[SusieB]

There are three seperate holes in the wire mesh of my chickens run.  Not sure whether done at night or daytime. 

Small holes have been created, but big enough for the fox to get his snout in.  I can't work out why the fox has given up.  I thought the fox's problem with mesh (versus chicen wire) is that he can't get his snout in to bite the wire.  Therefore (if anybody's still following me) my fox, once he got a decent size hole, should have found it quite easy to bite through further, to be able to make a big enough hole to get in.

Has anybody any idea why he might have given up each time? 

I'm going to repair the holes and be vigilant for more, but will this be good enough?  I could run a seond line of mesh round the run up to 3ft, but this also might not stop him. 

Any help, experiences or advice will be very helpful.

[bantam novice]

I know a fox can chew through two layers of chicken wire.  One did just that to get my aunt's quails.  Chicken wire keeps chickens in but not foxes out!  You need to use weld mesh against foxes.  It is more expensive but they can't chew through it.  You could also try electric netting around the perimeter.  This also keeps foxes at bay but you need to do a regular check daily to see that the battery is not going flat or the net getting shorted.

Good luck and keep us posted

[Aunt Sally]

What type of mesh were you using SusieB - mesh size and wire weight ?

[SusieB]

It's 25mmx25mm weld mesh from Hill's.  I can't remember what gauge, but I researched on these pages before buying, to make sure I bought the correct stuff.

The chickens have an electric-fenced run, but the enclosure is supposed to be fox proof.

[Griffete]

That's quite frightening to think they can chew through that stuff 

[SusieB]

I know.  I'm puzzled and worried.

[Axe]

connect a battery to it?...

[grinling]

Are they at your home or an allotment? Could someone be cutting it?

[GrannieAnnie]

That's an inch square in old money!  The weldmesh we all use is half inch by one inch.  Foxy would never get his teeth through that one.  I don't think   

[Tony H]

Hi 12mm welded wire is the best because foxes cant get there teeth into it, also 1" woulnt stop rats, and mink getting in,    Im just building a run for my silkies and im useing 19 gauge thats the thickest i could find on the net, I hope your chucks are all ok 

[Sassy]

connect a battery to it?...

Rightly or Wrongly this is not recommended by the manufacturers of electric fencing!

[Axe]

it was said in jest lol

[SusieB]

My chucks are fine, thanks.  I have repaired the holes, and will get smaller 12.5 sq mesh to go round the bottom as soon as I can.  The fox is definitely hungry.  Just caught him on the lawn at lunchtime, 6 feet from the chucks.  Very luckily, caught him in time.  I ran out of the house screaming, he's gone, and I've strained my voice!  (And chickens back in their pen.)

[ANHBUC]

Could it have been a squirrel trying to get in, that is if your enclosure has a roof on it?  They will knaw through anothing.

[SusieB]

I can't think the squirresl would be interested, they're too busy nicking the wild birds food.  Maybe though, it was something smaller than a fox, that could get it's teeth through the mesh.  Alll the holes are about 16inches from the ground.  Ferret and mink would make holes lower down, wouldn't they?  And I can't think why they would give up.