First close encounter with a fox

[Hillbilly hen house]

At about 7:00, maybe a little earlier I was surprised that a fox was circling my coop. It was still light out. I have talked to neighbors and they all kinda keep an eye out (very sweet of them) for our 5 girls. They have reported seeing one too. A neighbor across the street says that she puts food out for the fox and so does another one down the way. Is this helpful or hurtful to my girls? We do not having fencing under the run but do have an outer layer of 16 inch patio blocks. Could a fox dig under that in one night? I have not yet seen signs of it trying to get it.

 

[SilkieBantams]

Yes foxes can dig under to get to the chickens that are in the run. They also carry rabies and mange so my best bet is to shoot them or get a livestock guardian dog.

 

[drumstick diva]

Your neighbors are idiots to feed a wild animal. First, he will loose his fear of humans, and second he will hang around and find your chickens and anything else available. I don't know if it's illegal in your area to feed wild animals but if it is, maybe a visit from a police officer or animal control would change their mind. Do they had young kids?? They could end up attacked some day from the fox, if he thinks they will feed him and don't. On the other hand if he looses his fear he might walk right up to you and make an easy target. Hmm. maybe if you explain it that way to neighbors they will stop.

People drive me nuts. Around here idiots feed the canadian geese. Signs everywhere warning not too. They don't care. THey are protected as migratory birds but they don't migrate. We have them all year thru, since I first saw them in l984. I understand they are a major problem in many states. They are just flying outhouses. I've read they dump 3 lbs. of poo a day per bird. They are wildly prolific and since the parents guard youngsters zealously they rarely are lost to predators. Sorry I got off track.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
It's extremely hurtful! No one should be feeding wild animals like that. Could even be illegal where you live. Yes, he can dig under, climb over, etc. They need to stop and stop now.

 

[centurion90]

Thats very bad for your chickens. Now that the fox knows there is free food in the area it will most likely stay and eventually find a way into your coop. Let your neighbors know that this is bad for you , them and the fox because if gets to comfortable it will be most likely be euthanized

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

It is horrible when neighbor's feed wild animals.

Fool's near me fed their scraps to raccoons for at least 15 yrs. I was so glad when the landowner built a home there.

 

[Ole rooster]

Amen, agreed. The idiot neighbors are putting you in a position where it's going to fall on you to kill it. These people are fools. The fox will come to visit you. Bet on it.

 

[bobbi-j]

Another thing to consider - there have been many posts here about rabid fox. Mostly in the eastern states, I think. Your fox probably doesn't have rabies, but in the event that it contracts it, you don't want it hanging around the place, and neither do your neighbors. One poster several months ago was even bitten and attacked by a rabid fox. Maybe you could mention that to your neighbors. As all the other posters have mentioned. It's bad to feed it. It keeps it coming around and it loses its fear. Maybe you could trap it and dispose of it? (By "dispose", I do NOT mean relocate)

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I had a fox come right up to the poarch in broad daylight, 10 feet from me, and steal something from the garbage bag I had negligently left out...I thought it might be that someone had fed it before to be so bold or that is was rabid, so I shot it...the neighbor(about 1/2 mile away) thanked me, said it had eaten every single chicken he had.

 

[Grog]

DONT FEED THE ANIMALS!!!!! even deer. it may seem cute at first, but problems ALWAYS occur. And out here in Eastern Pa both skunks and foxes are known for rabies. Its bad enough that the bear stole my gabage CAN<---- yes the whole can. I dont need more predators in the yard.