Out-foxing the Foxes

So we lost our three beautiful chickens to a fox. Rest assured that their lives were brief (Oct 2011-May 2012) but very happy as they were spoilt rotten. We are determined to get more chickens but the trouble is, now the fox knows where we are.

Foxes are great climbers and diggers and really hard to keep out. We've had some excellent hints and tips for detering them including hanging bags of human hair around and 'marking' our territory :-). However, we are not willing to risk more hens so we decided to make a concrete base to put the house on.

This is not ideal as it's best to keep them on grass but we will put lots of straw and interesting things in the run to keep them happy and hang up fresh greens for them. They will also be able to run about the enclosure when one of us is in the garden (which is pretty often). The advantages to this method are two fold. First there is no way a fox will be able to get in to the hen house if it is closed. Secondly, it will be easier to house them in the winter when grass does not replenish. This winter they spent moving around the lawn and the more eagle eyed of you may have spotted the rectangular bald patches in the grass. 

Charlie hired a cement mixer. We employed ALL the minions. It turned out to be a fun day.

First they laid the hardcore (courtesy of a kind lady on freecycle) and, once Minion 1 stopped going on about his guns, bashed it all down to make a secure base.

Shaun showing off his 'guns'...oh dear :-)

After the first load was poured, Minion 1 and Charlie fully realised how long it was going to take but they soon got into a groove and construction moved on at a good rate. Minion 1 originally had the job of raking the cement but was soon usurped by Minion 5 whose technique was far superior ;-).

Minions 3 and 4 were employed bringing sand in from the front garden. They did their job admirably until they disappeared and were subsequently found asleep in the front room (though I'm pretty sure Cricket was feigning as he had a big grin on his face).

Here is a rare sighting of Minion 3 in the garden (even if it is his back) as he came out to offer everyone lemonade. Minion 6 is in her manager's tent surveying proceedings.

By the end of the day we had a masterpiece of a concrete base (pic in the next post) and luckily the rain held off long enough for it to dry. We just have to tidy and reseed the enclosure and we are chicken ready. Watch this space for the arrival of chickens part deux!