Foxes

[Dailypix]

I guess I sadly already know the answer to this but I'll pose it anyway. Lately the night camera noticed a very big fox coming around to the coop each night, usually around midnight but also as late as 6:30 in the morning. Now I am afraid to free range the birds during the day. The silly question is do the foxes hunt in daytime also? I've never seen one in the day on my property but I did see a few on the rail right of way down in the city. My thought is they are getting ready for winter so hunger might prompt them to venture out for a nice chicken dinner in the day. Correct?

BTW I am confident the fox will not be able to break into the coop at night.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

I don't know much about foxes. I really hope your flock doesn't get carried away by a fox!
Were I live, coyotes are the problem. Sometimes, I see them running around in broad daylight, but they never get close.

 

[sourland]

Predators will adapt their hunting patterns. Yes, they will hunt during the day.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

Wow. I've heard of dogs hunting in the day, didn't know coyotes and foxes did it too.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, any canine, especially, can be out there any time. Also large wild cats, if you have them. That's why having a big enough and safe run pays off, so when your birds can't be out, they won't go stir crazy in tight quarters.
And electrified poultry netting, or electric fencing, work very well to keep most ground predators from the flock.
Having a game camera set up is so interesting!
Mary

 

[Dailypix]

I heard from my bee lady that she lives near a ravine and foxes come now at all times of the day and night. They are apparently eating family pets like cats and small dogs. My poor chickens are definitely at risk.

 

[centrarchid]

I see foxes hunting at any time of day or night. A given fox is likely to have a consistent pattern where it has a route that it hunts on a very regular, almost clockwork basis. There have been times when I have very heavy fox activity at night and almost none during the day based on camera.