Fox killing my chickens!

[lmhirak]

I have chickens that free range and I love letting them do so. One of my favorite things is going outside and having my chickens run to greet me, or coming to the front of the house and crowing/squawking to wake me up in the morning.
Unfortunately I have been loosing my chickens to a fox. It started out with the fox coming at night before I got home from work to close the coop door. So I bought an automatic door and things went well for a few weeks. Lately, the fox has become more brave and comes in broad daylight to get my chickens. I have a dog, who is usually only outside when I am, but his scent should be around the property. I know that there are fencing options to keep predator out but I would really hate to have to do that.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Any humane suggestions? As much as I want to hate the fox for killing my beloved chickens, I understand that he/she is just trying to live.

 

[farm-a-zootical]

Well, my chickens can't go out to play away from their secure run because a fox got one of my little friends with me not very far away. I am their protector first. I feel bad, but they are in lock-down. It may not be what you want to hear, but if it's the fox or my chickens meeting their end, it will be the fox. My girls are not grown, cared for and provided for to put out on a chicken buffet, as I'm sure yours are not. Not much advice, but until I get the fox, which may be never, they're in they're nice, safe, airy run. Not what we intended, but reality hits hard. They don't mind the extra treats they get for being good girls in their run.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I know of no way to solve the problem, other then a good LGD, without either fencing in the chickens or removing the predator. Fox may be feeding youngsters, either way it will keep coming as long as food is available.

Some folks use traps on a continuing basis to catch and then dispatch predators, other's use electric fencing/hot wire to keep predator's out of chicken areas. I range my chickens in a small pasture fenced with horse fence and hot wire top and bottom to keep critters out.

A dogs scent alone on the property will not deter hungry predators. He has to have a physical presence as well as be willing to run off a predator and not be a chicken killer himself!

 

[centrarchid]

A dogs scent alone on the property will not deter some hungry predators. He has to have a physical presence as well as be willing to run off a predator and not be a chicken killer himself!

Red fox makes living sneaking into larger predators core range to get eats. Dog must be present and realistic threat that fox recognizes
. For me red fox is much more difficult to repell with dog than is the larger coyote. Run dog with chickens if possible.



























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[lmhirak]

Thanks!
I'm still bummed about the whole situation.
Any great tips for secured runs?

 

[featherz]

Thanks!
I'm still bummed about the whole situation.
Any great tips for secured runs?

Had the same problem here. I ended up putting up electric netting around my entire yard- they can still free range, although in a somewhat smaller area. we did have to keep them locked in their secure runs (which also have hot wires) for a few weeks while we decided whether to fork out the money for the netting.

 

[gratch73a]

Lost 6 of my chicks to a fox a few months back. 2 days later she came back & gave her life as an apology. A few weeks later I got 6 more & secured the entire pen completely. When Say completely I mean completely. Above & below & double layered @ the seams. Then placed moderately sized field stones around the outside.So far so good. Had a few coons visit & try to dig around the rocks. After a few minutes they gave up & moved on! If a fox has visited I have not to date got to see it.

 

[Ntsees]

I don't know about red foxes, but if you are dealing with a gray fox, a fence might not work. A little research on them shows that they can climb trees and what not. And plus, I've once lost all my birds to a gray fox in my 6-foot cedar fenced yard.

 

[aprophet]

I know of no way to solve the problem, other then a good LGD, without either fencing in the chickens or removing the predator. Fox may be feeding youngsters, either way it will keep coming as long as food is available.

Some folks use traps on a continuing basis to catch and then dispatch predators, other's use electric fencing/hot wire to keep predator's out of chicken areas. I range my chickens in a small pasture fenced with horse fence and hot wire top and bottom to keep critters out.

A dogs scent alone on the property will not deter hungry predators. He has to have a physical presence as well as be willing to run off a predator and not be a chicken killer himself!

youngsters are feeding themselves here in VA

 

[aprophet]

I know of no way to solve the problem, other then a good LGD, without either fencing in the chickens or removing the predator. Fox may be feeding youngsters, either way it will keep coming as long as food is available.

Some folks use traps on a continuing basis to catch and then dispatch predators, other's use electric fencing/hot wire to keep predator's out of chicken areas. I range my chickens in a small pasture fenced with horse fence and hot wire top and bottom to keep critters out.

A dogs scent alone on the property will not deter hungry predators. He has to have a physical presence as well as be willing to run off a predator and not be a chicken killer himself!

this has been working well for quiet a while here