Red fox problems

[NJpineyflock]

Ok byc family, I need some advice. I live in the middle of the nj Pinelands, vast amounts of forest (Yes we actually do have that in nj) with many predators. We’ve had chickens for 4 years and now have had a guinea fowl flock for over a year. I have personally seen foxes and coyotes many times on my property over the years however they have never seemed to go after any of our birds. My neighbor also has a large chicken flock and our biggest problem was always hawks. Recently a red fox has started to show interest in my guinea flock and my neighbors chickens. Usually just seemed curious, he started coming around and stalking our birds so much I started firing warning shots with my shotgun to scare it off as it didn’t seem screaming at it was helping. I figured if I really scared it maybe it would avoid coming up to our house. Well 3 days ago it got one of our young guinea keets that we just hatched this year, I had them in a small pen next to the large coop as I am currently using this method to introduce them into the larger flock. The fox came at night reached in and grabbed a keet by the head and ripped most of it through the pen, literally a 1 inch by 2 inch hole. Then yesterday two days later it came back in the evening and took one of my adults. As I already stated I am a gun owner but I’ve never hunted and i do not like to kill things so I don’t want to go that route. My question is has anyone live trapped a fox? If so what trap and bait did you use, my neighbors are telling me that foxes are extremely smart and will not be easily trapped. Also I fear if I don’t do something soon my neighbor will just shoot it. Also it is summer and fox hunting season is over so I’m not sure it is legal to kill although my township has an ordinance that says you can dispatch nuisance animals that threaten your property so if anyone has lived in Hamilton twp Atlantic county knows more about these legalities i’dlove that info. Shooting this animal would be a complete last resort for me. But so far I’ve lost 2 birds in 3 days and fear it will get much worse.

 

[AgnesGray]

Ok byc family, I need some advice. I live in the middle of the nj Pinelands, vast amounts of forest (Yes we actually do have that in nj) with many predators. We’ve had chickens for 4 years and now have had a guinea fowl flock for over a year. I have personally seen foxes and coyotes many times on my property over the years however they have never seemed to go after any of our birds. My neighbor also has a large chicken flock and our biggest problem was always hawks. Recently a red fox has started to show interest in my guinea flock and my neighbors chickens. Usually just seemed curious, he started coming around and stalking our birds so much I started firing warning shots with my shotgun to scare it off as it didn’t seem screaming at it was helping. I figured if I really scared it maybe it would avoid coming up to our house. Well 3 days ago it got one of our young guinea keets that we just hatched this year, I had them in a small pen next to the large coop as I am currently using this method to introduce them into the larger flock. The fox came at night reached in and grabbed a keet by the head and ripped most of it through the pen, literally a 1 inch by 2 inch hole. Then yesterday two days later it came back in the evening and took one of my adults. As I already stated I am a gun owner but I’ve never hunted and i do not like to kill things so I don’t want to go that route. My question is has anyone live trapped a fox? If so what trap and bait did you use, my neighbors are telling me that foxes are extremely smart and will not be easily trapped. Also I fear if I don’t do something soon my neighbor will just shoot it. Also it is summer and fox hunting season is over so I’m not sure it is legal to kill although my township has an ordinance that says you can dispatch nuisance animals that threaten your property so if anyone has lived in Hamilton twp Atlantic county knows more about these legalities i’dlove that info. Shooting this animal would be a complete last resort for me. But so far I’ve lost 2 birds in 3 days and fear it will get much worse.

We can't free range and let our birds out under supervision, but because of a heavy predator load, have them in a run or mobile chicken tractor the rest of the time. That run and the pasture the tractor is on is wrapped in hot wire at 7 or so levels and has been tested (once) by a fox. We saw the flash of its nose being sparked on the night camera the one time he thought about trying to dig under to our ducks. He had been living nearby for a while and we haven't seen him since. We had one of the raccoons that hang out around us test out the fence... once. 10,000 volts to the nose and it's a lesson they teach their young and don't want to ever repeat. Saves us and them from dealing with trapping or shooting and is about the best peace of mind we can have as far as predator proofing.

When we have new birds, they go in a smaller coop or chicken tractor that gets parked inside the run and therefore inside the fence. No 100% guarantee on anything, but it has kept our coyotes, foxes, coons, etc out. Our neighbor saw 5 wolves in our yard last year and we have coyowolves to contend with also and he told us no one has ever successfully kept chickens on our road, but we haven't lost one yet to a predator (thankfully). We also have several strands of basic hot wire around a field of corn and our garden and it's been very helpful in protecting us, our crops, and animals as well as the predators.

 

[neo71665]

Warning shots on animals is just wasting ammo and time.

 

[archeryrob]

I'm with Neo. Get yourself some 2 3/4" 00 buck for that shot gun. It has 9 32 caliber lead balls in it and use it out to maybe 60 yards.

That fox has learned the new food source and will continue to come. Harassment will just teach him to come when he can avoid you.

 

[Folly's place]

Your short term solution is to have your birds locked in safe coops and runs, and then set up electric poultry netting (Premier1supplies.com) or electric fencing, baited at first, to keep out the land predators. @Howard E and @cmom have good advice here about electric fencing.
This fox will return, for sure, and with this one gone, someone else will show up next time.
It is hard to live trap foxes, and the only reason to trap one is if you will then shoot it.
Mary

 

[cmom]

I have had issues with fox in the past and have caught them in live traps. I baited the traps for a few days and let the fox take the bait then set the traps. I used some old processed chicken we had that found it's way to the bottom of the freezer. If you trap you must shoot it or it will keep coming back after your birds. This one was coming during the day and killed my most favorite bird. It had to go and since I have seen more fox on my game cameras I have set up around on my property mostly at night when they usually roam here. Good luck...

Last night. I have been seeing a fox pretty regularly on my game cameras.

 

[cmom]

The hole between the traps was made by a coyote. I had the large cage there with a bird as bait. The coyote would not go into the trap but instead tried to dig under it. The birds was ok because it was protected in a smaller cage. I guess the coyote thought it could get to it by digging underneath the trap.

 

[AgnesGray]

Last night. I have been seeing a fox pretty regularly on my game cameras.
View attachment 2223743

That is one skinny fox. Looks hungry.

 

[cmom]

It came to the wrong place and if it messes with my birds, I will eliminate it. I have seen either this one or another one or coyote around my coops lately.

I'm sure this coyote is aware of the electric wires that go around the coops and pens.

There is a fox in this picture, it was trotting down the lane so it is blurry.

 

[Eggscaping]

You are your birds' safe keeper. Their protector. You say the diameter on the pen was 1 inch by 2 inches. Predators such as raccoons and coyotes can pull a bird through chicken wire holes, which are a lot smaller than 1x2 inches. You would have to have hardware cloth, at least 1/2 inch.
You are an animal lover and don't like to kill them. Well, me too - but as stated above, I am my chicken's protector. If I put them out in a situation where they can be killed because I am unwilling to kill the thing that's after them - or upgrade their protective environment so that predator can't get to them, then I am failing them. If you keep chickens - or any livestock for that matter - you must love them more than you love the predator. And that means killing the predator if you can't protect the livestock adequately.
So there's your two choices: Upgrade your enclosure so a predator can't get in, or kill the predator.