Fox during day

[0iseau]

I am in need of your tried and true methods of fox repellent.
This fox has appeared consistently the past week. ALWAYS during the day! Not early morning or dusk. Bright and sunny out.
My ducks no longer get to free range after the fox made its first move and took my favorite duck. I'm still pissed about it - Goose was my baby and now it's coming back for more. Goose was taken around 11am.

At 4pm I just had to scare it away. I was trying to get my ducks out for some foraging time but they kept alerting and being jumpy. Just as I put them back in the yard I see it. I ran at it, yelling and waving my arms around. I got within 10 feet of it before it decided to move!! And even then it only went a bit into the brush and looked back to see if I was still going to chase it.

I'd prefer to not kill the fox - it is just trying to eat, and who wouldn't go to a free all you can eat buffet?

 

[nuthatched]

If it's that unafraid of you, it's best to shoot it or get your local wildlife control to come and trap it.

 

[Shadrach]

You really do not want to be dealing with a fox that is out hunting in broad daylight. That is the epitiomy of bad news when it comes to chicken keeping.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, it's not nice, but there you are. Might be a vixen with pups. And he or she should run, not stick around when you run at it and yell.
Electric fencing, set up properly and baited, may work for this. Meanwhile, keep your birds in a safe coop and run! Where are you, approximately? Foxes do carry rabies.
Mary

 

[Geena]

Much depends on what type of area you live in. In the suburbs foxes very easily get habituated to humans. Sometimes they even come to associate humans with food because people often feed them either directly or indirectly.
Used to be where I'm at foxes would hightail it as soon as they saw us. Now that our farm has been surrounded by subdivisions, the foxes have become very accustomed to the presence of people and couldn't care less.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

It's breeding time and the fox may be extra hungry before she has kits. Keep your animals in a safe enclosure until she moves on. If there's no easy chicken dinner, she'll move back to rodents, rabbits, etc.

 

[mowin]

I've got a local fox that checks every few days if there a meal to be had. I've got a little more than a acre fenced in and patrolled by my 3 dogs, yet foxie comes around looking. As long as she doesn't breach the fence or get my gals riled up, she gets a pass. If she gets any bolder, I'll take appropriate action.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I would be very concerned about rabies. Also, if it doesn't seem that afraid of you it could turn and run towards you.

 

[JeffPr]

22-250
222
223

Once they learn of an easy buffet in the neighborhood , they usually stay until it’s gone.

I am in need of your tried and true methods of fox repellent.

 

[Krugerrand]

I read about toxoplasmosis on this forum some time ago. It is a disease that causes fox to lose their sense of fear.

https://www.national-fox-welfare.com/post/toxoplasmosis-in-the-red-fox

Whatever the cause, it's good to make sure you stay clear and safe.