Fox attack! 12 chickens dead and abandoned.

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Are you sure it is a fox? Will foxes dig like that?
Call around and post on Facebook to see if you can find a local trapper who uses the furs. A fox going after free ranging chickens is one thing, but a fox breaking into your coop is another entirely.

I’m absolutely certain it was a fox. I’m in Australia and it’s winter. There are no rabbits around. This time last year we had a fox rip wire off the coop we saw it running off (with torches). Earlier this year that same fox killed my flock of 12 (hence this thread), there are no trappers around here unfortunately.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Unfortunately the death toll from yesterday’s attack rises to 4.
RIP
Vivian
Albert Cluckstein
Adina
Esmeralda

 

[MROO]

Unfortunately the death toll from yesterday’s attack rises to 4.
RIP
Vivian
Albert Cluckstein
Adina
Esmeralda

!!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Unfortunately the death toll from yesterday’s attack rises to 4.
RIP
Vivian
Albert Cluckstein
Adina
Esmeralda

I’ve just read this whole thread and am so sad to see that you’ve suffered more losses!!!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Yes, so sad, and so sorry for your losses!

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I’ve just read this whole thread and am so sad to see that you’ve suffered more losses!!!

Thanks you

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Yes, so sad, and so sorry for your losses!

Thanks

 

[cmom]

I suggest you get the trail camera and set it up and See what passes around your yard when you are not looking.
You may be surprised what you see.
Then start over with a more secure coop and run. Then get more chickens.

You may be surprised at the predators that roam that you might not see otherwise.

A fox will take what it kills. A dog or dog's on the loose will kill and leave them, as they are fed at home, and killing chicken's is such a fun game to them.

Not necessarily true. I had a fox dig under a gate to one of my pens and it killed several birds. It would kill one drag it out under the gate then go back and kill another and drag it out and go back for more. It killed several birds and dragging them out but didn't take any of them. I used one of the bodies as bait and caught it. Bye bye fox.

Pity... electric fencing? A couple strands of hot wire around the outside of the coop would deter climbers. If they have a paw on the ground and touch the wire- zap! Suddenly your chickens look way less tasty. A non-lethal solution?

I can attest to the electric wire, it works. Once a predator gets zapped, they don't try again. You can put as many wires up as you want. I have 3 wires.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

You may be surprised at the predators that roam that you might not see otherwise.

Not necessarily true. I had a fox dig under a gate to one of my pens and it killed several birds. It would kill one drag it out under the gate then go back and kill another and drag it out and go back for more. It killed several birds and dragging them out but didn't take any of them. I used one of the bodies as bait and caught it. Bye bye fox.

I can attest to the electric wire, it works. Once a predator gets zapped, they don't try again. You can put as many wires up as you want. I have 3 wires.
View attachment 1878827

Have you guys ever heard of foxes killing and leaving their prey? My friend had a fox get into her yard and kill all but one chicken, it left a lot of bodies. I had a fox get into my coop and leave them all.

 

[MROO]

Y

Have you guys ever heard of foxes killing and leaving their prey? My friend had a fox get into her yard and kill all but one chicken, it left a lot of bodies. I had a fox get into my coop and leave them all.

es. That's actually a typical fox MO. They leave them all and will come back for the carcasses as they need them. They may make a cursory effort to "bury" them, but it's usually just kicking a little dirt over them. An old farmer friend once left the carcasses and set out traps between them for a couple of days. He caught three!