A fox on my property!!

[jwchicklady]

I have been keeping my chickens in the run ever since seeing the fox. It was actually a gray fox and I read that they can climb trees! Maybe I will look into a chicken tractor or I really would like to get a guard dog, but my hubby is not too keen on getting another dog just for chicken protection.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
You may wish to visit Traps-N-Guns.com, in that case.

 

[Uzuri]

Catch 'im and send 'im my way -- we lost our resident fox and now we're overrun with mice and voles.

Part of me is at the point where I'm *hoping* my chickens start attracting predators, which is an attitude I'm sure I'll regret later!

 

[Cetawin]

5:00 is not uncommon at all, they are very very nocturnal and prefer dusk to dawn. You will see them out during the day (usually females) if they feel safe and especially if the weather is cool.

I chase one off every evening that comes through hoping for a duck or chicken dinner...instead he finds me. But he keeps strolling through looking for his chance. He may have to die soon if he keeps it up.

 

[007Dawn]

We have foxes on our property as well, and they will even eat a cat but seldom will then get close to our house. They typically come out after dark so just make sure your girls and boys are locked up for the night. My cat sleeps with the hens, his choice, believe it or not. Our cat will actually snuggle with them as well and the hens will rest their heads on his back and prune him. LOL I don't get it. LOL

You can try to post a couple of motions sensors around the coupe as well, the fox should run when he triggers the light.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
I have motion sensing lights trained on my coop and they are effective. I had something trip my driveway alarm one night in the middle of the night, so I got out of bed and was watching the driveway from my darkened house. A fox came zipping down the driveway and headed straight for my coop. The motion light kicked on as he got into range and he was out of there in a flash. He hasn't come back.

 

[BantyRooster]

Predators are opportunistic. Yes, a fox usually lays low during the day but it isnt uncommon to see them out & about then either. Especially when there is an easy meal close by.

As far as the motion detector, it will scare them off the first or second time. After that they'll learn that the light presents no danger and continue to come back.

I had a fox on my game camera a few years back. Two pics were taken a few seconds apart, the third pic was no fox. Point being is the flash startled the fox in the first pic, the second pic three second later showed the fox turning to run, and three second later it was gone. I caught that fox in a trap two nights later and its mate the day after that.

Dont waste your time, effort, or money on a motion light, thinking it will deter predators.

Also, you wont catch a fox in a live trap, so save your money there too. A pup, maybe, but not an adult.

I'm not advocating trapping or killing the fox. I'm just sharing some info.