Lost my Whole Flock (UPDATE)

[ALS1104]

I just lost my entire flock of 6 5mo barred rocks to a fox... I'm devastated! I had them out free ranging for a couple hours, checking on them every 10-15 min while I was doing house work. Went to check again, walked out the front door to a fox staring at me. I ran him off and immediately started looking for the chickens and couldn't find them. After searching I found a few feathers and then after talking to a neighbor who had seen the fox with a chicken in his mouth moments before I'd checked on them, I found two more spots with feathers... I don't know what to do at this point... I guess I could try to trap the fox, but honestly around here another would just take its place...

 

[A.T. Hagan]

We all learn a hard lesson about predator protection when we are first starting. Sorry you had to learn yours the way you did.

Free range is not without its risks. If you have a reliable dog you can mitigate that a lot. Otherwise I would recommend a fenced hen yard or going with a tractor. Then you can keep them protected and still let them out when you are able to better keep an eye on them.

 

[JackE]

Been there, experienced it, didn't like it a bit. I got nearly wiped out by a fox once. Then they came back and put a big dent in my second flock. Freeranging didn't work out so well for me either. When you get your second flock going, look into getting some electrified poultry netting. That was the answer for me and my chickens.
Jack

 

[sbucciarel]

Sorry to hear that. Pretty devastating to lose a whole flock. I use tractor runs for mine and have dogs on the property that seem to keep everything away except for hawks.

 

[pinkyglory123]

I tried the electric fencing. Problem is you need to be really diligent about keeping the grass mowed under it. it is actually quite fragile and if the grass does grow around it the wire can tear when you extricate it. I had two sets of it and ended up tossing it. you need to be diligent about keeping the bottom cleared. Your situation may be different than mine. my coop is in the middle of 100 acres without much human activity much of the day. And night. I also had problems with any interuption in the electricity-the fox went right over. Now I only let them out when I am actually working around the coop. Then back in they go. I lost five birds in two hours when the door was inadvertently left open in the evening. I chose different breeds that I thought would tolerate the extra confinement. And being raised from hatching with this routine they march in and out like soldiers. I have frizzles, naked necks, sizzles. Fox are tough. shooting them does not help-more move in, cannot trap them and they are more diligent than I was about monitoring my fencing. after all they have 24 hours to devote to it. Sorry you lost your birds-I lost...many. before I changed my management routine.

 

[ALS1104]

i was just at the feed store, talking to the owner, telling him what happened... he told me to stay put, he ran home and came back with a box... with 4 little babies in it. they're old english or american gamefowl off some of his prized old blooded stock... it was really nice of him to give them to me, i loved his first rooster, who would be these guys grampa. his favorite hen just hatched them a day or two ago, and they're spunky and adorable! i (maybe) have 1 boy and 3 girls. i don't have any experience with gamefowl so any info is appreciated.

 

[Alaskan]

Soon cute!!

 

[TennesseeChicken]

So sorry to hear about your flock!!!! Yesterday I saw a fox run off with one of my hens!!! Never really had a problem free ranging before until yesterday. And our hens aren't even in the pasture, they are in our backyard! (Pastures are still resting from the cows, hogs and chickens) Today it was back, but I saw the hens and rooster eyeing something so I walked out there and sure enough, the fox was running to one of the chickens, saw me and ran away. Got the dogs onto the scent and they went crazy chasing it, to no avail. We're looking into a trap-have the shotgun ready! It was so sad to see those feathers on the ground!! Poor girl. She was one of our older hens and still laying a few eggs a week, but still very sad. Luckily, we have four chicks and possibly six more on the way! Your new chicks are soooo cute!!

 

[sbucciarel]

i was just at the feed store, talking to the owner, telling him what happened... he told me to stay put, he ran home and came back with a box... with 4 little babies in it. they're old english or american gamefowl off some of his prized old blooded stock... it was really nice of him to give them to me, i loved his first rooster, who would be these guys grampa. his favorite hen just hatched them a day or two ago, and they're spunky and adorable! i (maybe) have 1 boy and 3 girls. i don't have any experience with gamefowl so any info is appreciated.

What a nice thing for him to do. Great looking new start.

 

[44Wolves]

I know how you feel
A fox killed two of my hens-- my 2 favorites. I had heard something, a squawk, but assumed it was probably one of them laid an egg. Went outside, and found it dragging one away, one decapitated, one half-dead in the nesting box. It's horrible, because I feel responsible.

Sorry for your loss again.