There's nothing that can scare off a hungry fox if it sees an easy meal. No scent, no sound. They will take the risk to get food for their cubs.
The only 100% foolproof way to protect your chicken is not to leave it where a fox can get it. You need to either erect electric, barbed or very high fences, making sure there's nothing on the other side, like a shed, they could use to get over a fence, or put her in a secure run. Or sit out with her.
Relocating it now may result in cubs starving to death. A grim way to go. Best to wait a while, keeping the bird secured, and then have it relocated. However, this will only be a temporary solution (and don't forget dad, aunts, uncles, as some foxes live in larger family units part of the year) . Another fox will move into the territory, and if it spots your chicken, which it will, you'll be back to square one.
One method employed by some free range farmers is to actually feed the foxes. Not enough to make them dependant, and always putting the food in a different place, but enough, at least during cub feeding season and under heavy snow, so that they're not so desperate they'll break into the chicken housing. Dog food, items from the reductions bay, and even suet balls will suffice. Suet balls can be bought by the bucket for a few quid from B&M, Home Bargains, and some Pound Lands. It sounds mad, but it stops them being so desperate they'll risk daylight robbery. A fox out at day time is a desperate fox.
Either secure your bird, and remove temptation, or feed the fox during cub raising season.
There are deterrents, such as sonic (many foxes are deaf though), artificial fox scent (takes regular application for several weeks), lion poo (seriously, you can buy it on amazon), bright spotlights for night time, talk radio (again, deaf foxes) , fence spikes... but they are DETTERENTS. Foxes are clever and if they can't find food elsewhere they will brave the smells or work out a way to get that chicken).
The only 100% foolproof way to protect your chicken is not to leave it where a fox can get it. You need to either erect electric, barbed or very high fences, making sure there's nothing on the other side, like a shed, they could use to get over a fence, or put her in a secure run. Or sit out with her.
Relocating it now may result in cubs starving to death. A grim way to go. Best to wait a while, keeping the bird secured, and then have it relocated. However, this will only be a temporary solution (and don't forget dad, aunts, uncles, as some foxes live in larger family units part of the year) . Another fox will move into the territory, and if it spots your chicken, which it will, you'll be back to square one.
One method employed by some free range farmers is to actually feed the foxes. Not enough to make them dependant, and always putting the food in a different place, but enough, at least during cub feeding season and under heavy snow, so that they're not so desperate they'll break into the chicken housing. Dog food, items from the reductions bay, and even suet balls will suffice. Suet balls can be bought by the bucket for a few quid from B&M, Home Bargains, and some Pound Lands. It sounds mad, but it stops them being so desperate they'll risk daylight robbery. A fox out at day time is a desperate fox.
Either secure your bird, and remove temptation, or feed the fox during cub raising season.
There are deterrents, such as sonic (many foxes are deaf though), artificial fox scent (takes regular application for several weeks), lion poo (seriously, you can buy it on amazon), bright spotlights for night time, talk radio (again, deaf foxes) , fence spikes... but they are DETTERENTS. Foxes are clever and if they can't find food elsewhere they will brave the smells or work out a way to get that chicken).
..The Fox is still around..
