Fox in the hen house.

[Betny991]

For months it seems I have had issues with an unseen creature of the night taking my precious chickens to there death only leaving clumps of feathers around. I have always said it was a fox but had no proof. I was being told all sorts of things it was but I wasn’t sure. It has destroyed coops messed up fencing literally ripped the door off a coop. Last night we finally got the stupid thing on a hunter camera. It is a fox. Any helpful suggestions how to handle this? I already have way too many roosters and not enough hens and of course he only is taking hens. Help. I would prefer not to use lethal measures.

 

[Mvan42]

Well since you said non lethal I have no clue other than a large animal trap and relocate but then you may give the problem to someone else. My suggestion was a shotgun or .22.

 

[DobieLover]

Electric fencing around the coop and run.

 

[Trish1974]

Electric fencing around the coop and run.

Yeah, since you are not willing to kill it and future predators, electric fence is about you're only option.

 

[Pekin747]

Fox traps r ur only option if u dont want to kill it but personally shotgun etc

 

[Isaac 0]

They always take the hens it seems. Regardless if you catch the fox or not you should better secure you're coop theirs always going to be a a hungry predator looking for some chicken dinner.

As for as catching the fox like suggested electric fencing may work at deterring or you can also try a live trap the odds are low of them going in but its worth a try,Best way though is a leg trap or a snare.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Just fortify your coop well, after a few attempts the fox should know it's no longer a viable source of prey and will move along. I doubt they would expend soo much energy knowing they can't get in after a few tries.

 

[centrarchid]

Owing to amount of time this has been going on and what is described to be going on, more than one type of predator is involved. You just saw the fox. The fox may be getting some birds, but someone else is likely doing the structural damage. I have had Red Fox damage rabbit cages and very flimsy chicken tractors, but tearing up fencing and ripping doors off is more typical of other critters that are slower and routinely use front limbs to tear into things.