Fox Troubles

[llombardo]

I have been in overdrive to keep my chickens and ducks safe. I have just about everything living in the area.there is a wooded/forest area across the road, a prairie path to the right and left(this is where they all travel). I thought the coyotes were gone, but they are being seen again. I have a family of raccoons and now oppossums living in the trees 20-25 ft away from the coop. Foxes are here, Eagles are now here and a cougar was spotted about 2-3 miles away. I have not saw a mink or weasel but they are also on the area.

My chickens and ducks are in a 25x25 area with a net on top and electric fence around. They are happy and healthy and most importantly alive. I don't want anyone dead, so I work tirelessly to manage it. In the evening I let them out in an area attached to the pen that also has a net over it.

My biggest help? This guy right here..he is allowed to come and go all night and he hears things that I would never hear. He takes his job very seriously and does a magnificent job of keeping all animals out..I know this because every morning his paw prints are on the fence from jumping at the fence when he sees wildlife coming down from the trees...he even comes and gets me if sonething is hanging around to long and doesn't scoot back up that tree..

 

[Chickenduckchick]

I def feel for you here, lost one of my favs to a fox last year. I was so angry. I set foot traps at night while my kids were locked up. Sure enough, I finally caught her and shot her. I have miles of woods behind me so its is a constant battle. Dont give up, but dont poison them, i find trapping and killing works well.

 

[Chickenduckchick]

foxes have MANY dens going at once, so good luck with that.

They really do, luckily they have a smell that helps find them. Its supposed to keep predators away but has helped me find their dens many times.

 

[llombardo]

Wouldn't it just be easier to set up an electric fence? All this effort put into finding dens and killing just seems exhausting. It is a never ending circle. There will always be more and maybe even worse predators. There is balance in nature, once that balance is disrupted we have what we are seeing here. That would be why in most areas they have seasons for hunting--to keep that balance. That would be why in most areas permits and licenses are needed and that is why a number is put in place for what is allowed to be killed. Anything without a permit or license is not legal. It's like that in a lot of places, but should be like that everywhere.

I would need a permit to kill any wildlife where I am at(even on my property)and I have read that in lots of areas. Shoot shovel and shut up should not even be an option in today's world. Everyone wants and needs laws when it's in their favor but those are usually the first to break them because it suits them.

The worst predator out there is of the human kind.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Wouldn't it just be easier to set up an electric fence? All this effort put into finding dens and killing just seems exhausting. It is a never ending circle. There will always be more and maybe even worse predators. There is balance in nature, once that balance is disrupted we have what we are seeing here. That would be why in most areas they have seasons for hunting--to keep that balance. That would be why in most areas permits and licenses are needed and that is why a number is put in place for what is allowed to be killed. Anything without a permit or license is not legal. It's like that in a lot of places, but should be like that everywhere.

I would need a permit to kill any wildlife where I am at(even on my property)and I have read that in lots of areas. Shoot shovel and shut up should not even be an option in today's world. Everyone wants and needs laws when it's in their favor but those are usually the first to break them because it suits them.

The worst predator out there is of the human kind.

Humans have already screwed up the balance of nature beyond repair. There’s quite a bit of animal rights type stuff in here. Trapping in some form is legal in all 50 states so it’s an effective option.
Some particular animals will be persistent no matter what preventative measures you take.
IMO electric fences and trapping are the best answers. Everyone’s location is different and will most likely require different methods.

 

[Lonely Duckling]

Thank you for all the advice! We haven't seen it for a couple days now, but it showed up every day sometimes twice since I last posted. Scaring it off might have encouraged it to only come around at night which would suit us just fine, as they're always put away at that time.

 

[Chickenduckchick]

Thank you for all the advice! We haven't seen it for a couple days now, but it showed up every day sometimes twice since I last posted. Scaring it off might have encouraged it to only come around at night which would suit us just fine, as they're always put away at that time.

Thats what happened to us, we would scare the fox away in the day and she would come back at night. I tracked her movements and trails on my cameras. Then I put down traps and caught her. Fox are opportunistic hunters, I didn’t want her getting lucky. Hopefully that fox will leave your chickens alone! They used to be so cute to me and now I cringe when I see them just knowing they could kill my girls!

 

[Lonely Duckling]

Yes they are very cute. I spotted the fox on the compost heap eating compost and I kept thinking it was such a pretty animal. That fur is beautiful, and the legs and ears as well.