouse would maybe house the flock for a month so I can clean and reclaim my shed.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
SK
kwackers
Monday, January 9th, 2023 " I could use a chicken wire skirt buried to a couple of hundred cm, "
And ye don't think that may be a bit over zealous?
Ratcatcher
Monday, January 9th, 2023 I would definitely go the electric fence route, as i suspect foxes could easily brake into a polycarbonate greenhouse if they were hungry enough. You find lots of uses for the electric fence in the summer.
Glyn
Monday, January 9th, 2023 Many thanks for the advice, I have ordered a fence energiser.
I have gone for a 240V one, so I now need to lay mains on to the garden.
The end of cables trailing about hopefully.
kwackers
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 If your not using the 240v for anything else you could place the energiser in an outhouse and run a leadout cable to the fence, easier and safer.
Glyn
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 Put a fowl friendly dog in with them.
Done.
Bea
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 I would have used a skirt to be honest when you already have an enclosed area. Electric is more so far large areas that can’t be enclosed but it should work as long as it’s not shorting.
Putting a dog in with them .. no . Could try breakout with boredom. And training would be needed so far more effort than needed.
Adrian Kelly
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 Thanks for the suggestions.
I have a fowl friendly dog, but he is in serious need of regular "tummy rubs" and neither the kwackers or chickens will oblige.
On the power front, I want to install an overtemperature alarm system and the range of Voltages are more easily derived from a close power point. I have several 13A sockets rated for outdoor use too.
I am not too keen on 240V in damp conditions, but here on the coast in Kerry, I think signage is needed to let people know when they are submerged :-)
kwackers
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 "I would have used a skirt to be honest"
Thanks, but you have no idea what I will do to avoid digging!
The pooch did kill a young duck a few weeks after hatching, so in close proximity he may be tempted.
He didnt eat the duckling, he was lying next to it and it had a few innards exposed.
My sister blamed me for buying him squeaky toys, she seemed to think pooch treats the flock as a mobile squeaky toy collection.
The dog is a pretty bright collie so there is no problem now at all, but if I were locked in with them overnight , I doubt there would be both ducks and myself emerging the following day :-)
kwackers
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023
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Foxes threat to unprotected greenhouse/ poultry residence
Sorry, I think I know the answer to this already, but would appreciate an input.
I have around twenty ducks and five chickens.
Their regular shed is in use and they are in my toolshed/ workshop making a terrific mess.
I have a greenhouse on order, a kind of rigid polytunnel type device using polycarbonate and coming flush to the floor, not buried.
I could use a chicken wire skirt buried to a couple of hundred cm, or order an electric fence, insulate the chicken wire and energise that, obviously it would all be above ground, about 50 cm above it.
Or I could leave it as is and hope.
I have not seen any foxes here although someone had poultry taken early evening in the summer a mile or so away.
Obviously I want to do the minimum and I thought the greenhouse would maybe house the flock for a month so I can clean and reclaim my shed.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
SK
Monday, January 9th, 2023
" I could use a chicken wire skirt buried to a couple of hundred cm, "
And ye don't think that may be a bit over zealous?
Monday, January 9th, 2023
I would definitely go the electric fence route, as i suspect foxes could easily brake into a polycarbonate greenhouse if they were hungry enough. You find lots of uses for the electric fence in the summer.
Monday, January 9th, 2023
Many thanks for the advice, I have ordered a fence energiser.
I have gone for a 240V one, so I now need to lay mains on to the garden.
The end of cables trailing about hopefully.
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023
If your not using the 240v for anything else you could place the energiser in an outhouse and run a leadout cable to the fence, easier and safer.
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023
Put a fowl friendly dog in with them.
Done.
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023
I would have used a skirt to be honest when you already have an enclosed area. Electric is more so far large areas that can’t be enclosed but it should work as long as it’s not shorting.
Putting a dog in with them .. no . Could try breakout with boredom. And training would be needed so far more effort than needed.
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023
Thanks for the suggestions.
I have a fowl friendly dog, but he is in serious need of regular "tummy rubs" and neither the kwackers or chickens will oblige.
On the power front, I want to install an overtemperature alarm system and the range of Voltages are more easily derived from a close power point. I have several 13A sockets rated for outdoor use too.
I am not too keen on 240V in damp conditions, but here on the coast in Kerry, I think signage is needed to let people know when they are submerged :-)
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023
"I would have used a skirt to be honest"
Thanks, but you have no idea what I will do to avoid digging!
The pooch did kill a young duck a few weeks after hatching, so in close proximity he may be tempted.
He didnt eat the duckling, he was lying next to it and it had a few innards exposed.
My sister blamed me for buying him squeaky toys, she seemed to think pooch treats the flock as a mobile squeaky toy collection.
The dog is a pretty bright collie so there is no problem now at all, but if I were locked in with them overnight , I doubt there would be both ducks and myself emerging the following day :-)
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023