fox jumped c. 5' in tree?

[Perris]

I lost 3 hens last night ; from remains of one of them I think it was a fox. The hens were roosting in a tree, and the 3 dead or missing were on a branch about 5 foot up. (Two more, who roost much higher up in the same tree, appeared unscathed this morning and seem not to have been traumatized by whatever happened in the night so presumably are blissfully unaware of it.) I didn't know foxes could jump that high. Could it have been something else?

 

[Steve J]

Yes, a grey fox can climb a tree but it sure could have been something else.

 

[Perris]

wow - that's an amazing photo, and certainly makes your point! thanks

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens who aren't in a predator proof coop at night are going to be eaten by many predators, including foxes and owls at least. Be glad that you don't have raccoons and opossums!
Mary

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

yep

 

[Freisian]

I lost 3 hens last night ; from remains of one of them I think it was a fox. The hens were roosting in a tree, and the 3 dead or missing were on a branch about 5 foot up. (Two more, who roost much higher up in the same tree, appeared unscathed this morning and seem not to have been traumatized by whatever happened in the night so presumably are blissfully unaware of it.) I didn't know foxes could jump that high. Could it have been something else?

Yep and mink

 

[Perris]

I have a predator proof coop but the hens only use it for laying. Any tips for retraining them to break the habit of roosting in a tree? (they roost well out of my reach and it would be impossible to get a ladder in as its a dense conifer). There are mink nearby.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I lost 3 hens last night ; from remains of one of them I think it was a fox. The hens were roosting in a tree, and the 3 dead or missing were on a branch about 5 foot up. (Two more, who roost much higher up in the same tree, appeared unscathed this morning and seem not to have been traumatized by whatever happened in the night so presumably are blissfully unaware of it.) I didn't know foxes could jump that high. Could it have been something else?

A 5 foot leap is child's play for most chicken predators. Well maybe except for a possum and a coon. But I don't know of a single chicken predator which can not climb five foot in a heartbeat.

The fact that the low roosting birds were taken and the high roosting birds were spared is proof that predators prefer to first take the low hanging fruit, not the weak and sick who were going to die before first light anyway.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have a predator proof coop but the hens only use it for laying. Any tips for retraining them to break the habit of roosting in a tree? (they roost well out of my reach and it would be impossible to get a ladder in as its a dense conifer). There are mink nearby.

I don't know how to retrain your flying chickens. But you could get duel purpose chickens for replacement birds. My Golden Comets can't fly higher than 2 1/2 feet. GC

 

[sroy]

Maybe try confining them around the coop for a while so they don't have anywhere but the coop to roost in. Clip their wings too.