anyone know of a fox deterrent?

[goldenchic]

thanks 4 all your advice but bobcat & coyote r out the question i live in england, and i'd get arrested if i shot it, so think will av to resort to DH peeing around the coop lol

 

[muttly]

Thats my excuse for doing it!

 

[Rangely]

We've lost over a dozen to foxes. I've probably peed around the yard enough to fill a swimming pool, but to no avail. I've got some friends that had similar problems until they got some Maine Coon Cats. These things are 20lb cats with attitudes. Foxes won't mess with them. Normal cats are easy fox prey, but the tables are turned with Maine Coon Cats.

 

[chickon baby]

Other than the suggestions already mentioned,I also take the dog hair after I shave the pup and spread that ard the coop.(if you go to a groomer,they may give you dog hair)Save the netting bag your turkey comes in and put moth balls in it,tie it up and hang it outside of the coop.

 

[goldenchic]

thanks for all suggestions i think i'd be scared of the maine coon cats never mind the foxes LOL

 

[lngrid]

Hi, Goldnchic

Maine Coon cats are just a breed of house cat. Here are a couple of links explaining about them:

http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/maine.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Coon

The rule of thumb with cats is that long-haired breeds are more laid-back than short-haired breeds. My dad found a kitten that grew into a Maine Coon named Rocky. He lived his entire life with my parents in the custom-built motor home (caravan) they bought at their retirement. These vehicles are built on bus chassis, so that should give you an idea of how intimately they all had to live. Despite Rocky's size, he was very calm. He was a good protector, though. When they were parked somewhere they would let him out on a leash, and ALL birdies, rodents and bugs within reach lived in holy terror of The Beast.

I think you wouldn't be afraid of a Maine Coon if you saw one. They're much nicer than Siamese cats. And Rocky very well might have faced down a fox if he had ever seen one. He sure didn't like unauthorized creatures within his domain.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

As far as what I can see, with you not having the right to shoot preditors and fear of dogs and such, the only thing I can see you fixing your problem is to perfect your coop. I don't have any foxes here in my area, but I do have coyotes and many other preditors and unless I want to set a buffet every night for the local wildlife, I have to have a fortress for my chickens.

 

[theFox]

Maine Coon cats are big fur balls and if you get one it will own you, you'll become its staff.

All cats are territorial.

I have a 20 pound cat, however it isn't a Maine Coon cat. He bosses me around and if I don't go where he wants me to or do what he wants me to he'll nip my ankles.

No one enters his domain without his approval, just like a roo watching over his flock. He just looked at the chicks when they first arrived and then walked away. I would not expect a cat to keep a fox at bay, especially a vixen with kits. We had a grey fox vixen with kits early this past summer, she was quite perturbed about my wife getting between her and the kits. My wife didn't even notice momma and got between them, I had to yell to get my wife to back out of the situation.

We also have hawks, eagles, falcons, fishers, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, weasels, and other assorted critters to go with our fox population.

If you can't kill them and want to keep chickens then you need a fort Knox coop and run.

Personally the biggest external threat to our chickens has been the dog next door.

 

[cobrien]

A good watch dog would help. Livestock guardian dogs bark a lot but could work for you if you are in the country. If the barking would be a problem, I think any dog used as a police dog would be a good watch dog and chicken protector. Of course if you plan on leaving dog and chickens together unsupervised you will need to go through a training process. Many will say you can never trust a dog with the chickens unsupervised, but my cattle dog cross has been protecting our chickens for 8 years.

Good luck,
Colleen

 

[davidb]

A gun or a leg trap they wont go in a live trap or at least the one that killed all mine wouldn't