dealing with a FOX.. erghhh

[RonP]

Fox are extremely crafty opportunists. They can be trapped, you just have to outfox them…

Best to forget about extermination, there will be more. You will have a continuous battle when dealing with Mother Nature... losses on both sides, never-ending…

Fortify your defensive!

There are great suggestions such as secured run and electric fencing.

I now sleep well knowing my flock is secure, in a fox proof coop and run…

Capturing a little kit changed the way I thought. She became close friends with my playful dog. Free with a family of her own, but not forgotten as I am constantly reminded when viewing my avatar.

Sorry for your losses, hope this helps.

 

[microchick]

Fox will sit back in whatever cover it has and just watch. It will have a strategy before it even strikes. You won't see it but it sees you and your birds, knows when they are pinned up and when they are loose. Guess you can say that they are all seeing and all knowing.

What the conservation people recommended to me were to use the leg traps that trappers use. I hate those things though, effective as they are. I hunt and even then I want to cause the animal I am hunting the least amount of pain when I dispatch it.

I'd much rather use a varmint rifle like a .17 hmr or a .223 to take out something like a fox or a coyote. More humane than a snap type leg trap.

 

[twilightgecko]

please tell me if this is a stupid idea.. can i let my 3 hens out for like an hour before dusk, if i supervise them? they are soooo chomping at the bit to get out of the coop.. they won't venture more than a few feet from the house.. i would stay out there with them, they are friendly, so they would stay within 3 to 4 feet of me.. but i've never dealt with a fox before.. not sure how brazen this fox will be.. just spit balling.. any thoughts?? i do have a high powered pellet gun i could hold on to..

 

[rookhomestead]

Keep a rifle handy. Unless it's rabid, it probably won't come eat your chickens with you standing there! If you only have 3 hens,( I think 8 to start?) I'd build a big enclosed run. I have entirely tooooo many birds to do that since we have ducklings being raised for meat (they get 2acres fenced during the day) and I believe someone speculated that they take birds for later snacks, that is true. They bury them for later.

 

[chickens really]

Yippee........The Fox was at the end of my driveway sitting up the other driveway ....We were going to the store..my Son ran in for the Gun and shot the Fox in its back..It jumped so was hit, not sure if it got killed?...Fingers crossed......

 

[twilightgecko]

so while i was cooking up some early dinner, i hear my hubby outside.. i go out onto the screened in porch and he has all 3 of my remaining hens out there.. Guardy, Apple & Pepper..

my girls got to get out of chicken jail for a bit..

 

[twilightgecko]

Yippee........The Fox was at the end of my driveway sitting up the other driveway ....We were going to the store..my Son ran in for the Gun and shot the Fox in its back..It jumped so was hit, not sure if it got killed?...Fingers crossed......

oh, i sure hope so.. being on fox guard sucks..

 

[alibabba]

Shame about killing it. They are good to keep mice etc under control. Part of the what belongs.

Another one or two will come to fill the gap. You will never know when....again.

Electric strand much cheaper than the electric mesh. Works fine with wire fence. 2 strands one at 4 inches, one about 1.5 - 2 ft. Thats all. Done. TSC has everything. Also, you only need the smallest charger they sell, one ground rod.

 

[chickens really]

I'm happy...Yes, possibly 10 more will move in and we will get rid of those too...Lots of Chicken owners and small pets too..A fox will kill Cats and small house Dogs..I have a Yorkie who is trained to wrangle my Chickens and Ducks...Would be so sad if she got taken having her pee at night or early morning....

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Boy do I need to jump in here and offer a flipped side to the fox coin.

And I mean no disrespect. I used to live in Alaska, the land of roadside pelt stands. I knew hunters and trappers and respect the need to protect our food sources, as long as those methods are ethical and sustainable.

That said.

Someone shot a fox in the back without knowing for sure the shot was aimed correctly to kill an ANIMAL THAT WAS SITTING STILL in a driveway? This is celebrated?

As someone said, you kill one predator and more will come. We have the potential to completely eradicate local species if we allow this to be our standing approach to predator management.

What we need to manage first is the protection of our flocks. Taking a wild animal's life when chickens free range is not protection. Create a secure run, and then free range for two hours near roosting time. This will keep them near the coop, and you can always sit out there with them and browse the internet or read a book.

And this is coming from someone who free ranged her chickens all day, until a coyote grabbed my rooster Henry and dragged him into the woods. I found him; he's recovering.

But kill the coyote that was free roaming the land we share together, as cohabiters? Sometimes it's necessary, but in my opinion not until I've done my share of work and honored the coyote by first fortifying a chicken run and establishing a new system for managing my flock.

Twenty cents to chew on right there, for what it's worth.