Fox came 1:30 p.m. to kill 2 bantees

[goosiemama]

I'm so sorry for you. I had a red fox problem, mid-day, last spring. I too thought the wolf and coyote urine was keeping my ducks safe, so I thought it was probably a momma fox trying to feed babies. Once she found our little flock, she boldly came back again and again. I kept the ducks inside for almost a month thinking she'd give up, but once they were out again, the foxy fox came back. A neighbor tried a live trap for us, but the fox was smarter than the trap. I finally gave the remaining ducks to a friend and now our pond is a lonely place. Hope you figure something out. If you do, please share your info. I'm sure I speak for all us chicken, duck, goose people in wishing you safety for your little ones.

 

[jools2014]

I lost my ducks today to a fox-3 had their heads taken off and the other one was bitten on the back of the neck but still intact. What does the fox do with the heads? I buried the bodies but now I'm worried there are heads lying around somewhere...so grim. None of the bodies were taken out of the pen just left for me to clear up.

I live in the UK so know it was a fox it's our only predator. Had chickens and ducks for over 6 years and this the first time a fox got into the pen, we usually have loads of wild rabbits so they haven't caused us much trouble (though have lost the odd one when they were free ranging in garden). Really horrible discovery

 

[TheLittleFarm18]

Our foxes in the US do not do that, they take the whole chicken and if they put up a fight then you find feathers other wise there's no trace. Here if the heads were just taken I'd think some kind of bird, heck even a cat could just take head

I lost my ducks today to a fox-3 had their heads taken off and the other one was bitten on the back of the neck but still intact. What does the fox do with the heads? I buried the bodies but now I'm worried there are heads lying around somewhere...so grim. None of the bodies were taken out of the pen just left for me to clear up.

I live in the UK so know it was a fox it's our only predator. Had chickens and ducks for over 6 years and this the first time a fox got into the pen, we usually have loads of wild rabbits so they haven't caused us much trouble (though have lost the odd one when they were free ranging in garden). Really horrible discovery

..but I have no idea about UK preditors

 

[Peppercorngal]

I definitely lost my mind..She is now plump and due to whelp on November 11th. She is a Yorkie who thinks she is a Rotti...
I have Bindi too that had to chase off that Coyote daily for about a week.

I'm glad they are both ok. I have a mixed long haired chihuahua (11 lbs) that thinks he's a Pit Bull!

 

[jools2014]

Our foxes in the US do not do that, they take the whole chicken and if they put up a fight then you find feathers other wise there's no trace. Here if the heads were just taken I'd think some kind of bird, heck even a cat could just take head

..but I have no idea about UK preditors

Hmm maybe they behave differently. I was surprised that they were all left but can't think what else it could be. I do not have close neighbours and haven't seen a cat around in years. I did see a fox a week or so ago-went straight past the pen without trying to get in, just biding it's time I guess! There was only one duck with feathers pulled out everywhere (I noticed a lot of white in the pen from the house and feared the worst when I didn't see any ducks anywhere) and this was the one that was mostly eaten. The other three-well one just had it's head taken off and looks like it wasn't eaten at all, another just the back of it's neck bitten, and the other eaten a bit...I think it didn't eat two of them because they were the oldest.

I sure wish it had just taken them all away it was not a nice sight but I'm guessing they act differently if they actually get into the pen as opposed to if they come across a bird free ranging-I've had birds disappear without a trace that way. Unless we have some huge bird of prey that I don't know about, it had to be a fox.

 

[TheLittleFarm18]

Hmm maybe they behave differently. I was surprised that they were all left but can't think what else it could be. I do not have close neighbours and haven't seen a cat around in years. I did see a fox a week or so ago-went straight past the pen without trying to get in, just biding it's time I guess! There was only one duck with feathers pulled out everywhere (I noticed a lot of white in the pen from the house and feared the worst when I didn't see any ducks anywhere) and this was the one that was mostly eaten. The other three-well one just had it's head taken off and looks like it wasn't eaten at all, another just the back of it's neck bitten, and the other eaten a bit...I think it didn't eat two of them because they were the oldest.

I sure wish it had just taken them all away it was not a nice sight but I'm guessing they act differently if they actually get into the pen as opposed to if they come across a bird free ranging-I've had birds disappear without a trace that way. Unless we have some huge bird of prey that I don't know about, it had to be a fox.

It's terrible and worse not knowing and having to see what you saw...maybe you interrupted the fox and he couldnt finish carring them off...sad sad sad, I'm sorry

 

[MROO]

I lost my ducks today to a fox-3 had their heads taken off and the other one was bitten on the back of the neck but still intact. What does the fox do with the heads? I buried the bodies but now I'm worried there are heads lying around somewhere...so grim. None of the bodies were taken out of the pen just left for me to clear up.

I live in the UK so know it was a fox it's our only predator. Had chickens and ducks for over 6 years and this the first time a fox got into the pen, we usually have loads of wild rabbits so they haven't caused us much trouble (though have lost the odd one when they were free ranging in garden). Really horrible discovery

If that was in the US, I'd say weasel, marten or mink did that. Weasels are notorious for taking off heads. I used to find heads without bodies, bodies without heads ... all sorts of nastiness. Then I put my goat in with the ducks & chickens, and voila ... no more headless poultry! I don't know what it was about Banjo that kept the "bad guys" away, but i was happy - and I'm sure, so were the birds!

 

[Folly's place]

I also wonder about a weasel type critter, or a loose ferret. The same animal, really.
Mary

 

[jools2014]

Never seen any weasels around here. We're "lucky" in the UK that we don't get all the predators that you guys do, it's just the fox really and that's it if we're talking about wild animals getting into a chicken pen.

I've always heard that foxes take the heads off, didn't know about other predators-is this just the easiest way to kill is that why they take heads off? My guess is that the fox couldn't get the birds back under the wire so wasn't able to take off with them or it's possible yes that it got interrupted.

MROO- Sorry you had even worse experiences finding your birds Glad things are working out for you now, I wish I had a goat! Used to have dogs that would bark at any noise and may have scared foxes away but do not have dogs anymore since my last one passed away. It's a shame, if it wasn't for the fox we could keep our birds out all the time.

 

[WthrLady]

I agree, it's a member of the mink/weasel family. They are quiet and fast as lightning. They are rarely seen on their routes. Stoat, weasel, mink..... nasty crazy monsters