The Independent recently ran an amazing story about how playing Radio 4 stopped wild foxes from rustling swans. Bird wardens in Dorset have discovered that hungry urban foxes are actually quite picky when it comes to their choice of radio station. Although hungry for a much needed meal, the foxes in question would not try to breach the swan’s perimeter fence if the wardens blasted them with the sound of Radio 4!
The theory is that when the foxes hear spoken radio programs, they believe it is human voices and therefore stay away. Although one farmer who gave the wardens the tip believes it is because they simply prefer other stations. Whatever the reason, they are no longer bothering the swans, who are now safe to paddle about on their Dorset lagoon. If you keep chickens at home, modern sturdy chicken coops are so well constructed that they should go a long way towards keeping out the most determined foxes. Electric fences can also help. You may also want to try Radio 4 for final layer of heavy duty protection.
It’s basically a question of buying the right equipment and having the right advice in general on how to care for your chickens. So I have produced an easy, free online guide to keeping chickens that fills you in on all the basics. Chickens are a lot less work than you might think, and give you the chance to teach your children about nature. You may even find it all ties in with the topics they are learning at school. You also get a free, endless supply of delicious free range organic eggs, and you can provide a much needed home for an ex-battery hen. They do make lovely pets, and you’d be surprised at just how much personality is waiting to get to know you behind those beady eyes!
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