Foxes and chickens just don't mix. If you're one of those unfortunate owners of backyard chickens who have seen first hand what a fox can do, be sure to fox proof your current chicken coop. It is horrible to see what a fox can do in just a short period of time inside your coop. Unfortunately many people think that foxes only live in rural areas and are unlikely to be a problem in the suburbs. This may be the case in your area, but don't be too sure.
As manufacturers of mobile chicken coops, we've had many customers tell us about the brazen foxes in their area. Some come as close as their back porch in the early morning, and that's in a metropolitan area! I would strongly suggest that all owners of backyard chickens safeguard their chickens, before, not after a fox is noticed in the area.
Fox-proofing a mobile chicken coop
How to best fox proof your chicken coop, largely depends on the style of coop that you have. Foxes mainly gain access to mobile chicken coops by digging under the edge of the coop and tunnelling under to reach your chickens. Even if you've got hard soil, don't think that a determined fox won't try to gain access.
The easiest way to fox proof a mobile coop is to attach a large mesh floor to the bottom of the coop. Attaching this mesh floor to the base of the coop, means that you'll easily be able to move the floor along with the rest of the coop. It's important to make sure the mesh you use is still large enough that your chickens have room to scratch, but small enough to keep foxes out. We've found that mesh with 10cm x 15cm rectangles is ideal. If you stood this mesh upright, a fox could actually fit through, but when it's wired to the base of your coop, a fox will not be able enter the coop due to the angle of their burrowing.
Another option is to fix a mesh 'skirt' around the outside of your coop. This gives your chickens more freedom to scratch, but makes moving your coop a bit more difficult We've tried both methods and the skirt is very cumbersome, but may be the preferred option by some.
Another important consideration is the strength of the mesh that is used on the sides of your coop. Unfortunately, some of the imported coops that I've seen on the market are made using very light 'aviary' style mesh. We've been told of foxes that have chewed through this thin mesh to gain access to the chicken coop. So just make sure that the coop you purchase, or make, has strong enough mesh. I would suggest mesh that is 2.5mm thick. We've found that this cannot be damaged by foxes trying to chew through, or children who love chickens and clamber all over the chicken coop!
Proof-foxing a fixed chicken coop
If you haven't got a mobile coop, but a more traditional style coop that stays in a fixed position, you want to be sure that the run that is attached to your coop is fox proof. Most people with a traditional chicken shed and run erect a permitter of high chicken wire to form the run. This wire should have holes no larger than 80mm in diameter. As this style of run generally has no 'roof', it's important that the walls are high enough to prevent a chicken from flying over as well as to prevent a fox from entering (around 1.8m high is generally adequate).
The other important consideration is that the chicken wire at the bottom of the fence is dug into the ground, not far below the surface to a distance of about 50 or 60cm. As mentioned, foxes will dig to gain access to your chicken coop. If the wire is dug into the ground, the foxes will hit the wire when they start to burrow and eventually stop trying to get inside your coop when they realise that they keep hitting the wire barrier. Another way of achieving this barrier is to but something heavy like wooden or concrete sleeps on top of the mesh at the bottom of your fence.
If you're looking for a mobile chicken coop that is durable, cost effective and looks terrific, check out the range of coops made by the Australian business 'Royal Rooster'.
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