How do I free range my chickens with a Fox in the woods??

[Victimtopoultrymath]

Snares work well. Get a local trapper to set them and eliminate the "frequent fliers". Iyts your right. And if they are there, they ARE a threat. They just need an opportunity. locking mine up at night has been 100% successful last 3 yrs. A fake entrance with a kill trap in it set 24 /7 takes out the ones that think they are getting in. But dont come out. rats cats coons possums. Up out of the way from where the birds go. Tin roofs and nettings keep fethered foes outta runs.

I’d love to see what you’re talking about with a fake entrance- do you have any pics? Or could you do a quick doodle?

 

[Victimtopoultrymath]

Since I am suffering from the same problem, is there a particular type of legtrap or live trap that anyone here recommends? We also have barn cats, so how would I keep them from becoming ensnared? Thanks!

 

[SLOChick]

You bought a Holden instead of a Audi.

Surprised actually as Aussie Shepards *usually* have a reputation for solid herder. I guess there are variances in all breeds!

She herds great, but doesn't have a brave bone in her body

 

[ameliathedominant]

i do not suggest getting rid of him i suggest putting a camera out to see when he comes around and also trying to drive any rodents from the premises. also you could use coyote urine to try and scare him off if needed. the fox around here has lots of rabbits to eat but we r not bothered by him for e hunts at THREE IN THE MORNING! talk about an early bird

 

[Purple_grape84]

I currently use a 100lb. Doberman security system. I have no foxes, coyotes, raccoons, possums, hawks or anything else for that matter.

View attachment 2159920

I have a marrema. He has brought home the bodies of 3 muskrats and a young Fox.

 

[Nija Chick]

As for myself, we have woods all around the property, foxes, coyotes, hawks, eagles, and owls. Our farm dogs keep the ground predators at bay. I hear them every night and we saw one several years ago, but not since they got chased off by my Greyhound. and the family of crows that live on our farm and that I feed, keep the flying predators away. It's rather funny watching an eagle trying to be dignified with four crows harassing him till he's gone from our airspace lol. My roo also considers the crows, (and tweetybirds), to be predators, but it's worth it for the security they give freely. Also my "free range" hens have a 5,000sq ft fenced yard, 120sq'/bird that has a foot of welded wire outside the fence on the ground to prevent digging.
(To be technically "free range" a bird needs 108 sq ft. That's what each bird requires so that they don't eat all the plants, I give mine 120 sq' each, and am always expanding)
Then again is my rooster, he is not lazy like that other posters roo, who let the fox in, my rooster has tore up a hawk that got past the crows. I came outside to the sound of birds fighting and saw them. The hawk had landed trying to catch a chick, and I saw my roo ripping him apart with vengeance. That hawk flew away missing half his feathers, and hasn't tried again. So I use a combo of fenced pasture with anti digging wire on ground outside, LGD, friendly crows, and a roo that's worth a damn. I haven't lost a single bird in 20 years because of this combo.
I also think the electric wire outside the fence is a great idea too. Good luck whatever method(s) you choose.

 

[Ivette108]

My property is surrounded by woods on three out of the four sides and we have always had a problem with foxes but this certain fox keeps coming back so I can’t free range my hens. Normally this would be fine but The hens are out around 9 hours each day and because of the Fox they’re now locked in their run all day and they need to stretch their legs and get fresh greens. Also I don’t have enough time to sit out there and watch them. What should I do to get rid of that Fox?

I shoot whenever the girls let me know its around. The fox is not afraid of me so yelling doesnt scare it off. FWC told me we have an over polulation in Florida and thats why they are so bold.

 

[Nija Chick]

I am going to point out the chickens are not big consumers of grasses mixtures used in a typical yard. When if comes to forms dominated by legumes (clovers), then the bulk consumed based on sheer volume and dry matter is greens, assuming forage quality and quantity is not limited and feed is limited. Insects come in second. Birds are unlimited forage with good insects can be top lay without need of feed. There is a spectrum, and most people are not coming close to providing a quality forage base. Walking around on fescue all day does not provide the benefits of free-range I look for.

I am now dealing with chicken experts that have similar position as you. They do not have a concept how free-range works beyond the USDA definition.

That is so true. Chickens prefer broad leaved weed types like dandelion, clover lambsquarter, chickweed, stickyweed, collards, cabbage... They will eat grass, but prefer the broad-leaved weeds, and of course bugs.
My chickies have a big fenced pasture, that I specifically seed with all the yummy weeds they love, and rotten logs etc for bugs for them.

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

i do not suggest getting rid of him i suggest putting a camera out to see when he comes around and also trying to drive any rodents from the premises. also you could use coyote urine to try and scare him off if needed. the fox around here has lots of rabbits to eat but we r not bothered by him for e hunts at THREE IN THE MORNING! talk about an early bird

Good idea, only problem we've got coyotes ( they've never bothered the ladies ) so I didn't want to attract a coyote on accident

 

[Mtnboomer]

That is the darn trade off with free-ranging versus predator management. As soon as you start restricting movements of the birds, you start limiting the importance of forages as a nutrition source. I can keep a dozen chickens in perfect health using no feeds what so ever. Same birds can grow and produce eggs just like those on a complete feed. The problem is the risk of loss imposed by predators which is subject of this thread. To keep my dozen birds in good nutrition takes three acres. I have to spend as much on predator management as I would on feed to keep those birds safe while foraging. If it were not fun, then it would not be worth doing.

My birds never roam beyond 100yrds from the coop. This 100 yrd radius encompasses our yard, flower beds, mature forest, snd secession fields. I still provide layer feed and oyster shells but the feed requirements are less than 1/2 of winter's. The last 3 wks i have used a grand total of 3lbs of feed for 10 Brahmas. Thank you cicadas!