I guess I'll be getting a gun, and soon....
I was folding laundry about 45 minutes ago and heard a commotion from the driveway. We have 2 hens in a tractor coop in our driveway temporarily (as well as 5 more out back in quarantine), so my first though was for them. I ran out onto my porch to meet my cat running up the steps towards me, followed by a fox! Luckily I had grabbed a broom, the closest thing to the door, on my way out. I got the cat inside the house, even though he tried to turn on the fox, and then the fox made a second run, straight at me! This was all within 15 feet of my front door, with my neighbors watching as they pulled into our shared driveway. I swung the broom at the fox, he got about 10 feet from me and turned. He then stopped about 25 feet away and barked/yelped at me. Then ran around my house three times, stopping to bark/yelp a few more times, then ran into the neighbors yard before coming back again. He was not afraid of me and the broom, or the neighbors car (they drove over to make sure I was ok).
I called my brother who lives next door and he came over with his gun, walked around for a bit, but it seems the fox smartened up and ran off. My brother told me it was probably ticked off that I had taken dinner out from underneath it's paws. I have one cat with a wet tail, and one less of his 9 lives, but otherwise unscathed (and up to date on his rabies shot). All the chickens are safe, but I cannot wait to get my big coop and run finished. I'm kind of glad the neighbors came over so I could warn them, they have 6 chicks in a brooder on their screened in porch, I hope they bring them in for the night. I called and left a message on our game warden's nuisance animal line. Any other suggestions?
I do not own a gun, and haven't shot one in years, what would be best for this kind of situation, a 22?
This fox was bold and not afraid at all. There is also a mama fox and 2 kits on the other side of the hill in a den, but this was not her, we know what she looks like and this one's bigger. I'm worried between the 7 chickens I've got outside now, and the 13 chicks between us and the neighbors, we are setting up a fox buffet. My chicks are in the basement, and will be until they can go into the big coop.
I'm a little shaken up, and I not new to wildlife or livestock, and hoping I still have 7 birds when I go out in the morning.
I was folding laundry about 45 minutes ago and heard a commotion from the driveway. We have 2 hens in a tractor coop in our driveway temporarily (as well as 5 more out back in quarantine), so my first though was for them. I ran out onto my porch to meet my cat running up the steps towards me, followed by a fox! Luckily I had grabbed a broom, the closest thing to the door, on my way out. I got the cat inside the house, even though he tried to turn on the fox, and then the fox made a second run, straight at me! This was all within 15 feet of my front door, with my neighbors watching as they pulled into our shared driveway. I swung the broom at the fox, he got about 10 feet from me and turned. He then stopped about 25 feet away and barked/yelped at me. Then ran around my house three times, stopping to bark/yelp a few more times, then ran into the neighbors yard before coming back again. He was not afraid of me and the broom, or the neighbors car (they drove over to make sure I was ok).
I called my brother who lives next door and he came over with his gun, walked around for a bit, but it seems the fox smartened up and ran off. My brother told me it was probably ticked off that I had taken dinner out from underneath it's paws. I have one cat with a wet tail, and one less of his 9 lives, but otherwise unscathed (and up to date on his rabies shot). All the chickens are safe, but I cannot wait to get my big coop and run finished. I'm kind of glad the neighbors came over so I could warn them, they have 6 chicks in a brooder on their screened in porch, I hope they bring them in for the night. I called and left a message on our game warden's nuisance animal line. Any other suggestions?
I do not own a gun, and haven't shot one in years, what would be best for this kind of situation, a 22?
This fox was bold and not afraid at all. There is also a mama fox and 2 kits on the other side of the hill in a den, but this was not her, we know what she looks like and this one's bigger. I'm worried between the 7 chickens I've got outside now, and the 13 chicks between us and the neighbors, we are setting up a fox buffet. My chicks are in the basement, and will be until they can go into the big coop.
I'm a little shaken up, and I not new to wildlife or livestock, and hoping I still have 7 birds when I go out in the morning.
