First Fox Attack

[Amiga]

I often think the right dog would be a big help here. But the current crop of cats would have none of it. Enough I have ruined their lives with ducks!

We have foxes here, too, in the ruburbs, a mile from several hundred acres of state forest. I love this place, and it comes with a wild predator population as well as the neotropical migratory birds, the butterflies, the native bees, and so much more.

 

[Going Quackers]

That's a shame how upsetting to deal with. The gate is clearly an area that some have thought a great form of escape. I have a horse who can open gates lol All my main flock are full flight so they can fly out of the penned area if they choose, but i free range the birds.

Predators are one of those things we have to keep one step ahead of all the time, your right, running flocks is more stressful than people think, i know i have had one crash coarse in the whole thing.

My biggest problem around here is neighbours cats and dogs, yes i have the top preds too but those seem to come at night, all the birds are locked up, which in this heat is a challenge as they want to be out, only exception being the chickens, their smarter in that regard.

I hope things settle down for you, if the fox is deterred it may move on, they are determined buggers though...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes it is trying to stay one step ahead of the preds. I love all wildlife even the preds. they don't just zero in on our flocks they are looking for an easy meal and sometimes we provide it for them. It's an everyday determination to try and keep that from happening. Saying that I couldn't imagine keeping my flock penned up everyday, they enjoy their freedom and I want to keep them happy.

 

[Going Quackers]

Yes it is trying to stay one step ahead of the preds. I love all wildlife even the preds. they don't just zero in on our flocks they are looking for an easy meal and sometimes we provide it for them. It's an everyday determination to try and keep that from happening. Saying that I couldn't imagine keeping my flock penned up everyday, they enjoy their freedom and I want to keep them happy.

For sure, i love wildlife and fully recognize they don't know these animals are of importance to us. The biggest problem is finding balance, i am fortunate the property is set-up where most are around us but prefer not to be on us, i know of many people who live around me who are more in the deep, thick of it all and sadly loose birds constantly. I take precautions but with the big birds i must have them loose, the purpose here is impossible to fulfill otherwise, so i am always tap dancing around a way to make it all work.

Of coarse anyone who watches a nature program knows life is all about balance, give and take... bringing animals into that are our own doesn't change that one just gives us a front row seat.

 

[Miss Lydia]

For sure, i love wildlife and fully recognize they don't know these animals are of importance to us. The biggest problem is finding balance, i am fortunate the property is set-up where most are around us but prefer not to be on us, i know of many people who live around me who are more in the deep, thick of it all and sadly loose birds constantly. I take precautions but with the big birds i must have them loose, the purpose here is impossible to fulfill otherwise, so i am always tap dancing around a way to make it all work.

Of coarse anyone who watches a nature program knows life is all about balance, give and take... bringing animals into that are our own doesn't change that one just gives us a front row seat.

Your right about the front row seat, I so enjoy sitting out with the flock and especially enjoy how the ducks/chickens/and geese interact, I see all my flock depend on our roosters to give the warning sound, everyone stops what they are doing and listens watches and waits. and I would love to see a video of your tap dancing when you get a chance.

 

[Going Quackers]

Your right about the front row seat, I so enjoy sitting out with the flock and especially enjoy how the ducks/chickens/and geese interact, I see all my flock depend on our roosters to give the warning sound, everyone stops what they are doing and listens watches and waits. and I would love to see a video of your tap dancing when you get a chance.

LOL! see no roos here as of yet and i doubt my daughters absolutely ridiculous puff balls would be much value, i swear even the big chickens look at them like, huh? Trouble is i cannot record when i am dancing

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL! see no roos here as of yet and i doubt my daughters absolutely ridiculous puff balls would be much value, i swear even the big chickens look at them like, huh? Trouble is i cannot record when i am dancing

I do like that dance though, may I join you?

oh and don't under estimate the puff balls they may not be able to do much defending but they can still give out the duck[excuse the pun] and cover warning sound.

 

[Haunted55]

LOL!!!! "Duck and cover" excellent! I know what the trouble is...it's the electric fence being down while we're building. Nothing I can do about it today and probably not tomorrow either, except keep working. I'm right in the middle of it [the woods] Going Quackers as is Miss L. I got a call from my husband a while ago and he told me he could hear the fox calling out there this morning. Right around 3:30am. I agree with the love of nature...I wouldn't live in the middle of the woods if I didn't, but I will not put up with it over stepping it's bounds. That's why I run different electric fences here. They do work when they are up and running.

With trying to get the addition built onto the duck/goose complex, yeah it's grown into that, lol, we've had to disconnect the fencing. By the end of next week, it should be up again and running around a much bigger area for them as well as the peas, chickens and turkeys. Oh and let's not forget the pigs, lol. They are going to be moving to new digs as well. By the time I am done, a 50 mile charger will be protecting 1 1/2 acre or more. anything on the wrong side of the fence is going to be hard pressed to get in. And if they should, all but the pigs will be enclosed in welded wire fencing with knotted netting on top. Plus, I make moats around the outside of the welded wire and fill them with broken glass, large rocks, dirt and then cover that with larger rocks. Anything wants to try digging they're welcome to try. I also am a firm believer in human urine. It will help with fox and the smaller of the predators, bears...not so much, lol, but it will even give them pause. The dog has been the best deterrent for the land animals, not so much with the hawks or eagles. Now if I could just get her to stay home, the brat, I would have better eyes and nose than mine on guard.

As already said, the weather isn't helping at all. I think all of the animals, ours or wild, are just as fed up with it as we are. I've had a lot of deer coming to lie in the yard in the afternoon, trying to get away from the bugs that are just loving this weather. No answers, just perseverance at this point. Meanwhile, the ducks and everyone else are confined to their pens unless I can be eyes on them.

 

[aseelpak]

you are fortunate to have such a large area