Fox 1 chicken found dead, 5 missing

[activia]

I put up there fence on Sunday but didnt get a chance to nail it down because it was dark. My outside fence was damaged due to a storm and I havent yet fixed it. So the fox got in my yard and got under the chicken fence. I found one dead, I see a few piles of feathers, although only one pile of brown ones and I have 3 rhode island reds. Is it possible for a fox to take out an entire flock in 10 min?

 

[Bunnylady]

How long it would take a fox would depend on how fast/far the chickens could run. Is it possible that some of the birds got over the fence?

Obviously, the fox couldn't eat 5 birds in 10 minutes. A fox will kill as many as they can catch, then "cache" the bodies by burying them nearby. I lost an entire flock of about 15 Silkies to a fox attack one night. There were a dozen or so bodies in the pen in the morning; I couldn't do anything when I discovered them, because I had to take my kids to school. By the time I got back, there were only about 5 dead birds lying in the pen, because the fox had been carrying them off (once I returned home, the fox stopped coming back. He/she might be bold, but foxes ain't stupid!) I also lost a bunch of birds (I think it was 5 ducks and 18 chickens) during a fox raid between about 9 and 10 in the morning. They can be brazen at times.

Very sorry to hear about your birds. I'm hoping you'll find at least a couple of them alive and well!

 

[activia]

Well here is what happened.

I left my house at 8:30 (all was well to my knowledge)
My neighbor saw the fox in my yard at about 8:40. She yelled at it... and she said she thought it left. My husband got up to investigate at 8:50. No chickens found.

I got home at about 11. I found 1 dead body. I searched everywhere I found 4 piles of feathers in different areas around the yard. Only one pile of brown ones tho (I had 3 RIR). I also went to the outside of the 8ft fence and looked and found no evidence that the birds had been out. But I continued to search for an hour. I also took my dog out (unfortanetly she was inside at the time of the massacre) but she didnt seem to pick up on any scents. She did want to eat that dead chicken tho I think I'm going to bury in memorial of them all. They were only 4 months old 1-2 months away from laying. I'm devastated.

 

[activia]

OK here is an update.
2 more bodies found

HOWEVER...

ONE FOUND ALIVE!! She was hiding in the nest box. My husband thinks she was there the whole time because it would have been impossible to see without lifting the lid, but I'm not so sure. I dont know if she is going to make it tho. She is so scared!! I went eye level with her and I said, "I'm soo sorry chickie", she went "prrrrrr". "I'm sorry", "prrrrrrrr". It broke my heart. I hope she survives the shock! I'm working on getting her a new flock.

2 still missing presumed dead.

 

[tellynpeep]

As I mentioned in another thread, I've had birds show up a day or two later, so don't give up yet!
So sorry for your losses though...

 

[activia]

Should I leave pop door open during the day then? In case they come back? I'm worried that the fox will come back...

 

[highpointfarm]

they will come back and just chill outside the gate if it isnt open...

 

[goldies99]

you can count on the fox coming back till they kill every chicken you have......i am having a fox problem now...my neighbor lost 10 chicknes....3 one week...7 in one night, the next week....after that one of mine was killed....we both have our chickens locked up now...(they did free range..)....i trapped 2 baby fox......but that mother fox is sly like a fox!....she just wont be caught....i hoped to see her to be able to shoot her...but the only time i saw her is when she killed my chicken at 3pm in the afternoon....i dont know if they moved the den and kits because we have disturbed them....but i still dont want to let my chickens out and lose any more!...i just dont know what to do!...good luck to you....

 

[activia]

That's horrible!! I left my dog on guard (tied out so she can't attack the chickens) while my husband is still home this morning. The fox came at 8:30am yesterday. I'm hoping it tries again today before my husband goes to work so it gets the crap scared out of it!! It would be horrible if another chicken was alive and trying to get in the coop and then the fox came back! But I dont want to risk the life of the one definite survivor.

 

[goldies99]

i am telling you.....if you are in a spot where you can shoot a gun.....and you know what time the fox comes around...stake out and shoot it.....that is the only sure way your chickens will be safe.....you cant "scare" off a fox...she will be back when your not looking..she will get your chikcnes