Help! My chicks are being taken

13
Aug
2010

The question

""I keep chickens, and despite strong wire, I keep getting my chicks taken. I wonder if your gamekeeper can advise? The fencing is not broken and there are no burrows beside it. Sincerely, Ross."

The answer

H&C blogger and gamekeeper Tony Lowry replies: "As you know, I too keep chickens - about 50 or so. The best way to keep them safe is to use an electric fence with two strands of wire, one at four inches from the ground and the other at 10 inches. This is not always possible if the chucks are in the garden with children and pets about, but this method is 99 per cent fox proof.

I don't know how tall your fence is, but it needs to be at least six feet tall if they have a fox getting in, otherwise foxy will jump over it without many problems. Better still, cover the top over. It can only be a fox if there are no dead bodies and not too many feathers left about."