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

[JackE]

what do you have laid on the ground under the fence ??

Roundup. It got old moving the fence every other week, to mow.

 

[peepshow2310]

My worst chicken nightmare just occurred! As I type this at 2 AM I am sitting on my back stoop watching for that sucker, the fox. I just woke up to scretching sounds of terror. I walked to the back door and the fox stared at me (totally not scared) with my sweet (almost dead but certainly dying) Polish hen. I have my two big dogs outside with me now and this **** fox and I are having a standoff for the past 2hrs now. I want to do what comes natural to ensure this doesn't happen again but not sure of the laws in my area in regards to this. Without getting animal control involved and complicating my life, anyone have suggestions on finding out local laws regarding shooting "wild life" in a residential area within the city limits?

 

[sdm111]

If I were you I would shoot it and not say anything or ask about laws that will just bring the heat on you. And if the cops come tell them u shot a fox that was harrassing and attacking your chickens. In my area it's legal to shoot animals harassing or attacking livestock but depending where I shoot from I could get a ticket for discharging a firearm within 100' of a street. I don't live in city limits so I don't know about that.

 

[peepshow2310]

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!

 

[jtn42248]

It is almost always not legal to discharge a firearm within the city limits of any city. However, firearm is subject to interpretation. A powerful pellet gun would deliver enough of a painful blow that the fox might be discouraged from visiting you again, it is pretty quiet (no explosive powder) as typically they are either pump action to compress air or have compressed air canisters. I don't know where you are but if you have a store like Academy Sporting Goods or one of the other large sporting goods stores go by, talk to the gun people, explain what you need and what you want to do and they will be more than happy to assist you.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

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!

If you are referring to standard chicken wire/poultry netting, you need to replace, not reinforce. You have a known predator problem and poultry netting will do NOTHING to stop a fox (or any other predator for that matter). At the very least, confining the birds inside the secure coop at night would be my first step - or a solution if replacing your wire with a more substantial wire is not an option at the moment - because doing so would eliminate the issue of the predator going through the fence and into the enclosure to get at the birds. While taking out this fox will address the immediate threat, the long term threat can only be addressed by more fully securing your birds against the next one to come along.

 

[jtn42248]

On Thursday, my beautiful Polish Sophie was killed by a fox. I was very upset and to prevent any other deaths I secured the coop and closed in there run, they have the walls of protection that I closed of to the inner most secure wall. One hour ago I looked out the window and saw a fox about to pounce inside this fence. Immediately my family and I ran out side screaming distract it and we managed to get them out. It had one of them but she seems to be OK. We captured the fox and after a lot of debate, released it. Now I need serious methods to stop the foxes, I can't deal with losing any more. We have considered getting two pigmy goats for the testosterone and walking them because we have heard that deters them. I really need suggestions.

If you have a fox then almost certainly you have other predators that have not introduced themselves yet. Pygmy goats are not going to do much to deter a fox and, if left out, will attract other larger predators that are more interested in them than your chickens. Secure your coop as much as you can, make it a chicken Fort Knox. Don't mess with trapping the fox (or any predator) and releasing it. It/they will only come back. The ONLY sure way to stop these types of predators is the permanent one. If you don't have one, get a gun. If you have local regulations about guns follow them but get the best gun that is allowed and, if you don't know about guns, take a class in how to use and care for one. Trap and release is great for the humanity approach but does little to protect your flock.

 

[CrazyTalk]

If I were you I would shoot it and not say anything or ask about laws that will just bring the heat on you. And if the cops come tell them u shot a fox that was harrassing and attacking your chickens. In my area it's legal to shoot animals harassing or attacking livestock but depending where I shoot from I could get a ticket for discharging a firearm within 100' of a street. I don't live in city limits so I don't know about that.

It's legal to kill predators who are killing your livestock almost everywhere. People may have to worry about firearms laws, but there are only a handful of states where there aren't exemptions to the hunting/trapping laws that cover killing animals that are actively harming livestock.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Once it was is the most secure part of the run, it couldn't get back out.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

I'm in uk, all guns are illegal