Fox troubles

[Ann Perkhens]

So we are new to keeping chickens, and are out of town enough that we have decent amount of predators. My husband put hardwire cloth all around our covered run of our coop and dug it in. It was an old shed that was on the property when we bought it. We had a fox come over the weekend and steal away 10 of our chickens while we were gone for the day. My husband secure the run more, but the fox came back a couple times and took two more. At this point we are feeling kind hopeless. He did get the fox, but it took out almost all the chickens in less than a week.
Would having a coop in a more visible place be a good idea? Or are some places just bad to have chickens?

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. Put electric wires around the coop and run/pen. I have electric wires around my coops and pens, good heavy duty netting covering all of the pens and concrete under the gates, all due to losses in the past. Nothing has gotten past the electric wires. I have eliminated a couple of fox that killed some of my birds in the past. They were mangy and stinky. Another fox will show up sooner or later. I have been seeing one lately on my game cameras.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

How did the fox get to your chickens? Were the chickens out for the day while you were away, or did the fox get to them through your run/coop? There are predators wanting to eat chickens everywhere, whether urban or rural. But it IS possible to keep them safe, so dont give up. As Cmom said, electric fencing is a great deterrent to all but aerial predators. If an electric fence is not practical, it is still possible to keep chickens safe. I dont have electric fencing and live in a rural wooded area. My coops and runs are chainlink fence completely wrapped in 1/2" hardware cloth on all sides, tops and with an apron extending 3 feet out. Nothing has ever gotten to my chickens at night. (I've occasionally lost some during the day while they were free-ranging.)If you can provide more info as to how the fox took your chickens, along with pictures of your coop and run, people here will do our best to help you fortify your coop and run.

 

[Ann Perkhens]

The first time was definitely on us, most of our chickens got out and the fox came and took them. The second time the fox ripped the hardwire cloth that we have surrounding their run off of the poles and was carrying them off when we caught it in the act.
Their coop was an old shed on the property. My husband put hardwire cloth all around the covered area and dug it down in as well. At this point he is not thrilled that we cannot see the coop from the house and is wanting to do build something else instead so we would be able to see from the house. I’m not sure electrical is practical for us, but it’s something to take into consideration.

Edited to add: the fox came around 6/7 pm both times. It was a female.

 

[cmom]

I just noticed you are from Kalkaska. I'm originally from Traverse City. I move to Florida around 50 years ago. I had my first flock of birds when I was in Michigan.

This is the time of year when most predators are having their young so they are apt to be out hunting most anytime day or night. Again, good luck...

 

[GC-Raptor]

The second time the fox ripped the hardwire cloth that we have surrounding their run off of the poles

Yeah, hardware cloth by itself isn't strong.
I had welded wire fence 2"x 4"x 5' high in my first Flocks pen.
A Fox tried digging under the fence, but gave up.
Fence was 4 inches deep.

Welded wire is strong and with Hardware cloth over it will keep smaller predators from getting through.
My new pens are 6' high dog kennels wrapped in chain link fence.
They are covered with deer netting and keep out most large predators except Raccoons. They climb up the fence and through gaps at the top. But they come around when it's dark and my chickens are safely locked in their coops.

Would having a coop in a more visible place be a good idea? Or are some places just bad to have chickens?

My raised coops are inside of the kennels and about 50' from the wood line and about 30' from my house and visible looking out windows.

I saved a Pullet in my first Flock when a Coopers Hawk flew into their uncovered pen.
I was inside and heard the commotion and rushed outside. The Hawk flew off and chicken survived missing some feathers. GC

 

[cmom]

Either a fox or a coyote attempted to dig under my fence but aborted the attempt once it got zapped.

 

[Rodrad]

Can you please provide the details of your electric fence? Just lost a chicken this evening.

I have only one string, about 8” from the ground but it looks like fox (I assume) somehow jumped over it and climbed my chicken wire type 4 ft fence. I didn’t see any hole dug under the fence.

 

[Xenos2154]

So we are new to keeping chickens, and are out of town enough that we have decent amount of predators. My husband put hardwire cloth all around our covered run of our coop and dug it in. It was an old shed that was on the property when we bought it. We had a fox come over the weekend and steal away 10 of our chickens while we were gone for the day. My husband secure the run more, but the fox came back a couple times and took two more. At this point we are feeling kind hopeless. He did get the fox, but it took out almost all the chickens in less than a week.
Would having a coop in a more visible place be a good idea? Or are some places just bad to have chickens?

You could use a strong pellet gun that is silent or make a trap like feathers or meat in a large crab trap with a string tripwire to activate it.

 

[Xenos2154]

You could use a strong pellet gun that is silent or make a trap like feathers or meat in a large crab trap with a string tripwire to activate it.

For it already took 3