fox grabbed my rooster and ran while I was standing there

[newchickiemom48]

This has been a particularly bad year for free ranging. Several months ago my neighbor's dog came into my yard and killed one chicken and seriously wounded another. I had just gotten the wounded hen healed and back with her flock. I have been letting my flock out when I am off work and around the yard only. The other day I went in the house to get something and came back out to a bunch of feathers on the ground. No one appeared to be missing but when I took attendance that night there was one not there. The feathers were white and she was brown so I was pretty stumped. I kept searching for my brown Americauna hoping that she was still out there. Meanwhile I noticed my white hen with what looked like some feather loss. I picked her up and found a gaping bite wound hidden under her wing. She was rushed to chicken hospital where I began treatment. Then yesterday ironically while I went into the barn to do wound care on my hen I heard my flock squawking and running. I went out and saw a fox dive under my electric horse fence and grab my rooster and ran across the pasture in between my horses. I ran after him or her and got my rooster back unharmed. I hate to deprive my flock of free ranging and stretching their wings but I have to keep them safe. The only thing I can think of to do is to free range just before bed and sit out there in a lawn chair with a weapon until dark when they come in or look for some suggestions on fencing for horse and chicken combinations. I currently have wood posts with electrobraid. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Helloworld]

U need a pr of geese. I started with ducks and owls would get them. The geese warn predators something strange sounding in yard. I actually have a fox den across our rd on the other side and we watch the entire family run and take the edge of property because they don’t know the noise and “thats one big bird and I will get going along”. We close all of out birds up at night in locked buildings/cages.

 

[cmom]

I had a very special hen killed by a fox while free ranging during the middle of the day not long ago. I got the fox. It won't be back for any more of my birds. I blame myself for not paying closer attention.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I would not assume that geese are going to solve your problem. Securing wherever the birds are being kept will.

 

[Chickassan]

Even with a good fence sometimes it is just going to come to the point where you do have to sit and wait for your unwanted guest.
It is just part of having birds, not my favorite part though.

 

[cmom]

In the past I have used leg traps but since more and more people are moving into our area, now I'm only using live traps. Recently I caught 2 cats, a turkey vulture and a fox in a live trap.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Even with a good fence sometimes it is just going to come to the point where you do have to sit and wait for your unwanted guest.
It is just part of having birds, not my favorite part though.

I agree! Human presence and buckshot will scare off a persistent predator pretty quickly! If your not comfortable dispatching the Fox I'd consider hitting it with a few BB'S.

 

[cmom]

Years ago I had a coyote jump over a 5' fence into a pen and kill some birds. When it jumped back out chasing a bird through my back yard, I grabbed my 410 but it had #6 shot in it. I'm sure I hit the coyote but didn't kill it and it ran off. I see a lot of coyotes on my game camera. Nothing here preys on coyotes so there are a lot of them.

 

[50-45-1]

Ive had geese in the past. The preditors got them too.
I free range but have three guardian dogs out with them all day. I have still lost 4 hens so far this spring, i think to a sneeky bobcat.
There is no such thing as safe free ranging. The fox is going to give you problems now that it has found a source of an easy meal.
its probaably feeding kits.
Even if you manage to trap or kill your fox, more preditors will always find you.
Coop, and confine your chickens in a secure run.
i hope your rooster recovers.

 

[cmom]

When I have disposed of a predator, it isn't long before I see another one. I love my game cameras and it's surprising how many predators are roaming especially at night. They have routines. I can identify them by injuries, markings.