Fox problem

[Member 482121]

A live trap (a cage one) is what I use, together with 3 or 4 leg-hold coon traps (the kind that only catches coons and occasionally possums without endangering dogs, horses or deer). I have caught five raccoons, quite a few possums and a grey fox, all humanely dispatched with a .22 LR pistol's bullet to the head. The best bait is chicken heads and necks, but I caught the fox with the hide and guts of a cottontail rabbit I'd shot the day before. A good barnyard dogs that doesn't eat chickens or eggs would be the best deterrent. If there are lots of coyotes in the area, make sure it's a female dog or a male neutered when young. Coyotes use their females in heat to attract dogs, which they will then surround, kill and eat, or so I am told. However, I don't believe in just using deterrents, like electric fences or dogs, as the problem they avert is then passed on to someone else's chickens. The best solutions is that of dispatching marauding vermin.

 

[PeachLily]

As a newbie to chickens (3 years ago) I did a bunch of research prior to building my henhouse and run. I live in the country with lots of predators and I have a small setup for a dozen chickens, so this may not be practical for larger flocks. I do not let my chickens free range. Their run is enclosed on all sides with hardware cloth, even underground by a half foot, like a tunnel. In three years, I have not had one predator incident. All I can say is that this approach works.

 

[Debby R]

Every year around this time I have a few chicken come up missing to a fox. Just a few hours ago I lost my first chicken of the year to a fox. I did lock all the chickens up and will keep them locked up for now. I haven't had a fox in the coop yet and don't want it to happen. Do motion sensored lights help keep them away a night? I have to work tonight and thought about getting a few to put up in the morning if it will help. I do have 3 chicken friendly dogs that do a good job at keeping them out of the yard, but my coop is right next to the wood line. Any help would be great.

The lights don't help. I finally ended up just keeping all of mine inside in their secure pen and coop. I bring them greens every day and would love to let them free range but we have too many predators here.

 

[deyhar]

If you are up to taking a dog, it's the best solution in my opinion. You need one of the sheep type dogs, not herding, ie. Great Pyreneese, Maremma, Kuvaz, Akbash, etc. I got a Great Pyreneese from a local shelter almost 3 years ago and haven't lost a bird since (used to loose up to 5 birds a year to foxes and minks). We have chickens, geese and a peacock. My dog stays out with the birds from morning till the birds get locked up in the coop for the night. She sleeps nights inside on our bed, which I don't recommend unless you have a King size bed . She instinctively guards the yard and everything in it from all critters. And, since I live in Canada, she can easily tolarate even -30deg temperatures. She has a dog house with straw facing the bird yard, but only goes in it if it rains or snows. She's the best investment I ever made!

 

[centrarchid]

I can free-range almost continuously with at least some birds. Exception has been at night when dealing with Great-horned Owl issues. A combination of electric fencing, dogs, trapping, and very rarely a rifle are used. Game cameras, initially and still, are placed out for fun to see how the predators operate (plus when). Cover patches and feeding stations are kept within fenced perimeter to keep birds in more protected area. If I see predator sign, then I make adjustments and they vary with the situation. A lot of the predators I have killed where not done so immediately. I would often watch them over many nights, 6 months in one instance with a Red Fox, as it was not actually going after chickens until the end. That gave insight into how to trap and if I were up to in a 3 AM how to shoot.

Study your predators, not just by reading, that way we have more people that understand them so their impacts can be properly managed. Otherwise you will always be at the mercy of experts that spoon feed you advice with hard to swallow chunks of crap mixed.

 

[George3240]

The predators don’t usually respond much to lights but they do respond to noise. Instead of lights use some kind of noisemaker. An electric fence has kept dogs and coyotes out of my chickens. Trapping can work but it’s a little more involved and they may return to their home area if you transport them elsewhere. In some places it is illegal to release animals on Federal property and maybe state property as well. Found that out the hard expensive way. Good luck.

 

[DRGLENNON]

Every year around this time I have a few chicken come up missing to a fox. Just a few hours ago I lost my first chicken of the year to a fox. I did lock all the chickens up and will keep them locked up for now. I haven't had a fox in the coop yet and don't want it to happen. Do motion sensored lights help keep them away a night? I have to work tonight and thought about getting a few to put up in the morning if it will help. I do have 3 chicken friendly dogs that do a good job at keeping them out of the yard, but my coop is right next to the wood line. Any help would be great.

Foxes are the worst. They will return again and again until you take them out. Electric wire is helpful but the only cure I could find for a fox is to sit up and wait and shoot it. They're very difficult too trap. Raccoons will go in a trap. Foxes,not so much. Good luck.

 

[Sea Wolf]

You could always try trapping it too. Not guaranteed to catch that specific animal but will get something. Removing a predator from the area opens up the area for another one to move in.

Not only that, this is the time of year when foxes start denning and having babies. Both parents hunt to feed the babies and you will either catch the male and force the mother to hunt, leaving the pups to starve or catch the mother and the pups will die anyway. It is better to just secure your fencing. Even chicken wire will keep out a fox. Make sure there are no holes in it or under it. Lock the coop at night and that needs to be secure too. If there is no source of food, fox and other predators go elsewhere.

 

[Eggy1]

I had a coon problem the first couple nights when i set up my new coop.I set out one of those driveway type motion sensor to alert me of there presence.When it went off i took my flashlight and a pellet gun with a polymer tipped pellet. Problem solved

 

[Sea Wolf]

I have also started a small pen out of PVC for chicks I'm getting ready to hatch in a few weeks. Chicks will be in the coop at night but now I'm worried about this knowing I have a fox around. Any ideas on how to make this fox safe?

Make your wire either chicken wire or hardware cloth. The fencing you show on your run has holes that are too large. If that is around your run that is where the fox is probably getting in. They are not a large animal and they will be able to fit through those holes. Find your holes and weak spots in your fencing and close them up and you won't even need electric fencing. Keep your chickens in the coop until after dawn and then let them out. Foxes rarely hunt in the daytime.