fox prevention

[BantyRooster]

Quote:
A degree in wildlife management, eh? So apparently your question was rhetorical, as you would already know the answer. In which case all the good advice you've been given is moot. So this thread is pointless. "Prey will be replaced by reproduction". Sure, most animals that have been preyed upon do a great job of reproducing. The fox doesnt belong to anyone. It's a wild animal.

I think you've seen one too many Disney flicks. Maybe you should raise gerbils instead.

 

[Miltonchix]

Quote:
A degree in wildlife management, eh? So apparently your question was rhetorical, as you would already know the answer. In which case all the good advice you've been given is moot. So this thread is pointless. "Prey will be replaced by reproduction". Sure, most animals that have been preyed upon do a great job of reproducing. The fox doesnt belong to anyone. It's a wild animal.

I think you've seen one too many Disney flicks. Maybe you should raise gerbils instead.

Fox=Dead chickens unless you build fort Knox.
Sometimes a degree aint worth the paper its written on. Common Sense says you have to DEAL with the predator not "cohabitate"

 

[SteveH]

There are plenty of posts about electric fencing to deter predaters if you want to search for them . I've heard that coyote urine repels foxes and can be purchased online . I do know that since the coyotes made a return here in the 70s , foxes are seen alot less often but are sometimes found hunting or looking through garbage here on the edge of the city .

edt to add : The deer population is up also inspite of a coyote population . Removal of most hedged fence rows along with coyotes may account for fewer cottontails around here . Everything has gone to ditch to ditch grain farming or confinement livestock broken by largely unused areas of regrowth trees where its too rough for grain crops , taking the pressure off many predators that were shot on sight before and during my childhood .

 

[DDRanch]

We co-habitate with a pair of grey foxes on our property and have for more then 5 years. We built our coop and pen with a cement perimeter, to discourage any predator digging, used sturdy fencing wire which included enclosing the top of the run. I let my girls free range when I am home during the day so they are out 4-6 hours daily. I take them in before dusk always and do not let them out in the morning until well after light. We also have dogs although they are fenced off from the chickens. I do not have a rooster.

Once, several years ago, one of my buffs was molested by a young fox in the early morning hours, but I was able to scare it off. She lost a tail and that was it. I kept them all in for about a week. We had a red fox hanging around last May for about a week during the day so the girls did not get out at all that week. I know you can buy coyote feces either on line or through a local wildlife rescue organization and I understand that can work quite well. Hope this helps.

 

[CMV]

I live with foxes, coyotes, bobcats, fishers, weasels, minks and raccoons around daily. A wildlife corridor runs right through my property. To try to kill all the predators in my area would be an impossible task. An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. Electric fencing, secure housing, motion sensing lighting and 2 dogs make a world of difference. I tolerate prey animals living in close proximity and encourage wild birds to live even closer. My biggest challenge has been aerial predators. The ground predators haven't been a problem (so far) with the precautions I take. You CAN live with predators. It ain't easy, but it's not impossible either. I have been so successful that I now have a nesting pair of woodcocks (rare, wild ground bird) and wild turkeys living in my front "yard". They found the safest place to be and have decided to stay. I let them stay because I figure they are the first line of defense.

 

[gsim]

Quote:
A degree in wildlife management, eh? So apparently your question was rhetorical, as you would already know the answer. In which case all the good advice you've been given is moot. So this thread is pointless. "Prey will be replaced by reproduction". Sure, most animals that have been preyed upon do a great job of reproducing. The fox doesnt belong to anyone. It's a wild animal.

I think you've seen one too many Disney flicks. Maybe you should raise gerbils instead.

Maybe the fox only needs sensitivity training?

Seriously though, an electrified fence is probably just what the doctor ordered. That and good tight coop that is shut up every eve at dusk should do it.

Free ranging is out for this area unless you want to feed the preds.

 

[Overeasyplz]

well, my two cents, a fox will keep coming back. Your birds will never be safe. Unless you use a lot of electric fence, and build the chickens a huge run with a top and a heavy skirt around the whole perimeter, and it isn't a guarantee.

 

[sashurlow]

The gerbils are an excellent idea. If I free range the gerbils outside the chicken coop, the fox will go after the gerbils first. Of course I've got voles all over my property, why don't they just eat the voles?
So whats the biggest danger of fox? They obviously dig, is there anything else I need to prepare for? Prevention is obviously what I need, which is what I'm hoping to find out what prevention I need. They will be in the coop every night and there is a skirt on the run, what other structural elements do I need? As far as electric fences, what do I need to do to prevent the fox from digging under electric fence?
Scott

 

[CMV]

Quote:
Foxes climb exceptionally well for not having opposable thumbs. They can climb a 6 foot fence with little effort so make sure you keep a covered run. As far as digging, I use an apron of hardware cloth tacked down with tent pegs around the perimeter of my run. It is just as effective deterring digging predators as burying wire, and in the rocky soil of NH it's a whole lot easier. The apron should be about 20 inches wide, and if it's tacked down the grass grows right through it and you can mow over it.

Good luck.

 

[SteveH]

" As far as electric fences, what do I need to do to prevent the fox from digging under electric fence? "

I've found that a cheap 48" high , welded wire fence of 1" x 3" design will hold almost anything if you run a " hot wire " a few inches off the ground on those long insultors , another midway , then the third at the top . Not fool proof , nothing ever is , but anything starting to dig under gets nailed and anything starting to climb gets nailed . Deer will naturally just jump such a fence , but MOST non-flying predators are naturally going to either first attempt to climb , dig under , or push on the fence . The welded wire grounds through the steel posts but can be doubled grounded through a copper/wire to a deeply drived metal stake . Whether they are touching the earth or welded wire fence they get shocked as they touch the hot wire . Again , not fool proof , I had a smart , fostered dog that was looking for a new home because he was an escape artist just clear the whole thing without touching it . Just to proove me an idiot he went back forth several times while I watched LOL . Evidently someone had tried that with him before . I also get squirrels that cross from tree to tree then STAY in my apple tree eating apples because my dogs can't get them there [ the coon that tried that made a fatal error and tried a ground escape , dogs woke up and won the race ] ; so you can't have over- hanging branches .

Edt to add : I run the bottom hot wire just high enough to get my lawn mower deck under it to stop grass and weegs from shorting it out .