My first Fox attack that ended in a kill

[frigginchi]

I may have a problem any day now. My 10/22 has seen 17k+ rounds w/o any cleaning. But I do squirt the bolt and chamber with WD-40. Don't try this at home kids

a big problem with semi auto rimfires is folks never clean them, this will cause problems.

 

[blucoondawg]

I may have a problem any day now. My 10/22 has seen 17k+ rounds w/o any cleaning. But I do squirt the bolt and chamber with WD-40. Don't try this at home kids

I don't generally clean my 10/22 either an have only had problems when using aftermarket magazines. The Ruger is far more reliable than the Remington 22s I've had, however the 10/22 mag they had for awhile was taken out of production for reliability issues.

 

[Shellz]

Just a standard barrel. Benched it & got within a quarter-size grouping at 100 yards on weekend. Then took out the rubber target to shoot at. Put it where I saw the fox with pullet in its mouth last year. No doubt, I would have killed that dam fox!

 

[Gallus Sapien]

I don't generally clean my 10/22 either an have only had problems when using aftermarket magazines. The Ruger is far more reliable than the Remington 22s I've had, however the 10/22 mag they had for awhile was taken out of production for reliability issues.

Never really had a prob. w/a Ruger

 

[Mygirls20]

Wow so many guns lol. Ya Once we get our taxes back I think we are going to go gun shopping

My husband kinda looks at my .22 like it is a toy and wants something manly. I dont blame him but I do think a .22 is good practice for someone that has never really been around guns before. If the shoot ranges out by us werent so fricken expensive we would go for a day but I am not going to spend a grand just to shoot a few guns

So I think one of my hens is starting to molt I have noticed a lot of her feathers everywhere and nobody is really picking on her. She is the hen that got attacked by the fox first. Is she loosing all her feathers because of the stress? She also has stopped laying eggs. And I also have two hens fighting over the same nesting box they wait till everyone has laid a few eggs then they get it (sometimes both of them) they arent laying but wont let anyone go near the box. I have to put out mealworms to get eggs cause the peck and scream at me when I try to move them none of my hens are people aggressive so I am kinda lost on that. I want my flock back to normal the last two days have been a little crazy

 

[3 NH reds]

I don't generally clean my 10/22 either an have only had problems when using aftermarket magazines. The Ruger is far more reliable than the Remington 22s I've had, however the 10/22 mag they had for awhile was taken out of production for reliability issues.

Brake cleaner is great for cleaning out dirty guns and once in a while use a brass .22 brush with it. it can clean all kinds of gunk just make sure you lube the gun after and have something under the gun to collect all the junk.

Wow so many guns lol. Ya Once we get our taxes back I think we are going to go gun shopping

My husband kinda looks at my .22 like it is a toy and wants something manly. I dont blame him but I do think a .22 is good practice for someone that has never really been around guns before. If the shoot ranges out by us werent so fricken expensive we would go for a day but I am not going to spend a grand just to shoot a few guns

So I think one of my hens is starting to molt I have noticed a lot of her feathers everywhere and nobody is really picking on her. She is the hen that got attacked by the fox first. Is she loosing all her feathers because of the stress? She also has stopped laying eggs. And I also have two hens fighting over the same nesting box they wait till everyone has laid a few eggs then they get it (sometimes both of them) they arent laying but wont let anyone go near the box. I have to put out mealworms to get eggs cause the peck and scream at me when I try to move them none of my hens are people aggressive so I am kinda lost on that. I want my flock back to normal the last two days have been a little crazy

My girls20 you just may want to try fermented feed for your birds. It really improves the health of the birds and the poo is solid and does not stink. I start it in two 5 gallon buckets one with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage I ferment scratch grain or corn others use their chicken feed. add 8 oz of apple cider vinegar with the "mother" in it. ( fancy way of saying it has living biotics in it) add water to cover and let it ferment. I reuse old liquid from old batches to start the next. Great thread on this at https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds This is in the meat bird section. I bet this will help your hen that got attacked by the fox recover sooner.

