Fox?

[JerryC999]

Just lost two of eight this morning. The Pyrenees was inside, started going crazy, and dummy me was slow to respond. When I finally looked outside, the fox was standing over the body of my favorite hen. I let the dog out and both disappeared into the woods. Took her 20 minutes to return. This is my first experience with a fox. It sounds like early morning is common for attacks.

What now? Will she be back in the morning? Do I need to keep the birds in if the dog is not out? Are they persistent and determined?

 

[waddles99]

I once sold about 30 pullets to someone who had their whole flock taken by a flock. The fox crawled through an opening in the fence and took about 30 birds one by one through the fence.

 

[chickentvforme]

Just lost two of eight this morning. The Pyrenees was inside, started going crazy, and dummy me was slow to respond.  When I finally looked outside, the fox was standing over the body of my favorite hen.  I let the dog out and both disappeared into the woods.  Took her 20 minutes to return.  This is my first experience with a fox.  It sounds like early morning is common for attacks.

What now?  Will she be back in the morning?  Do I need to keep the birds in if the dog is not out?  Are they persistent and determined?

Yes and yes. Once they know the chickens are there they will be back. Maybe not the next night but soon. They are very smart and knew the dog wasn't around. They will also attack at 3pm not just early am. Trapping it would be the best remedy but good luck they are sly. The dog should keep them at bay.

 

[JerryC999]

Uggg. It sounds like I have a real problem on my hands, and that I can't let them roam unless I or the dog am actually out in the yard, until all foxes have been eliminated. The chickens really like being out, and I want them eating the Japanese beetles and everything else, and spreading that poop around.

I don't begrudge the foxes needing to live and eat like the rest of us. But can't have this.

 

[JackE]

Electrified poultry net was the answer for me. Have not lost a bird to a ground predator in over 4yrs. Fox, and practically everything else, are still around, but the birds are safe.

 

[JerryC999]

I may think about that. Could run it through the woods some, and perhaps move it around. I hate to thinking about killing foxes, who mate for life and have families and all that. I sure enjoy having the chickens out and around the yard, though (well, until they start eating up the garden, etc.).

 

[grovetown]

I am having a Fox problem, a fox can take more then one bird in the same day it would keep going back and fourth, specially if they were young, usually yes a fox would take a chicken and takes off, if there is no feathers and a mess then it could be a Fox, a Hauk, or a bob-cat it depends where you live and what's in your area, a coon would make a big mess.
most great enemy e chickens is Red Foxes.

 

[grovetown]

agreed! I had the same problem.

 

[grovetown]

whats the best way to kill or catch the fox? I put live traps the cages and it didn't work, I even used live baits and sent killer still the fox didn't get into the trap, I thought he's gone and 3 days later it came back and took an other duck, a total of 3 ducks and about 7 chickens with in 2 months of fox attacks, I saw him so close to my house he got some balls that fox, in the time I grabbed the rifle and got out he was gone.

 

[bobbi-j]

whats the best way to kill or catch the fox? I put live traps the cages and it didn't work, I even used live baits and sent killer still the fox didn't get into the trap, I thought he's gone and 3 days later it came back and took an other duck, a total of 3 ducks and about 7 chickens with in 2 months of fox attacks, I saw him so close to my house he got some balls that fox, in the time I grabbed the rifle and got out he was gone.

It might help to keep your birds confined in the run for a while. The fox may get discouraged and move on. They're pretty wary and can be hard to trap.