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kt
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2003 8:57 am Post subject: Fox 'smell' |
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I was at a zoo where they had a collection of fox like animals that could be
smelled for a long way off. When we got to the exhibit, they had a sign
titled 'what>s that smell' which said that it was the odor of this and many
related species, which usually marked the areas they were in. I>ve smelled
something remarkably similar many times, (sort of like Murphy>s soap, real
strong) and wondered what it was.
Has anyone smelled a similar odor in areas where foxes are known or
suspected to hunt? I>ve chickens, geese and miniature goats which I put into
safe areas each night, and so have not lost any to anything. Yet. |
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Jonathan
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2003 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: Fox 'smell' |
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"kt" <kt@charter.com> wrote in message news:<vk31g16qg2de4f@corp.supernews.com>...
[quote]I was at a zoo where they had a collection of fox like animals that could be
smelled for a long way off. When we got to the exhibit, they had a sign
titled 'what>s that smell' which said that it was the odor of this and many
related species, which usually marked the areas they were in. I>ve smelled
something remarkably similar many times, (sort of like Murphy>s soap, real
strong) and wondered what it was.
Has anyone smelled a similar odor in areas where foxes are known or
suspected to hunt? I>ve chickens, geese and miniature goats which I put into
safe areas each night, and so have not lost any to anything. Yet.
[/quote]
It>s often possible to smell foxes, especially if the air is still or
if one disturbs vegetation they have urinated on. They tend to scent
mark prominent places such as fence posts, rocks, even carcasses. This
is done to mark their territory, which will vary in size from a few
hectares in urban environments to to a few thousand on unproductive
ground such as desert or moorland. They scent mark more in areas of
good hunting, not being too bothered about intruders on marginal land.
Many gamekeepers and conservation organisations such as the RSPB are
now using low voltage electric fences to deter foxes from release pens
or nesting sites of rare birds, two strands, 6 and 15 inches above the
ground. I>ve never used them myself but I>m told they work very well.
Jonathan |
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Krys Francis
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| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: Fox 'smell' |
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In message <bi6bqm$5fr$1@quark.scn.rain.com>, Robert Plamondon
<robert@plamondon.com> writes
[quote]"Jonathan" <foxontherunuk@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ade994cf.0308190235.561f4016@posting.google.com...
Many gamekeepers and conservation organisations such as the RSPB are
now using low voltage electric fences to deter foxes from release pens
or nesting sites of rare birds, two strands, 6 and 15 inches above the
ground. I>ve never used them myself but I>m told they work very well.
These fences (which are also effective against raccoons, dogs, and, at least
in my area, coyotes), have been used to protect poultry for over fifty
years. There were a lot of write-ups on the topic in the Fifties. The
number of wires varies from one to two. Single-wire fences have the wire at
4-6" off the ground, and two-wire fences add another one at 10". Such a
fence will contain the chickens (mostly) and keep out the predators
(mostly). It>s better at keeping predators out than chickens in.
The 15" wire sounds high to me. When I get my two wires separated by that
much, the chickens will step over the low wire and not encounter the high
wire.
Oddly, chickens will not usually fly over a fence they can see through, but
prefer to duck under or between the strands.
I really like this kind of fencing because it>s easy to set up, can be
stepped over without turning the fence off, and you can even drive right
over a single-strand fence.
-- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon
[/quote]
We use wire mesh fence to contain the poultry with a ring of electric
fencing outside.
Our first type of electric fence was the electric mesh. We set it up,
put some harlequin ducks in & they walked straight back out, through the
gaps in the mesh.
A couple of strands of wire is easier & seems very effective.
--
Regards
Krys
www.lluestfarmpoultry.co.uk |
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Unicorn
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2003 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: Fox 'smell' |
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.. Single-wire fences have the wire at
[quote]4-6" off the ground, and two-wire fences add another one at 10". Such a
fence will contain the chickens (mostly) and keep out the predators
(mostly). It>s better at keeping predators out than chickens in.
[/quote]
I have found that you need to keep to the double wire fences to deal with
poultry.
It would appear that feathers are a very poor conductor :)
Matt |
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Jay
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: Fox 'smell' |
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"Robert Plamondon" <robert@plamondon.com> wrote in message
news:bi6bqm$5fr$1@quark.scn.rain.com...
[quote]"Jonathan" <foxontherunuk@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ade994cf.0308190235.561f4016@posting.google.com...
Many gamekeepers and conservation organisations such as the RSPB are
now using low voltage electric fences to deter foxes from release pens
or nesting sites of rare birds, two strands, 6 and 15 inches above the
ground. I>ve never used them myself but I>m told they work very well.
These fences (which are also effective against raccoons, dogs, and, at
least
in my area, coyotes), have been used to protect poultry for over fifty
years. There were a lot of write-ups on the topic in the Fifties. The
number of wires varies from one to two. Single-wire fences have the wire
at
4-6" off the ground, and two-wire fences add another one at 10". Such a
fence will contain the chickens (mostly) and keep out the predators
(mostly). It>s better at keeping predators out than chickens in.
The 15" wire sounds high to me. When I get my two wires separated by that
much, the chickens will step over the low wire and not encounter the high
wire.
Oddly, chickens will not usually fly over a fence they can see through,
but
prefer to duck under or between the strands.
I really like this kind of fencing because it>s easy to set up, can be
stepped over without turning the fence off, and you can even drive right
over a single-strand fence.
-- Robert
--
Maybe I>m missing something here but I thought foxes could jump over 15[/quote]
inches. I use poultry netting. Its about 4 ft high and seems to also keep
the hens in. The current goes through the horizontal strands only.
I>m well aware however that just because the fox hasn>t got them yet it
doesn>t make it fox proof. We arrived home last Sunday (about 6:00pm and
sunny) to see a fox walking towards the hens - about thirty feet away. Hubby
chased it away and we haven>t seen it since (but then I haven>t spent 24 hrs
a day on guard!)
Jay |
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