Fox killed 18 today

[cottontail farm]

Not a typo. 18 chickens gone including my rooster. I looked out the window around 3 to see a fox carrying a chicken off. I was totally shocked as I've never seen a fox in the day on our property. It came right back, ran around the pen and went INTO the pen. I was home alone with two babies so all I could do was open the door and scream obscenities at it... it would run off and be back 5 minutes later. Repeated this until my husband got home and I could go outside. A hen, my rooster and 16 young pullets are dead or assumed dead. 4 dead pullets were laying in a neat pile along the back of the fence.
Found the small hole dug under the fence where it got in. After NO fox attacks ever this happens. Apparently the fox/foxes were at it all day as I let the birds out at 8 a.m. The chicken at the bottom of the pile was going into rigor.
Assuming we have a pair of foxes with a den of babies to feed. And of course they took all of the young birds and left the 5 old ones that were getting butchered this fall anyway.
Just needed to vent. What a crap day.

 

[tpatricco]

I'm so sorry. That's just awful.

 

[chkva]

Very sorry for your loss! Not sure if you have Fish and Game Wardens in your area, but it may be worth the call. They can help you trap them and relocate them. Again I'm very sorry

 

[sourland]

Sorry for the loss. Get the gun ready. The fox will be back.

 

[Sequel]

Not a typo. 18 chickens gone including my rooster. I looked out the window around 3 to see a fox carrying a chicken off. I was totally shocked as I've never seen a fox in the day on our property. It came right back, ran around the pen and went INTO the pen. I was home alone with two babies so all I could do was open the door and scream obscenities at it... it would run off and be back 5 minutes later. Repeated this until my husband got home and I could go outside. A hen, my rooster and 16 young pullets are dead or assumed dead. 4 dead pullets were laying in a neat pile along the back of the fence.
Found the small hole dug under the fence where it got in. After NO fox attacks ever this happens. Apparently the fox/foxes were at it all day as I let the birds out at 8 a.m. The chicken at the bottom of the pile was going into rigor.
Assuming we have a pair of foxes with a den of babies to feed. And of course they took all of the young birds and left the 5 old ones that were getting butchered this fall anyway.
Just needed to vent. What a crap day.

That is just terrible! I'm so sorry!

 

[cottontail farm]

Sorry for the loss. Get the gun ready. The fox will be back.

I think the fox decided it was done for the day when I did just that. The fence is fixed

 

[cottontail farm]

Very sorry for your loss! Not sure if you have Fish and Game Wardens in your area, but it may be worth the call. They can help you trap them and relocate them. Again I'm very sorry

I called them last week about a raccoon and was to kill it or relocate it. Got the raccoon the next day. it's always something around here.

 

[sourland]

You may want to look into 'hotwire' electric fencing for around your pen. It is a great educator for predators. Good luck.

 

[cottontail farm]

it was suggested to me that the fox has learned not to bother trying at night because the birds are locked up. Therefore the daytime raid.

 

[chkva]

I called them last week about a raccoon and was to kill it or relocate it. Got the raccoon the next day. it's always something around here.

I can imagine. We are out in the woods and I have yet to see anything but the neighbors have several Coonhounds that I think scare most things away. If it wasn't for those loud dogs, I'd have no flock!