[Diva]

Hi,

firstly, let me apologise for this, as i am sure it has been discussed many times!

I am a total newbie and on my other post, electric fencing was mentioned.  I looked at the links provided etc and have read a bit about in on other post on this forum.

Yes, i can see how it may deter a fox etc but..... cant the fox just jump over?  It doesnt appear to be very high at all, and if i use the paddock thats a couple of acres for them, i am not convinced that the cost will be worth it as i honestly can see Mr Fox just hoping over, he could have a very long run up if he wanted. 

As i say, sorry if this has been discussed lots already.  I know on some of the post members feel that the electric fencing is the only way to stop a fox but for some reason, i am just not convinced - maybe its because i know how disrespectful horses and ponies can be with electric fencing, even when from the mains!

[Foxy]

A really good question! We have been using electric netting for around 10years, and a fox has never climbed over, mainly because they always test muzzle first and then get a shock, bit like cats really, even when I have accidently  closed a run with one of my big maine coon cats in....he didn't try and jump out just sat and looked really miserable, interesting considering one of his tricks is to climb in the bedroom window and scare the living daylights out of me!
I did have a young fox cub caught inside once, he snuck in under a gap where the ground was uneven, and this was his first experience with the electric fence. Poor thing ran around screaming with terror, he couldn't find how he got in, so kept getting nasty shocks.
He never came back. 
I do believe if it wasn't for the eletrified fence I would have lost a lot of birds to Mr Raynaud, the fence isn't infalible, however most problems are due to poor maintenance.

[Diva]

thanks,

just thought of another question!

How small a gap can foxes get through?  One of the sides of the paddock is thick hedging and sheep netting as an extra fence - can i assume Mr Fox will be able to get throught that also?

Plus - does anyone know of the cheapest place to buy the netting from as i think i may need quite a bit!

[Foxy]

How many metres are you thinking off?
I would imagine a fox would find a way through a hedge, is it just stock sheep netting?

[poultrygeist]

Foxes can get through a 4" (10cm) square gap.

http://www.derbyfoxes.org/pets.htm

Damned clever beasties.

Rob

[Diva]

Hi,

yes its the sheep stock netting, smaller squares at the bottom.

This is a stab in the dark but, i would estimate that i would need at least 500m of this electric netting  :blink:  (based on size of the outdoor arena being 40m long.... this area is much larger, i have prob underestimated with 500m!)

I had a look at some on ebay for a general guide and TBH, it could just work out far too expensive

[joyfull]

perhaps you could have smaller section and move the chickens round when the grass looks a bit bare - so you would have a small field inside the big field if you get my meaning 

[Foxy]

Hi,

yes its the sheep stock netting, smaller squares at the bottom.

This is a stab in the dark but, i would estimate that i would need at least 500m of this electric netting  :blink:  (based on size of the outdoor arena being 40m long.... this area is much larger, i have prob underestimated with 500m!)

I had a look at some on ebay for a general guide and TBH, it could just work out far too expensive

In that case a good idea would be to use electrified wire,( 8 strands are recommended) on woooden posts just banged into ground with out-facing insulators (sticking out about 6in from post) Saying that if you have access to plenty of sheep stock you could stick some strands on that.
We have netting about150 metres but are adding another 150m of posts and wire and connecting up to the mains energiser we have.

[beulah59]

If you have that much space, you could have a standing house in the middle with say four popholes into different areas so that you can rotate your hens around those different areas for a few weeks/months at a time ...

[Foxy]

If you have that much space, you could have a standing house in the middle with say four popholes into different areas so that you can rotate your hens around those different areas for a few weeks/months at a time ...
[/quote

In large areas like paddocks, it is advisable to move the house around periodically,as chooks congregate around the house which can have a detrimental effect on the ground around the house, having skids or wheels on the house is good idea