I think its a fox

[midget_farms]

In the last 3 days I've lost 2 hens. 1 aracauna & 1 buff orp.

There were tiny dog footprints in the snow leading up to & away from the pile of feathers.

I know how to deal with coon's & what not. A fox is a different story - will a fox go into a live trap? I wouldn't want to kill him - but somethings gotta give. The hens are locked up tight at night (footprints around the coop too) so he had to have grabbed them during the day.

Footprints are way to small for a neighbor dog - they are all HUGE & never mess with the chickens. Has to be a fox.

 

[sourland]

I don't understand the difference between a fox and a coon? They both kill our chickens. If they are in the act of killing our chickens, it is our responsibility to protect them. It is very doubtful that a red fox will enter a live trap. The larger the trap the greater possibility that the fox might enter. Over the years, and I've piled up many, I've only ever caught 4 red fox in box traps. Three were juveniles, and the fourth was a starving dog fox with a broken lower jaw. If you were lucky enough to catch the fox, why would you release it "across the river?" You can be assured that it would return never to be caught in a box trap again. Good luck resolving this. The only two ways to assure the safety of your chickens are to keep them locked up or eliminate the predators that are killing them.

 

[chkn]

Foxes love the daytime knab.

 

[midget_farms]

I think the fox is too smart to go into the live trap though.

What do I do about him?

I'd rather not shoot him - coons are one thing, but a fox is different - I'd rather relocate to across the river.

 

[aprophet]

http://icwdm.org/wildlife/euthanasia/relocation.asp


grey fox go readily into cage traps they just need to be large enough red fox are much easier to catch with coil spring traps

 

[Sjisty]

We had a fox problem for a while. We never could trap him - he was too smart! We kept the chickens in their covered run for several weeks and I guess the fox moved on because we never saw him again.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
that or a trapper close by caught him and moved it on

 

[midget_farms]

Its trapping season now. I guess if I cn catch him someone would want the fur.

 

[aprophet]

Google "dirt hole set" or " flat set" fox are not that hard to catch bait works that or a food type lure

 

[Lofty Dreams]

he might come back