 

[Shellz]

I'm going to start that one of these days. Bought the 2 buckets last week. Now just waiting for hubby to drill holes for me. I should know better & just do it myself! It's hard finding the tools though...

You don't need to go crazy on guns, unless you want to! A .22 IS a great first gun though! Now you need to up your game with something that will take care of the larger varmints. There are a lot of choices for multi-taskers. A good 20 gauge shotgun will work for close range on coyote up to deer. (Not elk) 12 gauge will work too, but has bigger kick, more manly! I'm assuming you'll be sharing, so 20 ga is enough. A .243 will take out both of these targets as well. For elk, well, that would have to be an exclusive gun of more power. What would kill an elk would be overkill for other targets. Something to think about. We looked into shooting ranges here too. They were too far or too full. Maxed out their membership numbers. So yeah, if you can create a safe 100 yard lane on your property, that's the way to go!

 

[Sueg4332]

I'd have fish and game talk to your neighbor about feeding the wildlife It make them rely on people. Than gets then shot. They hand out big fines for feed wildlife here in California if people complain. Cost the animal their live in the long run. ity people dont think of that.

I have recently lost 12 chickens to dogs and a fox . Very smart animals killed them 20 feet outside my front door.. I still haven't seen then do it. But the 20 guage IS LOADED. neighbors IS SUPPOSE TO GET RID OF DOG. his landlord caught the dog eating chickens It a shame he is a good working cattle dog He has hit all the neighbor flocks. The fox is down right sneeky.

 

[Shellz]

Sorry for your losses, Sueg4332. Sounds like my place every spring! Grrrrr! Can you get restitution from that dog's owner? Thought it might be worth a shot. maybe not? My foxes are sneaky & brazen at times. One big red just sat in middle of my driveway last year. Surveying confidently MY property! Ooh, it makes me mad! Wish I had a gun before getting chickens. Now I'm ready for them!

Dogs are a whole different thing. Ugh! What a predicament! I'm worried I might have to shoot a couple that have been making the rounds all last fall. Chickens were penned for the colder weather, so no worries then. My 40lb dog escorted them (60-80lbs) off my property last time. I shudder to think they might come back for chickens when I free range in spring. I don't like the thought of having to shoot a dog, but if its on my property, I have a legal right to protect my stock.
That is, if their intentions are made clear its chickens they're after, & not just a stroll thru my property. I would never just shoot a dog over nothing.

 

[Sueg4332]

I'd have fish and game talk to your neighbor about feeding the wildlife It make them rely on people. Than gets then shot. They hand out big fines for feed wildlife here in California if people complain. Cost the animal their live in the long run. ity people dont think of that.

I have recently lost 12 chickens to dogs and a fox . Very smart animals killed them 20 feet outside my front door.. I still haven't seen then do it. But the 20 guage IS LOADED. neighbors IS SUPPOSE TO GET RID OF DOG. his landlord caught the dog eating chickens It a shame he is a good working cattle dog He has hit all the neighbor flocks. The fox is down right sneeky.

I am only on page 26 of this discussion sorry for the comment as I see now all my ideas have been spoken numberous times. But I have a problem and only live a block from the city. Animal that prey on domestic animals are lazy. Just like some people. They get use of the easy prey and teach their young to do the same.
Example I came home at 3.PM in the afternoon had a mom and dad 3 babies coyettos in my front yard. They were teaching their younging how to kill easy prey. They probably came from lazy parents too. PS fish and game poision the whole pack 13 of them because they put 2 schools in front and in back of my property. I personally saw them. Pack gone. They deny it. Those coyottes use to piss me off. they knew just how far my 20 gauge would shoot They would go beyond the reach of it and sit down and flip me off. LOL not really but it seemed like it. So I didn't miss them at all.
What ever was left or didn't die move farther out in the country.
I do believe in good night time pens But when they break in or come in the daytime it is time to do something.....

Esdpecially were the fox was trapped in Coloado there is plenty of game for the fox to hunt.