Human presence is a good deterrent. We had a fox problem 3 yrs ago. I lost half dozen birds because of them. I started going outside at dawn and dusk as a deterrent. Later, I used a timer to cause the radio in my barn to turn on around dusk & dawn. Hearing the radio acted as a deterrent too... I've also launched bottle rockets in the air to deter hawks but that also works well to deter critters if you know they are lurking around.
This and make your coop/run impenetrable. Had fox trying to dig into mine a couple of times, after that gave up. Still get racoons and opossum venturing by, but they can't get in either.
You only deter the fox you shoot. New foxes will arrive because they can multiply. Foxes are useful predators too because they hunt rats and mice too. Foxes are most active early mornings when the sun is not up yet. And tend not to hunt in the middle of the day.
I suspect that "any wildlife" excludes federally protected species such as migratory birds and endangered species.
Very true, but I am compelled to clarify further; they will absolutely hunt in the middle of the day if the need to hunt is strong enough - feeding kits, for example. The only chicken I lost to a fox was in the middle of the afternoon, when I surprised her in the attack. I have a video of another daytime attack near the same time period. My poor birds did not get to free-range for several months after that. I've taken measures since to minimize the opportunity.
I like the fence within a fence, within a fence idea. and an electric one to boot! I saved my hen from a fox as he was carrying her away and thats all I needed to see. Good luck. some smart person on this forum once said, 'if you free range your hens, eventually you will have an attack. not a matter IF rather WHEN. I think this person was 100%. Everything wants to eat our chickens. I dont blame them tho. Look how beautiful and delicious they all look. All plump with shiny, pretty feathers pokin; around the yard all slow and just perfect. I cant watch the hens without wanting to pick one up and run away too.
They mean don't take it waaaay far away like in other state or county but relocating it to next road over isn't a big deal. Also there are some laws they protect livestock and that's different if that's your reason. In our chases we would be protecting livestock. In Pennsylvania you can't drive down a road without seeing three chicken coops.
Wondering how much time one has to invest in shooting a fox? Lie in wait for hours -and hope they appear? They are incredibly wary and will run as soon as they sense any person approaching. Seems a big live catch box trap would work best.
Im actauly not going to kill it if that what ur worried about im not gonna shoot it but these ones are not wary you can get in with 15 feet. from one then they jog away we did do a live catch thanks for the idea
