Caring for poultry – looking after your chickens and hens

Well there is one thing for sure, if you are reading this, you are certainly not Alektorophobic (illogical fear of chickens) because logic would suggest, by reading this article you would either be keeping, or thinking of keeping chickens. Whichever it is, if living in the British Isles, you will almost certainly have a fear of foxes (illogical or otherwise) but strangely enough, although their appears to be a recognised word for every irrational fear you can imagine, from the fear of robots to the fear of wind (the north, east, south, west kind!) there does not seem to be a ‘phobic’ word for the fear of foxes. So, how about, ‘Reynardphobia’?

ADMIRING THEIR PATCH

Foxes

For many British smallholders, foxes can be a menace where chickens are concerned. Unlike most animals, the fox does not just kill what it needs to feed on, but will launch on a frenzied campaign of death and destruction, slaughtering on an horrific scale. So any ideas, help or tips to minimise attacks by Reynard are no doubt welcome.

I am fortunate to own a smallholding in Limousin France, where the chasse (local hunt) are very active. This is predominantly sheep country so, mindful of foxes taking young lambs, the chasse are ever vigilant and will shoot a fox whenever they get the chance. As a result I do not have a fox problem in my area. My chickens are allowed to forage over as many acres of farmland as they wish without the fear of annihilation. In fact I have even been known to leave the chicken house door open all night, in error I might add, and still found all the chickens there the following morning. I mention this in passing, as although the following information is probably sound, I have never had reason to implement any of the ideas. However they all appear to be based on sound fact and reasoning.

• Leave a radio softly playing on a speech station (Radio 4 is good) in the vicinity of the hen house. The fox is more wary of approaching a hen house if he thinks humans are about.

• Stuff any human hair into the leg of a stocking or tights. Hang a ‘leg’ on each corner of the hen house. The smell of humans will act as a deterrent. Replace the hair regularly. Your local barber or hairdresser may be happy to supply you with the sweeping from their floor if you ask nicely. As a precaution, wear rubber gloves when handling the alien hair.
• Another deterrent is human urine. Collect said urine and regularly pour a little round the boundaries of the henhouse and run – that sounds as though you must pour the urine and beat a hasty retreat, but I’m sure you know what I meant to say.

General animal deterrents

• Foxes, badger, and rats are the most likely animals to attempt the ‘Colditz’ tunnel approach – perhaps ‘Colditz is the wrong analogy -  the prisoners were trying to get out not in – so, when erecting the chicken run, bury the wire 30 to 45 cm (12” to 18”) into the ground. If the run is already erected and the wire is not buried then either bury a strip now or sink suitable size paving slabs on their sides to form a barrier. It will also be a deterrent if a row of paving slabs are laid around the perimeter on the inside and/or the outside of the chicken run fence.
• Outside lights with a movement detector are so cheap these days that it seems positively, uneconomical not to fit one in the vicinity of the hen house. Any creature bent on chicken snaffling is likely to be deterred by a searchlight suddenly slicing through the night. (shades of Colditz again!) However, make sure the light is angled in a downward direction, the neighbours will not take kindly to ‘Blackpool illuminations’ in their bedroom in the early hours.
• Do not leave food uncovered at night and store all grain in a sealed metal container. this will minimize the risk of rats.

Bird flu

This should not present a problem as Jeyes fluid, will kill avian flu and most other pests in the hen house, in including , red spider mite and other creepy crawlies hiding in the woodwork and on the perches.

Sadly, this may be the last year we will enjoy the pleasure, as our smallholding is now on the market and will hopefully be sold before long. If you are interested in a smallholding in warm sunny Limousin then you’ll find the details in the Smallholders’ Marketplace here – there is also a link to a short film of the property.

Article kindly written and submitted by
Clive M. Looker
www.limousinfarmhousesmallholding.co.uk