Are foxes scared of dogs?

[maddogdodge]

We've never had problems with foxes on our property over the years, that is probably due to the fact that we always had dogs around. My neighbours don't have dogs and they lost all their chooks to foxes. I'm thinking of leaving the little chicken sized door to the chicken coop open at night so that my girls can get in and out when they like if i am unable to let them out early in the morning for any reason. My big Australian Shepherd Koda patrols around the chicken yard and is extremely protective of our property, so I know that if he saw or heard a fox he would go crazy barking and lunging at it through the fence, he often does it if he see's one out in the paddocks He can't get in the chicken yard or coop, the coop is fox/dog proof except for that little door i mentioned. Do you reckon my dog's barking and growling would be enough to scare a fox away from the chicken coop? Koda can get right near the little doorway without actually being in the yard, he can probably be about half a meter from the doorway.

Hope that makes sense haha, thanks in advance for any opinions

 

[andreanar]

I would say no. Foxes and raccoons and other critters get very smart when there is a free meal around. They will eventually figure out that the dog can't get to them. I wouldn't leave the coop door open at night.

 

[centrarchid]

We've never had problems with foxes on our property over the years, that is probably due to the fact that we always had dogs around. My neighbours don't have dogs and they lost all their chooks to foxes. I'm thinking of leaving the little chicken sized door to the chicken coop open at night so that my girls can get in and out when they like if i am unable to let them out early in the morning for any reason. My big Australian Shepherd Koda patrols around the chicken yard and is extremely protective of our property, so I know that if he saw or heard a fox he would go crazy barking and lunging at it through the fence, he often does it if he see's one out in the paddocks He can't get in the chicken yard or coop, the coop is fox/dog proof except for that little door i mentioned. Do you reckon my dog's barking and growling would be enough to scare a fox away from the chicken coop? Koda can get right near the little doorway without actually being in the yard, he can probably be about half a meter from the doorway.

Hope that makes sense haha, thanks in advance for any opinions   :cd

The fox is very good at figuring out what it can and cannot do with respect to other predators. I strongly suggest you start working on your dogs habits around chickens. Once dog is trained up allow it to have total access to your birds, even inside of coop if necessary. Then you will be able to keep everything open so long as dog is outside with birds.

 

[GD91]

The fox is very good at figuring out what it can and cannot do with respect to other predators. I strongly suggest you start working on your dogs habits around chickens. Once dog is trained up allow it to have total access to your birds, even inside of coop if necessary. Then you will be able to keep everything open so long as dog is outside with birds.

Make sure you take the eggs out though!

Our LGD eats ours given half a chance

I wasn't told that when mentioning LGD's!

 

[aart]

Make sure you take the eggs out though!

Our LGD eats ours given half a chance

I wasn't told that when mentioning LGD's!

Well, not eating eggs is part of training any dog.

 

[centrarchid]

The chicken friendly provides redundancy in the event to run perimeter fails. Also their is nothing more fun than having the equivalent of a raccoon caught in a coop with birds that dog cannot get into. Predator seems to think I am safe once inside so might as well get to work.

 

[maddogdodge]

Thanks for your responses everyone

Definitely given me plenty to think about. I live in Australia so Raccoons aren't a problem, just foxes. I'm actually in the process of fox proofing the chicken yard itself so that they can't dig in. One of my dogs (my Kelpie) is fine with chickens, however she's getting older now and would rather go and sleep on the couch we have on the back deck for her

She also likes to steal eggs... she used to sneak through the boundary fence and steal our neighbours eggs from their chicken coop! I'll consider training my Aussie to be with the chooks, but even then, its not the most ideal situation as i don't really want the chooks loose in my backyard where the dog is. Thanks for your responses anyway, really appreciate it