Now I understand "more nerve than a fox in a henhouse"

[MamaDoula]

fox that struck the other night walked out into the yard and snatched my favorite hen in front of us!

My spouse is outside with a gun now...the blasted thing came back and stared at him before he could get his case unlocked.

We've kept them safe for weeks outside from chicken hawks, only to have a single fox take half our birds. Obviously, they have to be constantly penned...and dh is determined to kill the thing.

I feel like a total failure as a chicken owner. Seriously, I feel these poor birds would have been much better off with someone else.

 

[mdbokc]

No, you are the victim of a new predator. Sorry to hear of your loss. Frustration, anger and sorrow are all part this at times. It is a learning experience from which you will become even better. It just doesn't seem that way now.

 

[MamaDoula]

Thank you. That's good to hear. :sigh: We were reading this morning about how late April and May are peak food gathering times for foxes because their early spring kits start eating meat and needing to be fed. Live and learn, I guess. All this stuff that my great grandmother could have told me, that got lost in a couple of generations! I feel the same way about my garden, too...we're starting out from scratch, knowledge-wise, I guess.

Now I just miss my Elizabeth.

In a way, it's harder to have them just disappear, because I keep hoping they'll just magically turn up again.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

1 or 2 foxes now, with a successful litter, will mean up to 10 by fall. Nip the problem in the bud!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

A good dog can help keep foxes away, too. It's an investment in time and training, but it sure pays off in a lot of different ways.

 

[AHappychick]

Oh so sorry but you havew top lkearn from mistakes I am afraid. You did nothing wrong that is a very brazen fo to steal a bird right infront of you. As much as I would like to say let the fox feed its kits I am afraid that since it choose YOUR chooks to feed with it must go. SSS or she will raise up 5-10 more that will devestate all you have left. Be careful cause they can dig so make sure your tun is dig proof.

 

[mistyfeather]

im sorry that happened i lost my entire flock friday night

we think it may have been someones dog , there were 2 birds i could not find i kept hoping they would show up at the back door waiting for treats , i hope you can get rid of the fox it will keep coming back

 

[Coralietg]

You are not a failure at all! As others have said, it's a learning experience. I felt like a completely terrible new chicken owner when I lost 5 chicks to a snake, but I decided I needed to learn from it and now the coop is completely snake proofed.

However, with it being so bold to take a chicken in front of you, sounds like the best thing to do is deal with the buggers.

Sorry about your chicky x

 

[yotetrapper]

It's all part of the game. The circle of life. Chickens are low on the food chain, and foxes have pups to feed. I don't hate foxes, I like 'em. I don't hate coons, either, but got an intense hatred for the one that killed my first ever broody 3 days before her chicks hatched. So I trapped and killed it. If only after a kill they would go away and never come back, but unfortunately they will come back. Seems your only choices is to never let your birds free range, or kill the culprit.

 

[Teresaann24]

I have been raising chickens for 3 years now I have lost 2 now in a matter of a couple of days. I know how you feel but its not your fault. Its a lesson learned...Improve runs/coops...Very watchful on free range chickens.

I made the mistake thinking chickenwire was enough to keep out stuff boy was I wrong I am not improving my runs with hardware cloth.
Very hard stuff to work with but will be with the effort and money I put into it. I wanna keep my flock!