Fox troubles

[FloridaRedneck]

Hey all, I have been free ranging my flock( 6 hens and 1 rooster ) but have hit a hiccup. My rooster went M.I.A yesterday close to sunset and then this morning one of my ladies was missing. I found a huge pile of feathers, and unless she went out in the night and exploded, I have a fox problem. I have really been reluctant to make a caged in run because they help in my garden and on keeping the grasshopper population down. Basically, what do I do? I plan on setting up a live trap and staking out the coop all night with my varmit rifle. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[MargaretO]

We live in western Nebraska where there are alot of coyotes, fox, and skunks. We have 18 chickens, 31 ducks, and one pet rabbit. We have 2 great pyrenees dogs that live with them and will not let any predators anywhere near them! This may not be a solution for you, but works great for us.

 

[MargaretO]

Here is our predator control!!!!

 

[aart]

I would have a covered run for safety for if/when you need it and let them range in the middle of the day when it's less likely predators will be hunting, tho fox will hunt in the day - especially if they have kits.

.....or just accept that free ranging is fraught with risk and you will lose birds.

Very hard to trap a fox, good luck.

 

[BigECarter]

Electronet fencing is another option.

 

[sdm111]

Foxes will keep coming back unless you kill them and more than likely where there's 1 there's more. And don't trap and release cause you're just gonna give someone else a problem.

 

[centrarchid]

Electronet fencing is another option.

This can be the most cost effective option that still allows benefits of free-range keeping for small flocks. One of my pens cost only about $250 for whole year which is less than dog, especially for the first two years of keeping dog. I use dogs as well so have ability to compare.

 

[FloridaRedneck]

Thank you for all the suggestions! I plan on making a covered run with dug in fencing. I know Great Pyrenees are great, but I am a disabled vet with a service dog and two other house dogs so getting more dogs would not work. I gave up on the trap idea but did set up a couple of snares, we'll see how that works out for the moment. I've just taken to closing the front of the coops around sunset. Anyway thanks again for the ideas.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: There's no need to do any digging.
Simply laying wire flat on the surface, and covering with a thin layer of soil will serve the same purpose without all the work

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