Lost enough *insert appropriate curse* birds.

[Pent]

So I lost another girl to the fox menace. The thing collapsed half her run, pinning her underneath it. She was in a temporary pen, because the other birds were picking on her. Tonight, the live trap is going out, with a chicken leg in it, but I want no one under the illusion that this is catch and release. Mr Fox is going to have an unfortunate yet humane accident next time it comes nosing around my coop. Then buried, or out with the green bin. I've got chicks hatching soon, can't have wily conniving little ginger monsters poking around.
I can smell the fox, its exactly like the stink that hangs around their cage at the wildlife park. Funny, that smell didn't used to bother me. Now in makes me BLIND with WHITE HOT RAGE that burns with the intensity of THE SUN.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

So I lost another girl to the fox menace. The thing collapsed half her run, pinning her underneath it. She was in a temporary pen, because the other birds were picking on her. Tonight, the live trap is going out, with a chicken leg in it, but I want no one under the illusion that this is catch and release. Mr Fox is going to have an unfortunate yet humane accident next time it comes nosing around my coop. Then buried, or out with the green bin. I've got chicks hatching soon, can't have wily conniving little ginger monsters poking around.
I can smell the fox, its exactly like the stink that hangs around their cage at the wildlife park. Funny, that smell didn't used to bother me. Now in makes me BLIND with WHITE HOT RAGE that burns with the intensity of THE SUN.

I understand your frustration. We had a skunk attack that took 6 birds including my roo and my favorite hen. We put out live traps but have yet to catch the culprit, but we did catch a young fox. I did a lot of research and live traps will only work for young fox, adults know our tricks. If you research you can find lots of effective traps for fox. You are right to put it down, relocating a wild animal is rarly in the best intrests of the animal. good luck catching the chicken killer.

 

[Pent]

Do you know it was skunk, and not the young fox? Foxes smell very skunky, it just doesn't linger as long or carry as far. I find foxes always smell, especially their urine, but skunks don't really smell much until they spray.

 

[ChickInDelight]

I did not realize skunks are a threat! I have been preventing my dog from killing too many. From now on, game ON Mr. Skunk.

(Foxes are too smart to get too close to my dog's realm.)

 

[roosterhavoc]

Unless you have a fairly large cage or a very young fox I doubt you will catch him in a live trap. I know it's been done but it's not very effective.

 

[subhanalah]

So I lost another girl to the fox menace. The thing collapsed half her run, pinning her underneath it. She was in a temporary pen, because the other birds were picking on her. Tonight, the live trap is going out, with a chicken leg in it, but I want no one under the illusion that this is catch and release. Mr Fox is going to have an unfortunate yet humane accident next time it comes nosing around my coop. Then buried, or out with the green bin. I've got chicks hatching soon, can't have wily conniving little ginger monsters poking around. 
I can smell the fox, its exactly like the stink that hangs around their cage at the wildlife park. Funny, that smell didn't used to bother me. Now in makes me BLIND with WHITE HOT RAGE that burns with the intensity of THE SUN.

this is very good use of artistic license. Clever and witty.

I think now would be the time to tell you... Please calm down. In a time like this it is easy to PANIC and as we all know, panic leads to mistakes.
Could you talk to people around you and see if there are any people that know how to catch to fox in your area? Other than making a guillee(I don't know how to spell that) suit out of some perches and several chickens with your shot gun in hand...maybe fake sleeping chickens...As you can tell... I have no useful advice as far as the actual how part goes. Just to take a breath and use your head. Don't let your emotions get the better of you.

 

[subhanalah]

I did not realize skunks are a threat!  I have been preventing my dog from killing too many.  From now on, game ON Mr. Skunk.

(Foxes are too smart to get too close to my dog's realm.)

I wouldn't let my dogs kill skunks, they live in the house with me. The dogs...I mean, not skunks...just to be clear.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Do you know it was skunk, and not the young fox? Foxes smell very skunky, it just doesn't linger as long or carry as far. I find foxes always smell, especially their urine, but skunks don't really smell much until they spray.

Yes it was a skunk that got my birds, we have a family of them that live nearby. I haven't caught them but I let the city know and I haven't seen any since and there have been no attacks on my birds since. The fox kit we caught was young and stupid enough to get in the trap older fox will not make that mistake.

 

[Pent]

Yeah no luck with the trap. Killer is, I nearly ran over a fox crossing the road with her three kits a month or two ago, very near my house, but the overwhelming cuteness caused hesitation. Probably one of those kits now in my yard. I think next time I may just have to turn them into adorable speed bumps...
One of the kits actually tripped and rolled in front of my car. **** my mothering instincts!

 

[ChickInDelight]

I wouldn't let my dogs kill skunks, they live in the house with me. The dogs...I mean, not skunks...just to be clear.

Ha ha. My dog is ALWAYS with me. After he was sprayed by a skunk once, he developed a hatred. He rips the glands out of the back first before shaking them to death. I am amazed how little spray he gets... however, washing his head area in tomato, then vinegar, then Dawn is not easy. He actually has not been smelling so pretty for a few weeks.

Akela definitely goes after skunks with a vengeance!