A fox
Wire mesh
It is not easy keeping foxes or martens out of your chicken coop. If these unwanted visitors have been around, then you usually find a scene of real carnage. Foxes take their prey and leave just a pile of feathers, while martens eat their prey on the spot and leave the carcass behind. Such attacks traumatise the other chickens, so they do not lay for a long time after. How do you prevent such attacks?

To keep foxes out, simply putting up fencing with wire mesh is not enough. Even if you opt for quality wire mesh from Tornado, with small mesh size, foxes simply dig their way under the wire mesh.

In which case, it is important to bury the wire below ground at an angle of 45°, or to bury a wooden plank three quarters in the ground and put the wire mesh on top of it. Putting tiles against the wire mesh also prevents digging underneath the fence.

Mesh size
The size of the mesh is very important when it comes to martens. Martens can wriggle through very tight gaps, meaning you must choose mesh smaller than 6.5 cm. Electrical wire also helps deter foxes and martens.

Sufficient height or tensioned just right
Once you have neatly fenced round the entire coop and have prevented foxes from crawling under the wire mesh, you are still not safe. Foxes and martens are very good at climbing. That is why it is important to make the fencing at least 1.8 m tall. Another way is to completely cover the coop over with netting.

Want to know more about ways to protect your chickens and poultry from foxes and martens? Contact De Sutter Naturally

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Choosing the right materials and design for durable, stylish fencing: what do you look for? De Sutter Naturally helps you choose, and guides you optimally through your purchase.

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