Gray Fox!

two j farm

Crowing
5 Years
May 25, 2016
836
1,600
276
Louisiana
My Coop
My Coop
Ok I have 6 roosters I let free range during the day when I'm not home. Well this afternoon I got home one was dead and 3 was missing. I found one in the woods still alive a few feathers missing but ok. About a hour latter after putting them up a gray Fox came out of the woods in the yard where the dead chicken was and then ran back in the woods. I went out with the gun but it was gone. Then one more rooster showed up a little bloody but ok. I have a live trap out with the dead chicken in it but I read they are hard to trap. The Fox was really skinny and was missing some hair. I have a small house dog that I'm scared to let out now because all of this happened in the middle of the day. And I can't let the other chickens out when I home because they like going in the woods. Any advice would be great.
 
If you like to hunt, tie a rooster off as bait, sit and wait.



I do like to hunt but really don't want to loose anymore chickens. Are make them Fox bait.

Don't take Eggbert entirely serious- he jokes at the most inappropriate times sometimes. :/
I'm sorry to hear that you're having predator problems. Foxes are particularly guile and will keep returning after the initiating kill. First off, if the fox is out in the midst of daylight and it's missing fur, it could be sick- as in rabies or such. The best thing to do is kill it as soon as possible if you intend to keep free-ranging your birds. Would you be up for attempting to trap, the dispatch, it if shooting fails?
~Sarah
 
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Ok I have 6 roosters I let free range during the day when I'm not home. Well this afternoon I got home one was dead and 3 was missing. I found one in the woods still alive a few feathers missing but ok. About a hour latter after putting them up a gray Fox came out of the woods in the yard where the dead chicken was and then ran back in the woods. I went out with the gun but it was gone. Then one more rooster showed up a little bloody but ok. I have a live trap out with the dead chicken in it but I read they are hard to trap. The Fox was really skinny and was missing some hair. I have a small house dog that I'm scared to let out now because all of this happened in the middle of the day. And I can't let the other chickens out when I home because they like going in the woods. Any advice would be great.


For me it would be as you say, trap and shoot or sit out and shoot. It knows they are there so will be back for more. I'm also afraid to say that once you have got rid of this one more will move into its territory. As my other half says "You get rid of one and all the others come to its funeral"
I would keep your birds secure for now but if you do free range again predators are always a risk and part of it.

If you like to hunt, tie a rooster off as bait, sit and wait.


I'm all for killing the foxes (they are out of control over here) but to tie a rooster up alive is just wrong in my opinion. He may only be "just" a rooster in many peoples eyes and they are ten a penny but he is still a living animal.
 
Don't take Eggbert entirely serious- he jokes at the most inappropriate times sometimes. :/
I'm sorry to hear that you're having predator problems. Foxes are particularly guile and will keep returning after the initiating kill. First off, if the fox is out in the midst of daylight and it's missing fur, it could be sick- as in rabies or such. The best thing to do is kill it as soon as possible if you intend to keep free-ranging your birds. Would you be up for attempting to trap, the dispatch, it if shooting fails?
~Sarah

That was not a joke. If you don't want to use one of your roosters buy one on craigslist you can usually get one for less than $5. If you pay attention to your bait, you won't evan loose the rooster. He will let you know when the fox is near him, then you take the shot. There is nothing more satisfying than killing a predator that is reeking havoc on your flock.
 
Don't take Eggbert entirely serious- he jokes at the most inappropriate times sometimes. :/
I'm sorry to hear that you're having predator problems. Foxes are particularly guile and will keep returning after the initiating kill. First off, if the fox is out in the midst of daylight and it's missing fur, it could be sick- as in rabies or such. The best thing to do is kill it as soon as possible if you intend to keep free-ranging your birds. Would you be up for attempting to trap, the dispatch, it if shooting fails?
~Sarah

That was not a joke. If you don't want to use one of your roosters buy one on craigslist you can usually get one for less than $5. If you pay attention to your bait, you won't evan loose the rooster. He will let you know when the fox is near him, then you take the shot. There is nothing more satisfying than killing a predator that is reeking havoc on your flock.

Ah. Sorry, Eggbert. :/ I was taking it as sarcasm. :( My apologies- and great suggestion.
 
Thanks everyone! I will see if its in the live trap in the morning. Hope so. And now that I think about it the chickens in the pen did start making all kinds of noises when the Fox was in the yard. Will keep my ears open. If I don't catch it tonight I may try putting a rooster in a cage in the woods and wait. Thanks
 
Gray Fox much easier to deal with than Red Fox. Former much more likely to come back in range to be shot. Use dead rooster as bait. Tie carcass to something neat kill site here you have a good shot. Then wait with loaded firearm.
 

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