Hens hurt themselves fleeing from fox

[Rsonz]

We had a fox attempt to get into our chicken run the other morning around 7:00 a.m. Fortunately, our run and coop are very safe, secure and the fox couldn’t get to our flock. The problem is the hens did more damage to themselves in the run trying to flee from the fox. Understandable there was panic in the run and the flock went crazy trying to get into the coop and away from the fox. One hen ripped her comb off, we took her to a vet in our area that cares for chickens and they fixed her up, she will be okay. Another flew straight into a wall of the coop and is not doing well, won’t extend head, not moving around, won’t eat. We are giving her electrolytes, water and vitamins through a syringe. Hopefully there is not too much injury and she will be okay. Any suggestions on how to stop them from hurting themselves in the run? The coop and run are safe and secure, so we can not do anything there. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. (Sorry this is posted under hatching, I selected predators, not sure what happened.)

 

[sourland]

sorry for the circumstances. You might try providing hiding places in the run, but their instinct will be to flee at the approach of the flock. I would go about eliminating the fox as it will very likely return.

 

[Birdie mom]

Welcome to the BYC!!! I am sorry about your hens, hope they get better. Like what @sourland said, places for them to run and hide would be great. You could maybe put a plant in the run for them to hide under, or hang a piece of plywood up high for them to fly on whenever the feel threatened.

 

[NatJ]

Any suggestions on how to stop them from hurting themselves in the run?

I agree with the others who suggest hiding places. Boxes, or piles of branches, or hay bales, or solid boards along the base of the run... lots of options.

Another option, either along with hiding places or instead of them, is to have someone bring a dog to visit regularly, to get the chickens used to being safe IN the run even when scary things are outside it. Also consider lawnmower, weed whacker, children running and yelling--anything you can control, so the hens get a bit upset but not terrified enough to hurt themselves. Gradually increase what they can tolerate.

I know from personal experience that chickens tend to panic the first time a lawnmower is used near their run, but after a while they just don't care. A predator will probably be scarier than the lawnmower, but it's surprising how many things chickens can get used to in time.

 

[sourland]

Another option is hot wire around the pen to educate the fox to stay further away.

 

[Birdie mom]

Another option is hot wire around the pen to educate the fox to stay further away.

but couldn't the chickens get hurt on that?

 

[Myrtle Hen]

Sorry to hear about your girls, it must have been terrifying for them. I'm lucky that we have well established nettles and docks growing outside the run. Most people would probably think it looks messy with weeds growing freely, but I keep them there for this very reason (plus natural shade). You could put plants outside the run so that your girls don't use them as a natural salad (obviously you don't have to be untidy and wild like me, they could be lovely, ornamental plants/shrubs) and this would act as a visual boundary or, as others have said, hiding areas within the run.
I hope the two affected girls are okay.

 

[Myrtle Hen]

but couldn't the chickens get hurt on that?

You position it around the outside perimeter of the run.

 

[sourland]

but couldn't the chickens get hurt on that?

Hot wire is on the outside of the pen - inaccesible to the chickens.

 

[cmom]

I have eliminated some fox in the past that killed some of my birds. I have electric wires around my coops and pens and the predators know they are there. This fox may have been one I eliminated. It started coming out during the day and killed my most special bird. I let her out when I was working on the coops and a fox sneaked in and took her. I found some feathers but never found her. I set some traps and caught the fox and eliminated it. I have seen others since but they haven't bothered my birds. This is the fox that killed my Gladys. It was mangy and stinky.