Needing Advice

[Whisperer6]

So my husband was home and outside the majority of the afternoon today. When I got home and went to put my girls up, I noticed my barred rock was missing. I went in search of remains as I know we have had a red-tailed hawk hanging in our horse pasture (100 yards from our coop).

I was unable to recover any remains but ran into my neighbor who stated she had seen a fox at least 3 times during the day today. The only thing we did differently today was I let our flock out just as the sun was coming up (when I was leaving for work).

So my question is two-fold: A- will keeping my coop on lockdown the next few days keep the fox from returning (which I doubt) and B- best options for combatting this predator that now knows there’s a good source here.

Our flock usually free ranges and includes a pair of Pekins so I want to keep them safe as well! Thank you!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Lock them up and trap the fox. I would dispatch the fox once caught as they like to revisit places where there is food.

 

[The Lazy L]

Lock them up and trap the fox. I would dispatch the fox once caught as they like to revisit places where there is food.

I agree 100% IF local laws allow trapping and dispatching the fox.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I am so sorry for your loss! Bear hugs!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I agree 100% IF local laws allow trapping and dispatching the fox.

Exactly. We have local laws here that permit that but some places don’t. Contact your local DNR for more information.

 

[Whisperer6]

I agree 100% IF local laws allow trapping and dispatching the fox.

Unfortunately here in Ohio, it is illegal to relocate trapped fox, raccoons, etc.

We eradicated 13 raccoons via trap and humane euthanasia last summer. But everything I’ve read says fox are difficult to catch!

Luckily, my neighbor found feathers so our best guess is the resident hawk hanging on our property got my girl. Haven’t decided how to tackle that problem other than keeping them up until I’m out doing barn chores and can keep an eye on them and the sky

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Unfortunately here in Ohio, it is illegal to relocate trapped fox, raccoons, etc.

We eradicated 13 raccoons via trap and humane euthanasia last summer. But everything I’ve read says fox are difficult to catch!

Luckily, my neighbor found feathers so our best guess is the resident hawk hanging on our property got my girl. Haven’t decided how to tackle that problem other than keeping them up until I’m out doing barn chores and can keep an eye on them and the sky

I have sprayed hawks with a hose to much effect. They are federally protected so illegal to kill like an owl.

 

[cmom]

I recently lost a very special pet bird to a fox. I have several game cameras on my property and see the fox pretty much every night. Here they usually come out at night but right now they are out looking for mates and having their young so they are around more during the day. My birds all have nice large pens so I'm not letting them out. Recently something got one of the gates open to a grow-out coop and pen and killed 2 birds. I'm sure I latched the gate. The next morning when I went out the gate had been messed with again. I have a small piece of wire wired to the gate post on the inside of the gate and when I went out I could tell something had messed with the gate because the wire was now on the outside of the gate. It would take quite a bit of force to get the gate pushed past the wire. This time I had the gate wired shut so nothing was going to open it. I never found the bodies but did find piles of feathers. A couple of weeks ago I lost my very special Gladys to a fox. She was out I was painting the coops. When I finished painting I went to look for her. I called and called her and usually when we would call her she would come running with her funny little run, she knew her name and would come when called. When she didn't come I then got worried but I was thinking hawk maybe. I searched and searched until I found a big pile of feathers but never found her body. I still miss her every day. If you have a game camera put it up. It's likely the predator will be back. Good luck...