Fox killed my chicken, rooster did nothing?

[2 many chickens]

I am very sorry about what happened I agree with most members, a good rooster is hard to come by.
I have a rooster that will attack any cat or dog that bothers his girls. He screams at hawks and won't take cover until he has herded each chicken to safety.
I am very thankful for him.

Now that sounds like a dream, I would love to have one like that.

 

[2 many chickens]

If your rooster is attacking children, you, and other domestic animals you own, you need to assert yourself with him or get rid of him. When a rooster attacks me, I grab him and pin him down and loudly and firmly tell him 'no' until he stops struggling, then I let him go. In my experience the only way I've been able to tame aggressive roosters is by dominating them. If that doesn't work, I would get rid of him.

See but how the heck can I dominate them if everything I've tried doesn't work? Standing my ground doesn't work. Tapping the tail feathers kind of works bUT only for a short while. Can't hold the beasts they won't let me. Hand feeding doesnt work.

 

[Abriana]

I’m so sorry for your loss
If you want a really amazing rooster, get a columbian rock. But be prepared to establish dominance over him, they are a feisty aggressive breed, but mine has fought off hawks and attacks my big collie.

 

[Chickassan]

I sound like a broken record on this but if you want a kid freindly rooster faverolles are the ticket. Still not going to be able to fight a bear or anything but nice enough to where your children won't be bothered. They should be able to even handle one. Still a rooster, just an extremely mellow, soft one.

See but how the heck can I dominate them if everything I've tried doesn't work? Standing my ground doesn't work. Tapping the tail feathers kind of works bUT only for a short while. Can't hold the beasts they won't let me. Hand feeding doesnt work.

 

[2 many chickens]

I sound like a broken record on this but if you want a kid freindly rooster faverolles are the ticket. Still not going to be able to fight a bear or anything but nice enough to where your children won't be bothered. They should be able to even handle one. Still a rooster, just an extremely mellow, soft one.

I will look into that! And don't get me wrong, I do love my roos and want to give them a chance. Ive tried almost everything.This has been months of trying to work with them. Nothing gives. They are 1 year old easter eggers. I'm not going to blame them for the loss of my hen.. it's not right for me to. They didn't have a chance against this fox. I know that now. Thanks to all, I am very glad backyard chickens is so helpful!! Y'all are amazing people.

 

[2 many chickens]

One more thing to add, I will be setting abother trap tonight. DH is going to sit outside at dusk to see if it comes to the trap, I know it won't go in it though. Keep your fingers crossed. I'm sure it will come back since it didn't get my chicken to take back.

 

[2 many chickens]

Went to tractor supply today and got all the needed to fence the birds in and such. Spent a ton of $...but I picked up some bantams.. I couldn't resist. Made things worse because my boys wouldn't take no for an answer.

no sign of the fox tonight.. gah.

 

[Folly's place]

Your roosters need to go, ASAP. No bird needs to attack children, and it can't be fixed, because the child can't do it! Your EE boys are jerks who need that crockpot. If you can't eat them, craigslist will work to place them.
Polite roosters are a delight to have, for flock dynamics, eye candy, and predator alerts. None of them can fight off a fox!!!
I lost ten nice laying hens one afternoon a few years ago, to a fox. You were on deck in time to save the rest of your birds; be glad for that.
We couldn't trap that fox seen by a neighbor's carpenter in action!) but I drove around notifying everyone who has chickens within about a mile, and one of those neighbors was able to shoot him the following week. He did come back here, but we couldn't get a safe shot at him.
Talk to your neighbors! Your fox will visit everyone else if your flock is safe.
Electric poultry netting (Premier1supplies.com) or multiple strands of electric tape or wire, will keep ground predators out.
Mary

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks guys. I know it's my fault. I should have been home and locked them up on time. I'm angry at myself for this. It was also my job to protect them and I failed. Watching her die before my eyes was a wake up call. A couple of weeks ago I had two go missing. Never found them. I locked them up for a long time, figured whatever it was would move on now that the food was gone. No, it came back. I'm going to buy fencing now and seal off an area so they can still 'free range' a bit but remain safe. Going to put net on top too. I'll spend what I need to so I can protect them more.
I left a trap out last night and everything, he didn't come back. :/

Electric fencing will be your friend. I have read instances where fox can climb up a fence. A few strands of electric fence surrounding your run is a great deterrent.

I've tried to tame them, no luck so far. I think what bothers me the most is when they try to come at my sons. A few months ago one scatched his leg up pretty bad. I love the dudes, raised them since they were chicks but the constant being watched or 'sneak' attacks are getting old.

I'd get rid of these if they are attacking your sons. A mean rooster can ruin chicken keeping for life for a kid.

Thank you. She was a sweet girl. These two aren't good roosters. They did nothing. At all. I'm at my wits end with them. They act like I'm a threat, watching me half the time or charging at my feet.. but a real threat comes by and they do nothing. Just sit there.

OK - I would say they aren't good roosters because they are attacking you and your sons. You've already been told enough times that they couldn't help because it was dark. But here's another thing to think about when depending on a rooster for flock protection. If you get a fox, coyote, dog, bobcat, raccoon, or any other such predator, if your rooster does defend them to the death, then what? You have a dead rooster who slowed down the attack, but he's just a speed bump. Once he's dead, the predator will go on to kill more of your flock. I know this through experience. While roosters can be a good alarm system, and can sometimes fight off a hawk, they cannnot be relied upon as a first and only line of defense for the flock. If and when you replace these two with another one, keep that in mind.

 

[2 many chickens]

Electric fencing will be your friend. I have read instances where fox can climb up a fence. A few strands of electric fence surrounding your run is a great deterrent.


I'd get rid of these if they are attacking your sons. A mean rooster can ruin chicken keeping for life for a kid.


OK - I would say they aren't good roosters because they are attacking you and your sons. You've already been told enough times that they couldn't help because it was dark. But here's another thing to think about when depending on a rooster for flock protection. If you get a fox, coyote, dog, bobcat, raccoon, or any other such predator, if your rooster does defend them to the death, then what? You have a dead rooster who slowed down the attack, but he's just a speed bump. Once he's dead, the predator will go on to kill more of your flock. I know this through experience. While roosters can be a good alarm system, and can sometimes fight off a hawk, they cannnot be relied upon as a first and only line of defense for the flock. If and when you replace these two with another one, keep that in mind.

I know they had no chance against the fox. I guess I was just angry at myself for letting it happen and taking it out on the boys. Trying to place blame where it doesn't belong. i'm thankful i at least saved the rest from the fox getting them. He could have taken them all that night. I'm not letting them out until we either catch this fox(unlikely) he hasn't returned or quickly build this fence. They've free ranged their whole lives so I feel guilty pinning them up. I want to look into this electric fence but would it be dangerous to harmless animals? Have a stray cat around here, she doesn't bother the chickens though. I never called the guy about my roos, I'm just going to try a little bit longer with them. Kids are squittish of them but they don't want to send them away. I'll just have to keep my 'swat' stick handy lol. If nothing changes, they will be rehomed.