Fox problem

[JamesSyn]

I have lost one of my 3 beautiful Buffs to a fox.

Now of course the critter thinks he can help himself. How can I deter this predator without having to lock up my ducks? They LOVE being outside their pen. Also, how old until they can fly away from danger like this? I fear they are becoming terribly paranoid and skittish now. Thanks for any advice!!!

 

[jdywntr]

Please do a bit of research. No offense but your ducks will probably rather be alive than free to roam at all times.

You cannot do anything easy to deter a fox. It would be much easier to lock up your birds.
Are they being taken during the day or at dusk/night?
If at night, locking them up. If during the day a livestock guardian or a gun (check local laws)

Buffs do not fly, at least not at a sustained ability that would allow them to escape a predator.

You can build them a predator proof pen and then allow them to range when you are out with them. (this does not guarantee that a predator will not take them)

Sorry for your losses.

 

[kristen2678]

I agree. My ducks range during the day, but are locked up at night. If we suddenly had a day time problem I would opt for some kind of temporary fencing with a charge like http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?species_id=6. It would give the ducks a safe place to roam which can be moved once they eat down the available forage and also keep them safe.

The fox will be back.

 

[Going Quackers]

Sorry to hear that. Are the ducks locked up at night? or was this a daytime attack? I do agree with the others it will be back, it's now found an easy food source, sadly.

 

[JamesSyn]

They are kept in a covered pen at night but they were left out overnight and did fine Friday but attack happened Saturday after dark. It must have been waiting for the opportunity and returned Sunday night looking for another so needless to say, we put them inside their house at night now. I usually turn them out in the morning to swim and graze and have been doing so for about 2 months. I naively thought with them being so big now they would be relatively safe. Thanks to all for the caring thoughts...been feeling pretty bad, like I let them down

 

[jdywntr]

Try not to feel too bad.

Think of it as a learning experience. I think we can all become complacent and think "well nothing has happened, they'll be fine". Then we relax a bit in our vigilance and something like this happens. I am glad that you have a covered pen for them already. I'm also glad that is was a nighttime attack and not during the day.
Again, sorry for your losses and

(sorry it was under these circumstances)

 

[Marwan]

Foxes hunt during the night. They very rarely hunt during the day so they can be out during the day but at night they need to be locked up. also, and i know this will sound a little odd but it works, basically when you go to the toilet pee in a bucket and then sprinkle it along the perimiter of the garden. so it makes a little sense this is why it works. when the fox comes it smells the pee which is like scent marked territory and they will smell human which is a larger predator which will make them run off. i know at least 2 people who had serious fox problems and after they did this they never saw another fox in their garden again. unless you can get some lion dung or pee or something like that human pee will do they job.

My Donald and Daffy seem to be a good deterant. they saved one of my chickens and chased away the fox. they were only 7 months at the time. but i wouldnt risk it ever. i couldnt imagine losing one of my two boys

 

[JamesSyn]

I'm sure my 8 year old son will be more than willing to take on that task if it will help protect Lilly and Gilmore!! We will give that a try, thanks!

 

[PeanutnCashew]

How about something like this:

http://www.maxflex.com/Nets_page1.HTM

 

[HEChicken]

Foxes hunt during the night. They very rarely hunt during the day so they can be out during the day but at night they need to be locked up. also, and i know this will sound a little odd but it works, basically when you go to the toilet pee in a bucket and then sprinkle it along the perimiter of the garden. so it makes a little sense this is why it works. when the fox comes it smells the pee which is like scent marked territory and they will smell human which is a larger predator which will make them run off. i know at least 2 people who had serious fox problems and after they did this they never saw another fox in their garden again. unless you can get some lion dung or pee or something like that human pee will do they job.

My Donald and Daffy seem to be a good deterant. they saved one of my chickens and chased away the fox. they were only 7 months at the time. but i wouldnt risk it ever. i couldnt imagine losing one of my two boys

In my case, neither of the things mentioned here turned out to be the case. Just one week ago today, we had a fox attack. It was at 5:30pm, in broad daylight, and he got 14 of my birds. He returned the same time the next day and got two more. He won't be getting any more. I found a .22 to be an excellent deterrent.

Prior to this, we had sprinkled pee ALL around the yard. He didn't care.