Alternatives to Bullets

[slingshotandLAR]

Ok, for the sake of argument - let's just say I eliminated the offending fox - another will surely take it's place anyway so is there no one who free-ranges chickens or do they just kill everything that ventures onto their property that is deemed a threat to their chickens?  Either they do or they lock-up ... there seems to be no happy medium.  Even if I could kill the fox, which I couldn't, another would surely take it's place in time it seems to me. I was pretty excited about my chickens...now not so much since keeping them happy and free-ranging seems to be an impossibility unless I decide to slaughter everything looking to make a meal of them.  Makes sense I guess.  Would love to see some examples of beautifully landscaped runs...  The coop forum was pretty barren but perhaps it requires more searching.  Thanks for the feedback all, much appreciated!

There will always be more foxes....

They do not generally attack within arms reach of people, there for another fox will not prrsent the same type of danger.

I free range my birds amongst every predator you can imagine, coyotes, foxes, fishers, bears, mink, coons and all manner of raptors including bald eagles. I've only lost 1 bird in the past 4 years. The reason being the predators know better than hang around in daylight, most that do show don't make it. It's not worth the risk to them, there are many easier meals for them then my chickens.

Night is a very different story, my coops are completely secure. That's the key the birds need a safe place at night.

Now to the relocation..... It's illegal in almost all states, check your laws. Biggest reason is bio security, can't risk disease introduction. Plus it becomes someone else's problem, that fox is habituated to humans which means it will seek out other humans because it associates them with food. Makes no difference really, if you move it someone else will be the one killing it. Dead is dead you can't save a wild animal that acts like that

 

[Catnip5]

I called and spoke with the State of Maine Game Warden - it is legal to trap and relocate - no less than 5 miles, no more than 10 (yes, disease control).

My coop is very safe at night - at least the tiny one they are in that is too small for all day every day. The larger coop I am working on - a 10x12 shed. It will be as secure as the small. Thus far I have no nighttime concerns since installing a bunch of preditor lights - those have proven to be great - plus the coop is secure.

"Most that show don't make it" meaning you slaughter them? Just for clarification.

I thought my worry would be the eagles and hawks but it seems to be fox...beautiful creature actually but he's killed a bunch of ducks, ducklings and now two of my beloved chickens. He's gotta go for sure...but a bullet I can't live with.

 

[Catnip5]

Thanks for the info - they are ugly as sin but do seem to work. Talk about adding an ugly aesthetic to my beautiful property... need to research gorgeous runs - if any exist.

 

[torilovessmiles]

The fox is use to being around humans, so there isn't really anything you can do about that particular fox. You will not be able to scare it away. Another fox may pass by and grab a chicken, but this fox is a problem because its territory is on your property and it does not fear humans. And if you release it in the same general area as yours that fox may come back. Dogs and cats have found their way back home states away, a fox can surely find it's way back from 10 miles if they want to get home bad enough.
There is no problem with not wanting to kill the fox; they are intriguing creatures. But in that case, you'll have to pen your chickens. Use welded wire fencing to make as large a fence as you want, your chickens will be happy with that. More importantly, they will be alive.

 

[slingshotandLAR]

I called and spoke with the State of Maine Game Warden - it is legal to trap and relocate - no less than 5 miles, no more than 10 (yes, disease control).

My coop is very safe at night - at least the tiny one they are in that is too small for all day every day.  The larger coop I am working on - a 10x12 shed.  It will be as secure as the small.  Thus far I have no nighttime concerns since installing a bunch of preditor lights - those have proven to be great - plus the coop is secure.

"Most that show don't make it" meaning you slaughter them?  Just for clarification.

I thought my worry would be the eagles and hawks but it seems to be fox...beautiful creature actually but he's killed a bunch of ducks, ducklings and now two of my beloved chickens.  He's gotta go for sure...but a bullet I can't live with.

Clarification....

Yes that means dead, I have a full time farm as do almost all my neighbors. My chickens represent my income and must be protected.

I do everything I can to keep them safe, nothing is haphazard or irresponsible. I also have a dog that protects my chickens with her life. My closest neighbors on both sides have cow calf operations and each lost several calls this spring to coyotes, a coyote that can makes a habit of daytime visits will not live very long. Just the way it is.

I understand everybody has different reasons for keeping and raising livestock, I also get that not everybody adopts a zero tolerance policy for predators and that's ok, however I try to raise my animals as stress free as posiable. A coyote harassing my cows already managed to get through a 5 wire 10,000 volt high tensile fence. No way I'm giving it a pass, just the way it is

 

[Catnip5]

Well, wolf urine is utterly worthless - kept it at bay this morning maybe but lost another chicken late afternoon, frightened it as it took off down the road and it dropped my poor headless girl. Yes, this fox has made my backyard his buffet. Baiting the trap with Lana tonight in hopes of capturing it but if the State Trooper who is my neighbor dispatches it I won't be crying.bapparently he's lost a couple of chickens as well. It has proven to be a killing machine completely unafraid of humans. The girls will have to stay confined until this gets sorted out.

 

[FridayYet]

How many chickens do you have? There are all kinds of pretty runs, just depends on your space, time, and money.

 

[Catnip5]

As of this evening 12, down from 15 last week. The prettiest part of that run is the greenery outside it. I've yet to see a well landscaped natural run that isn't a barren wasteland of mud and wire... Nothing matches the great outdoors!

 

[FridayYet]

No landscaping, but there aren't foxes inside a run, either!

I don't have any mud in my run, but if you tried to landscape inside, the chickens will destroy it fairly quickly. Deep litter (think forest floor) is the best, most natural environment you can get inside a run.





Maybe electrified poultry fencing would be better for you?

 

[Catnip5]

It must just be me but nearly all the runs I've seen are devoid of anything natural or stimulating. No foxes true, but a caged life on a bed of shavings seems pretty sad to me. Safe and sad.
I adore watching my chickens explore the yard and chase bugs and nestle under pine trees. To me that was a big piece of wanting to have chickens at all.