A Family Guide To Keeping Chickens (37 page)

The fox is the best known of chicken predators but unfortunately it is not the only one. Many other creatures like the taste of chicken, chicks or eggs.

The previous chapters have mentioned the importance of security – these are the creatures you are trying to keep out.

The Fox

Foxes have been drawn to towns and cities by the bright lights, and many are living it up on discarded takeaways, while being photographed and admired in urban gardens. Their country cousins dodge bullets and survive on beetles. It’s not surprising that so many foxes are relocating.

Town or country, if you have chickens there is a good chance that a fox will know about it. If you have never seen a fox around that doesn’t mean there aren’t any – just that you have not been worthy of their attentions before.

Traditionally foxes like to hunt at night but they aren’t all traditionalists and are often around during the day – especially the city types. Country foxes may also vary their hours of work so nobody can afford to be complacent.

Foxes are skilled and resourceful predators. They can scale surprisingly high fences, squeeze through tiny gaps and burrow like rabbits. If you want free-range chickens in an area where daytime foxes are operating, you will need to use electric poultry netting.

Foxes are skilled and resourceful predators . . .

They’re also efficient burrowers

There are various electrical gadgets and sprays sold to deter foxes – male human urine is also said to be effective! The success of these measures depends largely on the determination of the individual fox. Although most animals are suspicious of anything strange at first, once they have become used to it they often take no more notice.

Foxes are naturally wary of people, but urban foxes have become more confident and country foxes may also take chances. Chickens have even been snatched when their owner is at the other end of the garden!

If you have a really persistent fox, there are pest-control companies who will shoot the offender – you will have to pay for this service. In rural areas a farmer, gamekeeper or the local hunt may be able to help.

Don’t underestimate foxes. Their main preoccupation is finding food and they have got twenty-four hours a day to do it. You will need all your wits about you to stay one step ahead.

The Badger

Badgers also take chickens and they are creatures of habit – once they have found food they will return every night.

Although less agile than foxes, badgers can climb quite well and their digging ability is second to none. With sharp claws, mighty jaws and formidable strength, the badger can be a fearsome killer.

Fortunately, badgers are mainly nocturnal (although there have been occasional daytime sightings). They are protected but if you have a problem you could try contacting your local badger conservation group for advice.

You will need to keep your chickens very secure at night if there is a badger sett nearby. Make sure the house is really sturdy – imagine it withstanding an attack by a large, hungry animal. Badgers have been known to rip off doors and even complete wood panels to get at chickens. Exterior nest-boxes and pop-hole doors are often weak points.

Badgers will also take chickens

Mink and Otters

Mink were brought to Britain from North America to be bred on fur farms. Some escaped, some were released by protestors, and mink have been breeding in the wild since at least the 1950s.

Mink are widespread throughout Britain except for a few mountainous regions. They live by water, where they cause extensive damage to the native water voles. These are very territorial creatures and two mink are rarely found in the same area except during the breeding season.

Reasonably large (males weigh about 1 kg and are around 60 cm long with a 15 cm tail) and absolutely fearless, the mink has no natural predators. It will kill anything it can overpower, even if it is larger than itself.

Mink will take water fowl as well as fish – they are excellent swimmers – and often leave the riverbank to look for rabbits. They climb well too, and will annihilate a chicken run if they gain access.