OMG found a fox about to kill my chickens! Need help fox proofing

[XxMingirlxX]

since I last posted we have got electric fence and kept them in a small very secure run while we are out, it has worked, we have had no more problems, as for larger preditors I'm in the uk so I have no such problems because there are no large predators. The pygmy goats produce testosterone which marks territorty so the foxes won't g near, when we got our chickens, it was from a place with 6000 free roaming hens and they never had a fox kill so much as one because of the goats.

 

[KGreene]

I'm in uk, all guns are illegal

Are bows (or cross bows) illegal in the UK? They make little noise, and I've dispatched critters up to and including bears with my bow!

 

[jtn42248]

I'm in uk, all guns are illegal

I suspect that is the price you pay for being civilized. Next option, a kill trap, what over here on this side of the pond is called a Duke trap. But check, they may be regulated there as well, also, if you have small children or pets you might need to think twice about using one.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Yup traps are regulated too.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

No but I'm not sure where I'd find one, I'll have to look into it.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I'm in uk, all guns are illegal

I was of the understanding that with proper certificate/licensure the ownership of a shotgun was permitted - and helpful for such situation as this and/or licensed hunting,etc.

 

[nab58]

A fox just got one of my hens.
I was cleaning the coop at 4pm. I let the 8 hens and rooster out to free range. I noticed dogs were barking through the woods and a flock of crows were making a fuss. We have a bear in our area so I took a look around just to be sure. The chickens were already out so there was no getting them back in.
The fox must have circled around through the woods and approached from the opposite direction from me. I heard a fuss and saw the fox pop out from under the deck of the house and run directly towards the wood with a hen in its mouth. I screamed but it had a good grip and ran into a very thickly wooded area. I couldn't even chase it. My husband is going to search the area for a body when he gets home from work.

We have a live trap, I just don't think you can trap a fox, can you? If so, what do you use for bait?

 

[Folly's place]

For bait, chicken parts, canned cat food, or other meat. Racoons and feral cats, skunks, possums,etc are bonus items in your trap. Get the larger sized live trap, and set it up in a tunnel (wrapped in a tarp) , maybe with a live bird in a separate cage at the back end of the live trap, in that tunnel.. I saw pictures of this set-up on an old thread here. Our sick chicken-killing fox was shot by a wonderful neighbor in the afternoon; after our losses one afternoon, I visited all the neighbors to alert them, and a week later someone was able to take him out. Mary

 

[nab58]

We bought a trap today. The type that allows you to place live bait in the back, seperating it from the trap area. I so hope we get this bugger, but from what I've read, they are very trap smart. Red foxes are harder to trap than gray. Our is red.
If we can't trap him, we're going to put up electric fence. We have the perfect space for free ranging chickens. It would be a shame to not let them roam.

 

[Howlet]

Thanks Sdm11. That is so true and I have decided to take matters into my own hands. I am going to buy a pellet gun (it's certainly legal I think) and a live trap ( as back up in case I miss though there wont be anything 'live' about him). Problem in living where I do, no one has traps large enough. Also, I heard that a fox trap has a compartment in the back where you put a chicken to entice them. Can't seem to find that one around here either.
This freakin fox and I had a literal stand off for 4hrs until daylight. He literally laid down and watched me sit on my back steps with my two large dogs. I feel trapped in my own house and I have two little dogs that are smaller than the chicken that I couldn't let out until morning came.
In the meantime, I am going to reinforce the chicken wire (needs a complete redo actually).
When Mr Fox comes back tonight I will be waiting......like a sniper! Bring it Mr Fox, I got one for ya!

well if you had the 2 big dogs, why didnt u just set em off! i mean if "They went after it" and u "Put it out of its misery" it actually seems like u did a good thing even if its illegal