Fox Alert

[gingerpig]

Yesterday morning at 7.45 I looked out to see a damn great fox the size of an alsation pacing round the garden near where the run had been.

He saw my movement and was off.

This is our hutch

and where the front door hangs down, something has been having a dig as if trying to get under (obviously theres nothing down that low, the hutch doesn't have a ground floor down there) but I bet it's him. And I only saw this at lunchtime today so he's been around this morning as well.

Is there a deterrant that anyone knows of? I can't sit and watch the run all the time as I work from home and have clients in (ooh that sounds bad - I do nails!) and I've put the guineas in the run on the patio so foxy can't dig under, and I;ve weighted it with bricks so I do feel they're safe but I'd be more than happy to pay out for something that would keep the foxes away. Anybody know of anything?

 

[daftscotslass]

Foxes are very cunning and once they know an animal is there, chances are they will be back. Bear in mind that unless they are big concrete blocks, the fox could move them.

The only way they can be 100% safe is to bring them indoors.

 

[Pumpkinpiggie]

Foxes are very cunning and once they know an animal is there, chances are they will be back. Bear in mind that unless they are big concrete blocks, the fox could move them.

The only way they can be 100% safe is to bring them indoors.

I agree 100% with you there. Theres loads of foxs where I am and they are very blantant I even see them during the daytime.

 

[boureki]

I agree, we have quite a few foxes in our area, and as much as I love to see them, I'm very aware they cause problems! If you have ordinary sliding bolts on the hutch apparently foxes can open these, so if there is no chance of bringing them indoors it would be worth making sure the bolts are not easily undone, or even changing them to more secure ones if possible.

This company say they can offer a number of solutions to repel foxes in a humane manner - specifically this ultrasound machine : http://www.foxdeterrents.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=10

 

[daftscotslass]

Bear in mind that piggies also have an excellent range of hearing and anything that's uncomfortable for a fox to hear will also be uncomfortable for them.

 

[gingerpig]

Yes, I see your point

I was thinking more along the lines of something they don't like the smell of? I've heard orange and lemon peel keeps cats out of your garden (don;t know if its true or not)

 

[smiler]

I work from home and have clients in (ooh that sounds bad - I do nails!)

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I agree with everyone else! Foxes are very cunning and clever and will do anything to get to the animal once they know its there! I dont think its worth trying to deter them when its risking the piggies lives, id just bring them in

 

[dazie]

unfortunatly once the fox knows they are there it will continue to return they will make it there aim to get in those cages, they are also very clever at opening things so I have now pad locked all of mine. I dont think there is anything to get rid of them other than a blinkin big dog.

 

[boureki]

Bear in mind that piggies also have an excellent range of hearing and anything that's uncomfortable for a fox to hear will also be uncomfortable for them.

Fair point.

it does say:

''The series of Foxwatch alarm frequencies are absolutely safe and set well above our hearing range so you can enjoy your garden in complete peace and tranquillity.
Most animals like ourselves cannot hear the Foxwatch alarm, this includes cats, birds, frogs, hedgehogs and rabbits. Dogs can hear the alarm and will be deterred from entering the protected area.'

but it doesn't mention GPs. Not sure how their hearing compares with rabbits. And by the sounds of it a dog will be affected by it, so probably not a good idea if you have them!

That same website do stuff that you can paint around the garden as well, there's a menu in the top left hand corner of the page. Don't know ihow effective it is, not tried it.

 

[Little M]

Bear in mind that piggies also have an excellent range of hearing and anything that's uncomfortable for a fox to hear will also be uncomfortable for them.

Fair point.

it does say:

''The series of Foxwatch alarm frequencies are absolutely safe and set well above our hearing range so you can enjoy your garden in complete peace and tranquillity.
Most animals like ourselves cannot hear the Foxwatch alarm, this includes cats, birds, frogs, hedgehogs and rabbits. Dogs can hear the alarm and will be deterred from
entering the protected area.'

but it doesn't mention GPs. Not sure how their hearing compares with rabbits. And by the sounds of it a dog will be affected by it, so probably not a good idea if you have them!

That same website do stuff that you can paint around the garden as well, there's a menu in the top left hand corner of the page. Don't know ihow effective it is, not tried it.

My mum has one to try and stop the squirrels it does everything else too cats dogs foxes owls bats rats etc. I can hear the noise it emits mum has to turn it off before i go in the garden its a high pitched noise and hurts but doesnt seem to deter anything

 

[boureki]

My mum has one to try and stop the squirrels it does everything else too cats dogs foxes owls bats rats etc. I can hear the noise it emits mum has to turn it off before i go in the garden its a high pitched noise and hurts but doesnt seem to deter anything

I wonder, are these the same kind of alarms they use to deter young people from hanging around shops etc these days? Apparently 'youths' can hear the noise but most people over their mid twenties cannot. Going back to foxes, if it doesn't work, there would be no point in getting one, just to annoy most of the wildlife!