Frequently visiting fox

[ShrekDawg]

Technically, trapping or shooting foxes requires a permit. Where I live, it is easier to get away with assisting in fox population control, but it doesn't sound like it would be so easy where you are. The paintball idea sounds good but I don't know if you would get in trouble. Then again, how would "they" know you weren't just using a nonlethal approach on an animal that was attacking your flock and that is what you had handy? 

I keep two game cameras aimed at my coop 24/7 and regularly check the pictures just to make sure nothing is lurking around, particularly at night. That is how I found out I had a raccoon coming around at night, even though there were no signs of it in the morning. I trapped it and gave it to a neighbor. I also keep a radio on in my garage, which is right by the coop. 

One thing I'll suggest is if you don't have a rooster but are somewhere they are allowed, get one. My rooster is very, very good at watching out for danger and warning the girls so they can hide. I lost my very large barred rock rooster to a fox a few months back and I kept pondering how a fox would get him. I mean, he was HUGE! Then it dawned on me. The reason he was caught and not one of the more manageable sized hens was because he did his job. Of course, he set himself up for failure because he used to like to take the girls into the woods. My Japanese bantam rooster seems to know better, though.

I hadn't realized you needed a permit, guess I won't do that then. And I'd probably miss with a gun anyway :lol technically we actually don't have a paint ball gun either but I saw it suggested in another thread and thought it was a good idea. But don't feel like buying one just for this though especially if they're expensive. We do have a BB gun around somewhere though. I don't know if I like the idea of injuring him but I could always shoot near him. But with my aim I'd likely hit a chicken lol maybe I'd have someone else shoot it.

Hmmm, I hadn't thought about animals that show up at night but leave no signs. I think I'm going to have to get a game cam. I've been curious what sorts of animals we have anyways, even before we got the chickens ha the radio would probably just cause the dog to bark all night lol

Technically they're not against the law here, we can do anything we want, but we can see our neighbors so I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea or not. I know some are loud. We originally wanted the chickens up on the hill which is further from the neighbors but it's also far from the house in winter and closer to the predators since it's more woods up there. The patch in the backyard is sandwiched between the houses, the road, and our driveway. So we opted against it. I like being able to watch them from the window or the kitchen too. I'll have to get pictures of the yard.

I looked into game cams a while ago but all the features threw me off ha I'll have to look again and just get one

 

[ShrekDawg]

Oh and great rooster story sad but what a good roo.