Fox eating my chicks! Help

[squeezeplay]

For 3 years we have had free range chicks (we have 9 acres but the girls stay pretty close to the house). Last winter the chicken coop automatic door quit working, word got out to the local foxes and they wiped out our flock. We started with another set of 11, they are 10 weeks old now. All of a sudden one disappeared on Sunday, and today 3 were taken out. I looked out the window and was amazed to see a fox brazenly staring at the window where my sheltie was barking like crazy. My question is, since this fox is obviously not deterred by dogs, would it help to have a rooster to protect the flock? If so, do I start with day-old and raise or try to find one a little older? Also saw some posts related to this and did not understand what RIR meant when referring to a rooster. Really hate the thought of having to contain the girls, but also broken hearted to find piles of feathers.

 

[jdavis]

rir is rhode island red, do you have a radio close to your coop we had the same problem years ago, now i keep a radio on at the coops all of the time, no issues since. and i hear tunes all of the time i am at the coops.

 

[centrarchid]

Fox looking at dog in window indicates fox is very concerned about risk dog might pose. If fox thinks dog can not get to it, then fox will go after chickens. I would let sheltie have a go at fox unless dog also threat to chickens. Sheltie only slightly larger but fox will not want to hunt where it may have to fight for dominance.

 

[SmokinChick]

Release the Hounds! Sheltie in the yard will work against fox. Sheltie in the house, not so much!

 

[Mrs. K]

If you go the rooster route, get an older one. I have raised mine, but I did not stop losing hens to daytime predators until my rooster was nearly 14 months old. They have to be big enough and mature enough to think about something else .... than.... well you know

Also, if you get an older one, by then people can tell if they are going to be nice or mean.

When I have had a predator that finds me. A couple of tricks that have helped is to vary the routine of when you let the girls out to free range. Leave them in for several days, or let them out in the morning, but round them up after a couple of hours. A few days of keeping the easy supper out of reach, and most predators will move on. But often times will come back.

MrsK

 

[tellynpeep]

My rooster was very good at protecting his girls, and I even once caught him fighting off a fox. He was wounded, but victorious. Last week he was taken, most likely by a fox but possibly coyote. I miss him terribly, and now won't let my hens out unless I or my dog are out there with them. So.... while rooster will definitely sound the alarm about a fox in the yard, I wouldn't consider them enough protection. Get a dog... or a fence.

 

[calamityfarm]

I agree with the last post. A rooster is a great first line of defense, but will not stop the fox, only deter it. Right now the fox has free food- you need to shut off the supply. Keeping the birds penned when you are not outdoors for awhile will hopefully get the fox looking elsewhere for it's easy food source.

 

[CorinneP]

Roosters are good alarms but no match for a fox .. Seems like you got some good advice above . Good Luck ! I have bigger issues with Coons than fox and luckily live traps are helpful with them . But its hard to fool a fox into one . Then Eagles and Hawks with my Free Rangers. Always something to worry about . I am sorry about your lost chickens