Current fox problems anyone?

[gootziecat]

I'm inquiring out of curiousity.

The fox nearly wiped me out of layers this spring/early summer (they forage), but I still have a lot of young birds. I haven't seen a sign of a fox in over a month. Before they came any time of day and there was no predicting when they might show up.It was like they were watching for an opportunity.
Anyway, I was curious if anyone was still having fox problems this time of year.

 

[centrarchid]

I have one that gets escorted off property by dog every couple days or nights. No losses incurred and my young birds are juvenile. Previous fox was too slow and dog caught and actually killed it.

 

[Stonerowfarm]

This year was the first time we've had problems with a fox. So far he has carried off three hens over a space of about six weeks. Meanwhile we also had an issue with rats and had put out poison. One unlucky rat ended up in a chicken run, loaded up with poison. We threw the rat out where we knew the fox runs and so far...... no more fox attacks. I don't know if he got into the poisoned rat or if he moved on but he had been hitting every farm on our road taking out their chickens.

Unfortunately we are now dealing with a group of bears who have decided chicken really is the best dinner out there.

 

[bethann33]

We've had a serious fox issue. It's taken out 4 of my best layers (it's like he hones in on the best!) and nearly got away with another. He comes at different times also, so he is no predictable. Sometimes he's found his way in the coop, other times he's struck just as I let them out in the morning, or a little later in the morning. I've got a trap that I might set for him...

 

[Stonerowfarm]

Good luck with the traps. I put two out, one with a dead rooster (he died of natural causes) and another set with stinky chicken breast from the freezer. I followed the recommendations of trappers to get it good and stinky and let it sit for a bit. All I attracted was vultures. The fox wouldn't go near it.

Likewise, mine attacked at all different times. Once I caught him sitting in the field across the road watching me - waiting for me to go in the house. One time he snuck in while I was in the house, for 10 minutes, grabbed a bird and off he went. They really are smart and crafty critters.

 

[NancyP1]

I have lost alot of birds this year to fox. All times of day. Nobody free ranges unless I am outside with the rifle. I have a trap set, all I have caught so far is a skunk, raccoon, neighbors cat and a woodchuck. I put an old fashioned chicken crate behind the trap, covered the whole thing except the entrance with a tarp and brush, and put a rooster in the crate. So far no luck.

 

[bethann33]

I spotted the fox again last night around 11:30- again a new time for him. He tried to get in, but I had just made improvements on the coop, and he couldn't get in. phew. Haven't yet set the trap. will do so tonight. This fox is relentless!

Open fox season in is November her, btw!

 

[devora]

We lost four girls last month to this lil' monster:

I was surprised that the trapper used a live banty rooster as bait. The roo was safely ensconced in a separate cage at the end opposite of the opening of the trap. The fox crawled into the trap to get the roo and *POP* caught him. No more fox.

 

[Ntsees]

Looks like a young gray fox. Get 'em while it's still young. You're lucky because I've read that the adults are hard to trap because they are too keen - especially towards a live trap. I only know about it because I've had an adult gray fox wipe out my entire (10) quail covey. Didn't get the sucker until about three months later when it tried to get my new quails. Got 'em in a havahart trap which was never supposed to work on it but I guess it was starving or something. Bait used was a quail mount (taxidermy by me). It wanted quail, it got quail.