Fox Predator Problem, Any tips out to get rid of the fox?

[Blue Andalusian]

Silkies are the most vulnerable chicken breed imaginable. Their survival instincts are completely eradicated and they can't see anything. I have free-range chickens that sleep in trees and an active fox den here, but my chickens are all camoflaged game mutts. Any silkie would be doomed

Thanks for the Heads up. we were going considering hatching Silkies in Spring. But my mom told me we should stay away from the Silkies for Now ^^

 

[Blue Andalusian]

So ... basically you are using your roosters as bait to continue luring foxes and other predators onto your property. This is not a good plan.

Also. As for this, We weren't really using the Roosters for bait (at least me, but my brother and dad were). Anyway, We (or I) just wanted the Roosters not to Bug the Hens in the coop and start a Ruckus, as we had like 5, 6 or 7 roosters at that time

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Also. As for this, We weren't really using the Roosters for bait (at least me, but my brother and dad were). Anyway, We (or I) just wanted the Roosters not to Bug the Hens in the coop and start a Ruckus, as we had like 5, 6 or 7 roosters at that time

I mean, maybe it wasn't your intention, but it's what was happening. I'm glad the situation has been resolved. We realize you can't fix all the problems at once, time and finances are always factors, but we did want to give you some ideas on what to work on. Some will say if you eradicate one predator, another will just move in to take its place, so it's best to try to solve the problem by tightening your protections instead, if you can. Good luck to you.

 

[McChooky]

Hoping you can build a run to keep them safe soon because a pair of foxes can wipe out a flock in one day.

 

[2 Acres]

WARNING: Mentions of Dying and Killing will be Included.


Okay, a couple of months ago we had a Fox problem. The fox chased away our chickens (most of them) and killed a couple, so we got rid of her. But she was pretty skinny, and now we have another fox. We're guessing it's the Son or Daughter of the fox we previously had. Because the fox looks young, Anyway. Like a month ago, the same fox. Killed one of our chickens and also chased away a lot, we haven't seen that fox for about a month. So we assumed somebody relocated it or something, Now. Today, the same fox came back. Killed one of our chickens. and chased one off. A Couple days before this, I noticed the 3 silkie chicks we had. That we got in September were gone. I assumed they were sleeping behind the garbage can or somewhere else in the coop. Even though they weren't in the Nest or behind the Garbage can, so I left it be. A Day went past without seeing them, so I got worried. Today, about 5 or 7 minutes after the attack. Me and my German Shepard dog went out to go look for the 3 Silkies, Simba (a hen that I noticed Today, that was gone) and a younger chicken that got chased off during the attack. So we went in the woods, My dog sniffed. Cheese it (a silkie chick) dead, and then she sniffed out the younger chicken that got scared away during the attack. Alive, we went back out again later Today. Looking for the other 2 Silkie Chicks, Simba and the Fox's Den, But we had no Luck. The whole reason I'm telling this, is because we've been trying to get rid of this fox for about 2 months now. My friend said that Foxes don't like strong scents and it will drive them off, and I searched it up. And it said that strong scents like Vinager will drive them away, or Pepper (idk if It was pepper, but it was something like that). And I think one was Chilli Powder? I told my Parents that and said that Vinager does kill the grass (I knew this, just forgot). And that would be too much Pepper, Chilli Powder or whatever it was to put around the Yards edges. Anyone have any Tips?

.22 rifle and a taxidermist...

 

[Blue Andalusian]

.22 rifle and a taxidermist...

Thats what we we're gonna do, just looking for other solutions. The fox might not be around, we haven't seen him/her for a while now (like 3,4 or 5 months)

 

[McChooky]

Put scent around the dens, set traps and limit your chickens to free ranging 1-3 hrs a day. This will force the foxes to hunt elsewhere.
You need a run if you don't already have one.

 

[Blue Andalusian]

Put scent around the dens, set traps and limit your chickens to free ranging 1-3 hrs a day. This will force the foxes to hunt elsewhere.
You need a run if you don't already have one.

We're working on a Run, we don't have anytime right now. The fox might be gone now, and our Live traps aren't working. Thanks for the tips though!

 

[Yardmom]

Just want to say many people free range. All of those people have predators of some degree around them. Free ranging has its risks and each individual (or family) has to decide for themselves how much of a risk they want to take. Here birds are out if the dog doesn't detect predators on the morning rounds. We do eliminate foxes (.22) when they make our property home base, but that can be challenging as their territory can be several square miles and foxes are known to rotate dens.

 

[AutumnFall]

I've had some success with a scarecrow that I move each day to a different place in the yard (most foxes will scope out a place before they attack and if they see any changes that makes them more wary and less likely to attack), and if there seems to be a more daring fox hanging around, then I store up urine from myself and other household members and use that to mark the edge of the yard.

This said, your fox sounds too comfortable (and has had too much success) so I'm not sure my fixes would help your problem. Foxes will tend to move on (in my experience) if they don't have good luck--so if you keep your chickens penned up for a while it might not have to be forever. Hopefully the fox will move on.

I'm sorry you're having such trouble!

Autumn