had a fox trying to get the flock today

[ctjim]

was working in the workshop today and heard my chickens going nuts. go out to take a look and i see a fox trying to get at my chicks, thankfully they are in a closed in run but they're mother got them all in the coop and hidden. the others were going crazy and 2 of them jumped ship over my 8ft fence, by the time i got out there. i was trying to sneek up on the fox and scare the heck out of him to hopefully keep him from coming back. he was gone by then. i would like to end him for good but i can't really shoot where i live, house/horses to the rear of my property so i may go get a live trap and then take him for a ride or a 1 way ride to my parents farm and a 22. is there something i can try as a deterent for a fox i heard to pee in the area of the coop, or get some coyote scent, i was also thinking of running a 2 strand line of electric fence around the coop area at about 6in and 14in off the ground level. i will be also covering my run tomorrow w/ some netting to keep the chickens in and mr fox out, i also have a gsp and he pretty much chases/points any animals in the yard however he can't get near the coop area as bird dogs and chickens don't mix very well. thanks jim

 

[Ducklove334]

was this fox out durring the daytime??

if so I'd be worried about more than my chicks.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Do you have enough farm for a donkey or llama?
Or you could try electric fencing.

 

[ctjim]

yes it was during the day, which leads me to believe possibility of rabies, but he looked healthy except for a ratty tail maybe mange? either way i'm going to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. i'm looking into the electric fence idea now. i could get a donkey or llama, but i'm not very fond of either, i had a bad horse experience as a kid so i like to steer clear of them, i do however keep some belted galloway cattle at my familys farm, they're more to my liking.

 

[Ducklove334]

if the fox was out during the day, it was either, one, young and stupid, or two sick in someway.

I've seen both a racoon and a fox out in the day time, well, two foxes, one fox was young, maybe a few months, and was tormenting one of our cats nest to the woods, but it picked the wrong cat and got it's butt handed to it.

the other fox was several years ago at a friends house, it was just sitting in the yard staring of into space, albeit we were maybe 9, 10 years old and threw rocks at it, a couple wich hit it in the head, the fox just fell over and kinda flailed around, then sat back up, when my friends dad got home, he beat it in the head with a 2 x 4, one blow was all it took to kill it, that fox tested positive for parvo AND rabies believe it or not

, they said the reason it was so easy to kill was probably that it was basically "dead" anyways, makes me feel bad now, poor thing was dying and we threw rocks at it

the racoon was at my grandfathers just about 4 years ago, it was thin, and was 'stalking" me, everywhere I'd walk it'd follow, when i would throw something at it, it would try to eat it, it disapeared, and came back several days later, my grandfather called animal control who immediatly killed it, it tested for positive for distemper.

I would set a live trap, and see if you can catch it, them torment it with water LMAO...just kidding, i'd have it disposed of, it's not save to have around.

 

[jafo]

if you do electric, do 220 volt if you can. OR get a bow,,,,,,,,,,,archery is always silent death

 

[lalaland]

electric fencce! also, foxes with kittens are often out in daylight getting food for the young ones. Wouldn't think at this time of year that was happening so much though.

he'll be back, definitely.

 

[skywatcher]

Well yesterday evening I had a red fox come in from under my spruce trees to ambush my chickens which roam free durning the day.Grabbed my 12 ga. single shot and exra shell .
I finally got a shot at it risking my front tractor tire glad the pattern stayed tight 1 fox down & tractor tire still up. It was a young male fox not quite fully grown. Shot gun patterns don't travel far if sight plain isn't elevated. posion is another option or trapping in a foothold trap. Fox are smart & avoid live traps. Even using leg hold trap they need to be waxed & gloves used to keep human scent off. A snare might be used if you know the route the fox is using,like where it come through the tall weeds or under a fence. Good luck want to hear about your success at getting that fox.