Fox proof chicken run

[sam_uk]

I have been thinking about how to fox proof my chicken house for when I occasionally forget to shut them in.

I think I have finally solved the problem. I plan to make a see saw on the raised up door. The weight of the chickens will not close it, the weight of a fox will...


I will post photos once I get a chance to build it.

[Ron and Jean]

That is an intersting idea. The balance would need to be just so you didn't get freaked out hens. I look forward to hearing how you get on. Good luck.

[Anne A]

This could work well... depending on the hens? my four chase me everywhere when I walk alongside their pen, so if they all did the normal they would all hit the 'see saw' at once? decapitated hens?
if it where a very long see saw it could work 'al la' HFW long thin bridge to his coop? too lightweight and skinny for the fox but fine for the hens

[godfreyrob]

Intersting idea - hope it works.

Perhaps you need to test it with an obliging dog or something similar?
You won't really know until you have seen a fox trying to get past it (and they can be quite determined and creative about getting over/through obstacles).

I have an Orpington hen that must weigh similar to a young fox (but that is an exception).

[wulf]

How much does a fox weigh? How about a chicken?

Wulf

[clare]

Talking of fox proof chicken runs I am not sure you can be foxproof,a friend who is about a mile and a half from me just lost all her 6 chickens and 4 ducks to the fox and she thought she was foxproof.We have an 8 foot high pen with mesh floor and the house in the middle and I often don't shut the pophole at dusk(or at least haven't since dusk has been late) so after my friends loss I have been religiously doing so only to find 2 of my girls outside the house in the corner of the pen where Mr Fox could smell then through the mesh!I was horrified and plonked them in the house and shut the pophole.They always used to be inside but as I have been so lax I have no idea how long they have been sleeping outside,I am hoping after a while they will get the idea and go in on their own.

[sam_uk]

Wulf
A fox weighs from 3–11 kg
A chicken weighs 1-2kg


Clare - Why not put a mesh roof on that run? A couple of bits of heras fencing would probably do from about £10 a piece

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Heras-fencing-12- ... _703wt_962

Thanks

SAm

[clare]

Yes Sam,we have thought of it but the pen is 4mx4m so will be a bit costly at present,I will just keep shutting them in at night,they are out to grass during the day and only in the pen from 7:30pm now obviously earlier in winter so Mr Fox could nab them at any time during the day but we are very rural so they only seem to come at night they are not as brazen as the urban foxes,fingers crossed.