fox

[darkmatter]

Well, that was interesting: I was in the Chicken Run refilling the waterer's from the rain barrel, the guineas were outside the run roaming for grass/bugs. The Guineas burst out of the woods screaming guinea cuss words and alarm running and flying back toward and alongside the chicken run fence with a Red Fox hot on their tail feathers running pell mell for his breakfast. It looked like the speeds were evenly matched, a couple guineas were in the air clearing the 6 1/2 foot fence back into the run and the other couple opted to hoof it alongside the fence. The Red Fox was within 3 feet of the "slower" guinea when he saw me in the Run and did a remarkable 180 degree flip and reversed back into the Woods. Darn, and I didn't have a camera handy and they didn't cross in front of the TrailCam I have looking at the Coop. 5 minutes later, the Guineas were back to grazing as though nothing happened------I think this has occurred several times before.


Here's a pic from earlier that may be the same one:

 

[centrarchid]

I had similar situation last summer when dog still a pup. Juvenile gamechickens would range well beyond dogs protective umbrella into a fescue feild with a thicket on other side. Red fox would make attack runs from thicket and flock would fly a good 200 feet back to roof of house and small trees around yard that provided refuge. Juveniles in poor health so could not make entire distance or where too slow in getting into air were quickly culled. Gamehens had little trouble making flight. Even after easy to catch birds were caught, fox kept up effort until dog started trying to catch fox. Dog seemed to use birds as bait where he would sit in cover provided by cover of heavy fescue watching flock and wait for fox to make its move and dog would then try to blind side fox.

Prior t that fox would actually come into yard while I was there and be so focussed on chase that if I wanted to I could have kicked it as it chased birds past me. On the last of the attacks my dog actually caught fox and they tussled for a second before fox got away by biting inexperienced young dog in foot. A year later dog has matured to point where he is a legitimate threat to fox and attacks no longer occuring.

 

[zazouse]

Do you think it is trhe same fox that is in the photo from a while back? guess you ain't had much trouble witrh it if it is still around, sounds like the birds are kinda use to it, if they settled down that fast.

 

[centrarchid]

if darkmatter has same situation I had, birds will go back to original foraging location within an hour or so. I do not think it is because of short memory, rather it is that forage is worth risk for healthier animals.

 

[patrickj]

Do you think a couple guineas are worth the "noise" for possible protection for my hens from fox, racoons, opossum and maybe hawks? Do they alert the girls troubles around?

 

[darkmatter]

Do you think a couple guineas are worth the "noise" for possible protection for my hens from fox, racoons, opossum and maybe hawks? Do they alert the girls troubles around?

I've noticed that the Guineas are the first to notice something different and sound the alarm which will usually send the Chickens heading for cover.
Things like: dogs, foxes, strange cats (they ignore our yard cat) people, cars, clouds covering the sun, change in the wind, and other things I can't tell what.

 

[centrarchid]

For most predators that guinees would alarm about, most chickens simply lack the appropriate response needed to get out of harms way even when given several seconds or more lead time. If fox calls and chicken does not fly up to some place fox cannot reach, then extra time to run about like an idiot means nothing. Guinees will provide no advantage with respect to nocturnal predators unless by some stroke the predator targets guinees first.