We sighted a fox and kits living right over the property line, in the neighbor's blackberry bramble. Every AM, we would see one of the adults coming down the road, then it would cut through the north east side of our yard, and through the fence to the berry bushes. We started walking the 2 dogs on that path, making sure they did their business near the fox family's latrine, and near any other sign we saw. We also had the dogs whiz all around the coop and run area. Finally, I had the men in the house "mark their territory" down near the coop, and in the compost behind it. (The coop is on the opposite side of the property). The fox hasn't returned in over a two weeks, and their latrine is no longer being used. We can no longer hear the family in the bramble during the day. (Panting, whining, etc) I'll probably let the hens back out, with supervision, this weekend. My research says the adults probably moved their family when we changed the dogs' walk area, but they may not have gone far. The thing to remember about any wild hunter is that they are opportunity hunters. If prey is easier elsewhere, that's where they'll go. In that, they are different from neighborhood dogs, who basically would kill your birds for fun. If you make it really hard for the fox to get to the birds, they'll go elsewhere out of neccessity.
