Chicken killing Fox!!!! HELP!!

[NoFlyBackFarm]

If you don't want to kill, call Animal Control for it. They may have people on staff who know what to do.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Simply not true. Based on all discussions here I spoke to a licensed trapper and as long as the animal is not sick, there are no issues with legally relocating healthy animals. They do fine. It is done here with coyotes all the time. Some of the animals are tracked to keep tabs and to study relocation. They were very much in disagreement with killing versus relocating. Animals are very adaptable creatures.

not sure what trapper you talked too, (as i also am a licensed trapper ) but study's have shown from animal groups (again these can be the groups that hate hunting and trapping) that relocation is not humane, instead focusing on living with the animals instead of relocation.

but not trying to start an argument,

also to note i agree everyone should check with there local/state/province DNR, to see what they recommend every case is different, for example someone told me that they had a bear in there cattle area and phoned the DNR they told him just to shoot it.

 

[bobbi-j]

Yes - when trying to figure out if one can trap/kill/relocate wildlife, they should always check with their local DNR. Period. What I may be able to do here in my rural part of the state, may not be legal in another state, or a less rural area in my own state.

OP has already stated that they would rather deter than eliminate the predator with the use of electric fence. Good plan, in my opinion.

 

[cmom]

I live in a rural area and at times some people have released here in my area. Awhile back a friend of ours who frequents the local doughnut shop and heard some people talking about some skunks that were caught somewhere and released in my area. I had a lot of skunks showing up and I was getting one most every night in a live trap. I had 2 skunks in a trap. I talked to one of our local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent and he told me that I could shoot the skunks because they weren't endangered and I see road kill quite often. I caught over a dozen skunks in a couple of week. One evening I had forgot to shut the pop door to the chick coop and when I remembered to do it there was a skunk digging under the gate. I stomped my feet and yelled at it and it faced me and stomped it's feet at me. I went in and got my gun and bye bye Skunk. I thought when I went into the house to get my gun it would have left but when I went out, it had resumed digging. The pop door had partially shut and there were some chicks that couldn't get into the coop and I couldn't get in the gate to let them in because of the skunk.

 

[bobbi-j]

I live in a rural area and at times some people have released here in my area. Awhile back a friend of ours who frequents the local doughnut shop and heard some people talking about some skunks that were caught somewhere and released in my area. I had a lot of skunks showing up and I was getting one most every night in a live trap. I had 2 skunks in a trap. I talked to one of our local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent and he told me that I could shoot the skunks because they weren't endangered and I see road kill quite often. I caught over a dozen skunks in a couple of week. One evening I had forgot to shut the pop door to the chick coop and when I remembered to do it there was a skunk digging under the gate. I stomped my feet and yelled at it and it faced me and stomped it's feet at me. I went in and got my gun and bye bye Skunk. I thought when I went into the house to get my gun it would have left but when I went out, it had resumed digging. The pop door had partially shut and there were some chicks that couldn't get into the coop and I couldn't get in the gate to let them in because of the skunk.

They're brave little critters, that's for sure! Around here, they're also the biggest carrier of rabies, so any skunk we see near the buildings is a goner. I know that skunks out during the day don't necessarily mean rabies, we just figure any skunk anywhere means potential rabies.

 

[Floppy Pheasant]

Let's be clear,I love my flock,I love every wild animal....I don't condemn or blame any wild animal for "doing what it is meant to do" wild animals have no human emotions, they are only trying to survive....I don't hold any wild animals responsible for doing "what nature intended them to do" .....we're encroaching on their territory, I won't kill them because I didn't "create life"....it's "not my decision " to say what predator lives or dies...

 

[Cbf]

I’ve been doing this ( talk radio) since the fox attack. The girls only free range while I’m cleaning their coop/run or am right there in the yard with them. As soon as I go out I set up the radio loud and haven’t had any problems since.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Does anyone stop to think if the chickens would be happier free ranging even with the risk of predators?
Anyone who thinks differently just go open your fenced in cages and see if they want to come out or not?
Plenty of studies have been done on relocating animals. The numbers aren’t positive but hey if the person doing the relocating doesn’t have to see the animal die then it’s ok I guess. Out of sight out of mind. Think positive. Lol
Anyone who is isn’t willing to trap a predator killing chickens owes it to the birds to keep them safe. Otherwise you might as well kill the chickens yourself.

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

Unfourtuatly, the best way to get rid of this fox is to shoot it. If you don't it will most likely keep coming back. As a lot of others are saying there is a second option which is to stop free-ranging your chickens and completely fox-proof your coop.

I'm sorry your going through this and we all lose chickens once and a while. Good luck with the fox!