Out-foxing the fox

Keeping foxes off the range is a key challenge for free-range poultry keepers, as Jeremy Hunt explains.

While fox control remains fundamental to successfully managing birds on free-range systems, poultry producers are restricted in the methods they can use to protect their flocks.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammal (Protection) Act 1996, the poisoning and gassing of foxes is illegal. Anyone caught using these methods can be fined up to £5,000.

So it’s up to poultry farmers to be as wily as the fox in their efforts to prevent this predator from gaining access to areas in which birds are free to roam.

The armoury of deterrents ranges from the widely-used electric fencing systems to increasingly sophisticated inventions that are literally designed to “out fox the fox”.

Timing is all-important. Foxes have their litters in spring time and a vixen with cubs can be one of the most violent killers as she searches for food. The autumn is another key time, as the litters disperse and young, hungry foxes are on the move.

Electric fencing is extremely versatile and is the most commonly used method of control. But Bill Astley-Jones, of Electric Fencing Direct, has incorporated some useful innovations into the system he markets as the “Fox Buster Kit”.

“Foxes are determined and strong and while the electrified wire is effective, it’s essential to ensure that the system remains in place and is totally stable. We use 15-19mm posts with a double spike to add rigidity and stability, particularly on uneven and sloping ground,” he said.

“It’s essential that any foxes quickly learn that the fence is a barrier that cannot easily be crossed, so encouraging them to “test” the wire is important. Some people lay bait close to the fence, but I go one step further. Try smearing something sticky and sweet on the wire itself before it’s switched on. Foxes are always attracted to that and it ensures they come into close contact with the deterrent and learn to respect it.”

Any electrified wire fencing coming into contact with lush vegetation along the boundary can significantly reduce the “thwack” delivered from the wire, so it’s important to ensure the “energizer” selected is powerful enough.

Poultry untis may vary in how they tackle the fox issue, but one large-scale free-range egg producer in the south of England which wished to remain anonymous, has invested what it describes as “a significant amount of money” in its bid to stave off fox attacks. A spokesman for the company said the system installed was more like that erected for a zoo.

“We’ve invested heavily in an elaborate electrified fencing system that’s 2m high with an overhang. It’s also buried 12in into the ground and has electrified wires at ground level. Even this hasn’t been totally fox-proof and we’ve had foxes get inside it. When they do, they can kill 40 or more birds at a time, but once inside the fenced area they can’t get out and have to be professionally shot.”

Thanks to TV exposure, the Nite Eyes system of fox control from Interplex Solar Technology is also proving popular. It is relatively low-cost – about £20 – and is based on a 2 LED unit contained in a box. The system, which begins to work when daylight fades, has two flashing lights that simulate the eyes of a predator. It can be powered by battery or solar energy.

A spokesman for Martley Electronics, which markets the system, said: “The red lights deter foxes, who assume they belong to another fox or predator. Free-range poultry farmers usually buy several units and strategically place them around the boundary of the range area.”

While no free-range birds will ever be totally safe from fox predation, regular checking and maintenance of all anti-fox deterrents is as important as the system that has been installed.