how did the fox get in?

[dakind50]

I just can't figure it out. For a year they free ranged during the day and get locked up at night. no real problems, the loose dog got at them one time last year. But nothing like this. Was about to fall asleep and heard the rooster going nuts. my coop is two parts one part giant dog house (which has young ones in it right now. The other is a giant old coop. I redid the roof and wired the windows in the giant coop part. I don't see any digging or scrap marks. Can a fox climb straight up a wood wall? it/they got 3 of the 4th. 4th might die soon. I see no sign how they/it got in. I saw it and was to slow getting the weapon, its in the basement. What should I look for and how strong are foxes. These older birds lived in the big dog house until a few weeks ago for about a year now with no problem.

Any ideas would be great on what to look for, I thought things were quite secure but I guess not.


thanks

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I am kinda confused as to your setup. Do you have a pop door? Can the fox get into the coop by going into the run first? Is there a door left open so the fox can go into the coop during the daytime and wait?

 

[dakind50]

coop is basically like this one

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=3185-jacobs-coop


but double the size, (width wise) and about 8ft high. I could fit about 70 chickens in there, but had only 4 at the moment. large door like this one. No windows on the sides just two on each side of the door parallel to the top of the door. on the right side is an attached giant dog house all sharing a roof. I have chicken wire on all the windows. I just cant see where the fox got these big birds out, I have Americana's. Dirt floor and wood every where. I came home later and shut them up after dark, but if the fox was in there how did he get out. Will take pics in the am.

thanks for the info, been a lurker for a bout a year or more just learning. nothing to ask/add until now. We just had a new baby last week so dealing/thinking about death of pets just as I was starting to get some eggs to eat and give away is not where I wanted to be nor up this late, Am super wired.

thanks

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Look forward to seeing pics. Also you may want to change the chicken wire to 1/2"x1/2" hardware cloth. Chicken wire will not keep out determined predators. They will rip it open like it's paper.

EDIT: Forgot to add...

 

[WoodlandWoman]

A fox can't climb up a smooth wall, but they are accomplished jumpers. They can go over fences.

Edited to add that they are great diggers, as well. I noticed you said your coop has a dirt floor.

 

[dakind50]

Well, I talked to my land lord and he feels like the fox jumped up to the window sill and pushed his way through the fencing. Here are some pics before and after. I have one hen left. It looks like she got bit on the face. Is real bloody up there and breathing hard like panting. mostly on the floor. Laid an egg though. It moved around when I tried to wash the face off. cleaned it up a bit, and one eye opened and it seems like it can see. Can a chicken come back from this. beak is all there, and she can open it up. Any ideas on that one.

here are some pics before and after I added wood bars and better fencing to the outside.

 

[dchickenman]

I'll bet your landlord is absolutely right, afox could certainly jump that high & push through the chicken wire. Looks like you fixed it pretty good with the slats, though.

For your next project, do something about the dirt floor. When (not if) the fox returns, he will look for another way in. As someone else pointed out, digging is not a problem to a fox.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Quote:
I agree with you..you will definitely need some wire or wood floors.

 

[josmardavtom]

I remember as a child my parents had chickens that were being attacked, My dad had it closed up like fort knox!! then one evening as I climbed up onto the bunk bed I looked outside just as it was getting dark and I saw a HUGE raccoon climbing over the fence. my dad had gone out with the gun a bunch of times just trying to catch the darn thing! Finally my dad had one chicken left and he killed it himself just to have the last say. I remember that it just killed the chickens didn't eat them and it was only one or two at a time. Just a thought, Raccoons are sneaky and those paws of theirs are like hands.

 

[dakind50]

Will my hen heal? Anything I can do to help it? I saw the foxes, so I know it was not a raccoon. I have to figure out a floor. I would like to make it out of concrete but I have to figure out my cost. The smaller pen (dog house) has a wood floor so hopefully I am ok there.