Fox

[StaceySwinkels]

It is a red fox, and I don't want to shoot it, and I don't plan on having guns in my house with my children. But if it does come to that, I will do what I have to do, though I haven't seen it come back since that morning. It didn't actually get to eat the hen it killed, when we scared it off, we buried the hens body deep and put plywood on top of it, so hopefully it won't come back where it wasn't successful in securing a meal. I don't teach my children to kill either, if it did come to the point that DNR doesn't show up, and the fox does come back and cause more harm, I wouldn't let my kids know that I kill it, I would keep it from them, and get rid of the gun soon as it was done.

 

[pinkyglory123]

I hate to be the voice of doom here but the fox will be back. Once they know where your chickens are they will not stop until every one of them is gone. I keep mine on a hundred acre farm and went from free range, to behind electric to out only when I am present. My coop door was open the other eve for two hours after dark and I lost five hens. Predators are relentless. My friend has had luck with her enclosure which is 8-10 feet high and dug down two feet. Even with the electric the predators constantly monitor it-the minute it is down-they will be in your coop dragging off hens.
I "solved" the problem by switching to breeds that do well with confinement-allowing them out when we are present-at least two hours a day. That way they are free ranging on the grass and have learned to file back in like soldiers when it is time.I think it has a lot to do with raising them from chicks and choosing an amiable breed.
Sorry but even shooting the fox will not help-we dispatched several-there is always another ready to move in. And it does not matter if you live in a suburban area-fox have made themselves at home in the city of London. You have to just adapt and be smarter than them.

 

[littleoak]

The "voice of doom" is correct. The fox will be back. Trapping a fox is very hard and time consuming. They usually get a few more chickens before you trap them. I shoot them, but that's my choice for disposal. Others have different opinions.