dealing with a FOX.. erghhh

[twilightgecko]

finally figured out what has been happening to my chickens.. a damn fox.. i thought at first it was a hawk, since i lost one during the day and had to put another down because of deep wounds to her neck.. then the other day i was working and my hubby did a head count at dusk, missing 2 hens.. next day i moved the game cam in a different direction, and there it was, these were taken right beside the coop.. which is right beside the house really.. and another hen missing..

so now that i know what i'm dealing with, i know it will just keep coming back till all my hens are gone.. i have 3 girls left and they are locked in the coop till i remedy this.. they don't understand why they are in chicken jail.. poor girls have never liked being "cooped up" .. but for the past few days, i haven't seen a trace of fox. i know, they are sly.. i know she is just lurking and watching, and so am i.. binoculars, scanning my property all the time.. game cam on.. nothing..

i'm so frustrated. arghhhhhhhhhh
so i'm venting.. and any advice??? i hate to kill such a gorgeous creature, but my hens are my babies.. my pets.. and i'm heartbroken over losing them..
i need to keep my remaining 3 alive and happy..

 

[JanetMarie]

Put a radio on, so the fox will hear it. It doesn't have to be loud. The fox will stay away from people noises.

A more permanent solution is to fence your chickens' area, then run an electric wire a few inches off the ground. Foxes do not like to climb fences, because it exposes them, and getting a zip on the nose is not pleasant.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I have no advice as far as the fox (with regards to not killing it), but do the chickens have a run or just free ranged when they are released from the coop?

 

[rookhomestead]

I don't have any good advise really since I got lucky(if you can call 14 dead chickens ready to slaughter, lucky) but I caught a young Fox in the act! KAHPOW!!! .223 and it is no longer a problem. The hide is hanging up as a trophy. However, I believe now, Theres a raccoon. Its gotten 10 ducks and a guinea in 3 attacks. Haven't had time to sit and wait on it, but thats next. Full gilly suit, and a night on the porch, I'm determined to kill it! Traps have done nothing but catch possum and my dog. I feel your pain! If you can find the den, that would help. My neighbors told me where 2 were on their connecting property. And my other neighbors said they seen coons on their trail cam headed for my place. More cams, and be ready to sit. I think the "experts" say they will hunt once a week, assuming their last was successful. And I believe they prefer to hunt just before dark, and just after dawn. Might need a night scope. Good luck!

 

[staceyj]

Be cautious. Wear gloves.
If you zoom in on the photo of that fox he doesn't look well.
He/she has a number of healing wounds and areas missing a good deal of hair.
Face, neck, shoulder, ruff, lower back, all down his leg.
Could be mange but also could be fighting wounds and foxes are known to be rabies carriers.
I'd set out a trap and do what I could to dispatch him ASAP for the safety your flock and your family.

 

[Sassysouth]

I have a secure run for that reason. We have resident foxes snd hawks. I am sorry your losses.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Your birds need to be in a safe coop and run until this fox is (hopefully) killed. Electric fencing will work very well if properly set up! Premier1supplies.com has good products and excellent advice, and Howard E is a good resource here.
It's difficult to trap foxes!
Let your chicken- keeping neighbors know about her, so everyone is on alert. Maybe someone else will have a chance to shoot.
Rabies is a concern; definitely wear gloves! Your DNR might want to examine/ test the carcass, so call them and ask. Mary

 

[twilightgecko]

thanks for the quick responses.. i free range my chickens.. i live on 6 acres, most of it woods. i have been clearing brush further and further from my house, so the fox pretty much has to come out in the open.. by the camera photos, this fox had to have grabbed my hen from under the porch.. so it isn't scared of noises and people smells..

my hens have been pretty much sticking close to the house.. after their first flock mate got taken, they haven't ventured into the woods at all..

i have caught foxes on cam in the past, but always at night, and they have never tried to get in the coop.. my girls are always secure at night and they've just wandered thru.. no issues..

so one during the day, brazen and it's not the right time of year to see foxes during the day, usually in spring when feeding kits [or is that pups?] i did notice the missing fur.. i know rabies is documented in my area of upstate NY.. we had a rabid coyote attack on dogs and people.. even a rabid deer near me.. i was really looking for any signs of rabies in the photo.. i'll attach another photo..

anyway, i will kill it given the chance.. or opportunity.. i've tried setting salmon out [something stinky] and nothing.. sneaky bastard..

i really don't want to fence yet.. still so much brush and land to clear.. the ground is all slate and terribly uneven..

thanks for the ideas..

 

[twilightgecko]

@rookhomestead i am prepared to shoot this fox.. my girls mean a lot to me.. and this fox got 2 one day and 1 hen the next.. so 3 in 2 days.. i can see where it ATE one.. and the no feathers from the other 2.. perhaps it takes them back to its den to eat later and there fore isn't hunting at the moment.. i am trying to learn more about foxes.. and i have wandered thru my woods looking for a den.. can't find anything.. this fox is hunting during the day too.. game cam catching nothing at night.. sigh..

 

[Folly's place]

Set up a safe run, for just this kind of emergency! Free ranging is great, but at times it will just feed the wildlife... Mary