Fox takes month old chicks!

[GGBEAR]

In the UK here, fortunately the supplier had month old chick siblings left over which I brought over straight away but they aren't the same....scared of me and still adjusting to their new home.

I've since fortified the rear of the coop adding 2 padlocked barrel bolts to the tray slide opening and extra door bolts to any other openings, also noticed this morning new teeth and scratch marks (from the damage seen you'd say it was great white sharks biting into it!) - it tried to take it out again! Unless the fox can use a screwdriver or rip metal off with it's teeth, I don't think it will succeed.

However if the fox gets to them again, I can't go through that stress again and I'll probably give up having "backyard" chickens..

I'm UK here to I had a Fox attack around 2 years ago and lost my entire flock it took my 3 smallest ones and bit the heads off the biggest 2 there was no blood just feathers everywhere I nearly didn't get anymore but I missed them so much so my husband built me a prisoner cell block H coop there's no way anything getting into this one and they have tried problem is some of the neighbors feed the dam things

 

[Wickedchicken6]

That is a new one on me, and I'm very, very sorry for your loss. It is a good lesson for folks in the future, though. I see people putting the exterior nest boxes in without locks/latches of some sort on them, a huge mistake, but it is sometimes hard to see every tiny flaw from a predator's point of view. Excellent warning for everyone who has a clean out tray, thank you for posting through your grief. Again, I'm so so sorry.

I've thought that myself...that the boxes need to be locked. If I'm ever fortunate enough to have something like that...it'll be fort knoxed right away.
Predators

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm UK here to I had a Fox attack around 2 years ago and lost my entire flock it took my 3 smallest ones and bit the heads off the biggest 2 there was no blood just feathers everywhere I nearly didn't get anymore but I missed them so much so my husband built me a prisoner cell block H coop there's no way anything getting into this one and they have tried problem is some of the neighbors feed the dam things

We have that too...but luckily he's far enough away that it's not a problem. He feeds hem all his bacon grease and leftovers.

We also have friends who heard about my trapping...and they feed their foxes as well. They want us to bring our catches there so they can feed them...lol.

 

[GGBEAR]

that sounds like a plan lol

 

[Chickens 4Ever]

Oh my! I have foxes in my backyard, and it sounds like with my rabbits, I have the tray but the fox hasn't come to that yet! And we have the rabbits next to our house, hoping this won't happen to us. Sorry for ur loss. Losing innocent chickens is so hard, owls have gotten my ducks and foxes gotten 2 chickens in 1 night.

 

[GGBEAR]

thinking we should all dress up and go a hunting like the bald guy on bugs bunny

 

[relos]

Thanks for all the responses at the end of the day it was ultimately still my fault for not securing that tray (the manufacturers should have also thought about it!) my 2nd reaction was revenge and to shoot the damn fox but there's only another 100 to replace it so won't solve the problem:/

Also yes we definitely have a fox problem here in the UK, reports of them even attacking (human)babies in the house!

Just want people to be aware of those tray coops and secure them properly.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

thinking we should all dress up and go a hunting like the bald guy on bugs bunny

View attachment 1034358

Adult foxes are pretty wary. Don't ask how I know this.

 

[abraga]

Totally devastated, never had this much grief since a member of my family past away. Even though they had only been a part of my life for 1 month, I really bonded with them and they would all cuddle up to me and peep loudly when I left them

3 days after moving them into the coop which was very secure with extra high grade welded mesh and the unit placed on concrete foundation to prevent predators digging under.

I had unfortunately let one thing pass which I wouldn't have thought a fox would do in a million years. My coop had a pull out tray to make cleaning easier, the fox pulled this out with its teeth! In the morning I had discovered teeth punctures and scratch marks with the tray on the floor and evidence of a few chick feathers..

Warning to you guys if you have this kind of tray system coop - please secure with door bolts and padlocks. I now have realised how sly and cunning foxes can be, the tray wasn't even protruding and completely level with the back of the coop. Lost for words..

we

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Thanks for all the responses at the end of the day it was ultimately still my fault for not securing that tray (the manufacturers should have also thought about it!) my 2nd reaction was revenge and to shoot the damn fox but there's only another 100 to replace it so won't solve the problem:/

Also yes we definitely have a fox problem here in the UK, reports of them even attacking (human)babies in the house!

Just want people to be aware of those tray coops and secure them properly.

Hind sight is 20/20. I would never have guessed a fox would do this. My husband was pretty surprised as well.

Regarding the fox, if you dispose of the fox...you may have one who will eventually replace it. However it may not be as brazen or knowledgeable.

Thank you very much for taking the time to educate the rest of us. It's above and beyond what you had to do and it is very much appreciated that you took this time to give us this information. It's hard enough losing your birds...but sharing this information and using it to benefit all of us here is simply outstanding.
Thank you.