Fox or coyote?

[jenbyrd]

I saw what I believed to be a large greyish, reddish fox run into our barn yesterday evening. By the time I got down there, which was maybe 30 seconds later, it had gotten away with 2 - 8 week old pullets & our 2 yr old Silky rooster. I tracked the white feathers through the woods & found one of the pullets dropped in the woods. Could a fox manage to carry 3 at one time, or did it have help or was it a coyote? I am so upset over this as I felt they were "safe" mulling around our barn. Our German Shephard was outside when it happened.

 

[cmom]

It could have been either. If you have a camera put it up because it will be back and then you will know for sure what has been lurking. You may most often not see the predator but most likely it has been lurking looking for an opportunity and found one. Lessons learned the hard way. I love my cameras. Good luck...

 

[All4Eggz]

More likely a fox.. set up a cam to be sure

 

[cmom]

Several years ago a coyote go over a 5' fence into a pen and it did kill several birds. Many of the birds went over the fence to get out as well as the coyote and it was chasing the birds around on my property. I went in and got my gun but it had bird shot in it but I shot at the coyote and pretty sure I hit it and it took off but have seen many more on the cameras since but I covered my pens, put electric wires around them and concrete under the gates.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

Absolutely either could carry more than one in its mouth, and both will try to do so. Fox tend to be a bit smarter than coyotes tho i find. Was the barn door open, or did they dart through an opening they had been eyeballing? How preditor proof is the barn. Is it a dirt floor? If there are any small openings along the perimeter, they will be back to quickly dig and get more if so. The previous owners here lost an entire flock they kept in our barn. The preditors quickly burrowed udner the barn to the stalls on the inside, even with no small openings. They just dug right under.

 

[cmom]

I'm sure they know the electric wires are there around the coops and pens.

 

[jenbyrd]

It could have been either. If you have a camera put it up because it will be back and then you will know for sure what has been lurking. You may most often not see the predator but most likely it has been lurking looking for an opportunity and found one. Lessons learned the hard way. I love my cameras. Good luck...

I do have a camera. I'll set it back up. Thanks!

 

[jenbyrd]

Absolutely either could carry more than one in its mouth, and both will try to do so. Fox tend to be a bit smarter than coyotes tho i find. Was the barn door open, or did they dart through an opening they had been eyeballing? How preditor proof is the barn. Is it a dirt floor? If there are any small openings along the perimeter, they will be back to quickly dig and get more if so. The previous owners here lost an entire flock they kept in our barn. The preditors quickly burrowed udner the barn to the stalls on the inside, even with no small openings. They just dug right under.

The door was open & it's large as it is a horse barn as well. We let them free range around our yard. The younger hens were hanging out in the barn aisle. I guess he chose them because they were basically trapped as the older hens were out in the yard.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

The door was open & it's large as it is a horse barn as well. We let them free range around our yard. The younger hens were hanging out in the barn aisle. I guess he chose them because they were basically trapped as the older hens were out in the yard.

Ah, i see. Guess he felt invited over for dinner then, lol. Seriously tho, now that the preditors know where they can find a meal, they will continue to try and do so. I advise to preditor proof as much as you can because they will be back. If you're up for it, bullets may be needed too.

 

[cmom]

Since you free range it's a risk you take and you will loose a bird/birds eventually. Lessons learned the hard way. Good luck...