We unfortunately recently been dealing with a young fox this august. He/she has managed to take out my gorgeous Appenzeller cockerel who bravely saved one of my Easter Egger's life (we didn't witness it, but were able to piece it together). I came into the barn to feed the horses and was wondering why all the girls including our two white Pekin ducks were in the main barn. I called everyone into the coop and did my counting. I was missing a very flashy white and black spotted cockerel and one of my Easter Eggers! I came out of the chicken run to do my search for laggers and my daughter was coming with the hen. I was relieved but concerned where the cockerel was. Where the AZ pullet and the Jersey pullet are he is always there, but they were in the coop when I arrived. Then I saw white and black feathers at one spot. I looked further and found also patches of other feathers scattered here and there. They were not his. We then thought to check on the lagger. She was not happy. In fact down right depressed and in shock. I further checked her out and she had blood and two puncture wounds on her neck. That was when we figured it out. The fox first grabbed her and the cockerel popped out from under a truck they like to hang out under and attacked the unsuspecting young fox. Surprised, the fox dropped the hen but then eventually turned onto his/her attacker and took off with him instead. I felt horrible. I used to complain how "stupid" and awkward he was but he was absolutely gorgeous and heroic. As young as he was he did do his duty as a rooster does.
Two days later the fox took out another one of my hens. We are now in Lock-Down. I have bought a radio, I was given coyote pee AND I have bought a live fox trap. And it does work. Unfortuneatly not with our fox. We set up the trap with sardines (I googled how to trap a fox) and walked away not five minutes and the fox walked right in, had the fish and walked right back out. We hadn't evidently set the trap on "sensitive mode". We brought out more sardines (this is starting to get expensive and I really hate fish and their smell and who eats those things really?). This time it worked. For my Dalmatian. At least we now know the fox should be able fit in it. We moved the trap at a different location. Set it on sensitive and caught my dog two more times. He has figured out, OF COURSE we are going to free him AND he gets a snack to boot. My dog is now on Lock-In. He can only go out with the leash. My chickens and ducks and myself are grumpy and frustrated. Of course I know this fox has been watching everything. There has been no spotting and no signs of dead pigeon feathers (the fox's other victims). Keep your fingers crossed. Maybe tonight's the night. I am determined and I sort of have patients.
Two days later the fox took out another one of my hens. We are now in Lock-Down. I have bought a radio, I was given coyote pee AND I have bought a live fox trap. And it does work. Unfortuneatly not with our fox. We set up the trap with sardines (I googled how to trap a fox) and walked away not five minutes and the fox walked right in, had the fish and walked right back out. We hadn't evidently set the trap on "sensitive mode". We brought out more sardines (this is starting to get expensive and I really hate fish and their smell and who eats those things really?). This time it worked. For my Dalmatian. At least we now know the fox should be able fit in it. We moved the trap at a different location. Set it on sensitive and caught my dog two more times. He has figured out, OF COURSE we are going to free him AND he gets a snack to boot. My dog is now on Lock-In. He can only go out with the leash. My chickens and ducks and myself are grumpy and frustrated. Of course I know this fox has been watching everything. There has been no spotting and no signs of dead pigeon feathers (the fox's other victims). Keep your fingers crossed. Maybe tonight's the night. I am determined and I sort of have patients.
and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about your fox problem. You might want to post in the Predator forum for suggestions on how to deal with him 
