[billtr96sn]

Hi,
My wife and I are new to chicken keeping. We had 3 lovely birds, but a fox found a weakness in the nesting box and killed all 3.
We now have 3 new birds (well new to us, 2 are a year old) and we have been told by a old, time served, farmer that if I pee around the coop the fox will stay away. It has to be male wee as it smells different to ladies wee.

Well, as it costs nothing I have been doing it and there have been no signs of the Fox, am I peeing in the wind? or does it really work?

[Lewjam]

I would reinforce the coop before considering other methods.

Border the whole coop in dug in wire or an electric fence to stop it getting close would be much more effective.

[bantam novice]

 
I have heard that it acts as a deterrent but a determined and hungry vixen trying to feed her cubs will probably brave it.  It may help but should not be the only deterrent.  I would carry on peeing in the wind as it certainly can't do any harm.

[billtr96sn]

Oh, it isnt the only deterrent, just the first line as it were. We have dug down and out and put a L of mesh in there. Cannot really do an electric fence as my kids aint that bright 

No, seriously, the 2 youngest are too young to understand a electric fence, and as the chooks are pets with benefits we dont want to stop the kids interacting.

[sneezer]

There was recently a thread where someone lost some hens to a fox and husband had weed around the run, I think it is as good as putting hair around the run, not very effective, sorry for your loss, sounds as if you are going about the new run in the right way by digging down, good luck with your new girls, but the fox will be back 

[billtr96sn]

In a strange way I dont mind the fox, it is only nature really, and I would rather hand feed the fox my chooks than have the hunt tear them to bits!

[bramford]

that is just wrong, shut them away at night theres your answer

[gracie]

 Wouldnt recommend having a wee on the electric fence though

Serious note though, we put a concrete footing round the perimeter of our run so a fox would have to dig down a foot and under about 8 inches. The rest is all heavy duty weld mesh.

[themagicaltoad1]

Are you sure weeing around the run isn't just an excuse because you're getting old and can't make it in to the toilet in time? lol

[billtr96sn]

You know me?? 

[OpiumEater]

Husband weeing in the garden has stopped the foxes using it as a toilet, so at least I don't have to pick up fox poo and chicken poo now, but it won't stop a hungry fox with chicken in it's sight.

So we've gone down the weld mesh, concrete and armed bodyguard route 

[Dominic]

Foxes are (if you'll forgive me) basicaly chickens and will run from a fight if they can.

Males mark their territory by peeing on stuff.
A Fox smells your wee, accepts your a threat, and avoids the area.

However, a starving fox will accept the risk.

[Sassy]

It is only a deterrent and not foolproof

[Lloyd]

I've done it almost every night for 15 years and never had a fox attack. That said, urban foxes would probably be used to the smell, whereas I live in a rural area.

[DJMattingley]

I heard this also and will be honest, I have peed into the wind every evening since keepng my girls.  I often had foxes in the garden and have not seen them sine.  They were a real worry for me before getting the chooks.  However I do have concrete slabs and heavy duty wire mesh all around the coop and runs, my hens are also safely locked away in their house at night.  No fox is getting in there.  I have also heard that Silent Roar http://www.silentroaronline.com/ is a good deterrent to most ainmials coming in and out of your garden.  As I grow a lot of vegetables and use to have a family of deer regularly feed on my range of veg, I looked at employing measures that were as close to nature as possible.  So whether it was me peeing, Silent Roar, all or none of these, I don't know, but what I can tell you is I have not seen the fox for a while nor have I had to clean up its mess after..(my famous last words)