Red fox here....how do I get rid of it?

[rojochicks]

So sorry to see about your loss of 33 chickens. That is just crazy and so devastating.

My husband just looked up our local laws and it appears that if "wildlife" is entering our yard and taking out our livestock we have the right to defend and destroy. So that's good to know.

Can they lift heavy doors such as the top of a nesting box?

I also saw some other comments on another thread about Hotwire and electric fencing so I may look into that as well.

 

[rojochicks]

Oh wow! That was a hungry owl I guess.

Painful reminders of Mother Nature and the food chain. My 3.5 year old has learned quite a bit about predators and prey that a week ago she had no idea existed.

Do you just keep revamping your coop? Have they destroyed it in the process?

 

[mobius]

For a permanent solution please see the electric fence post link in my signature....

 

[JRNash]

Its not as bad as all that.lol Raccoons can open doors and lift things. At work we caught one UNZIPPING lunch kits!! I'm a firm beleiver in an electric fence. Not the dog zapper,something in the 3 joule range. One strand about 3 to 4 inches from ground level will stop nearly every type of 4 legged predator

 

[rojochicks]

For a permanent solution please see the electric fence post link in my signature....

Thank you I'm going to read your link. Ready to nip this.

 

[mobius]

Right right...on the electric fence post you will see hasps I added to each coop opening that twist to close and THEN are additionally secured with a carabiner. With the coop/run electrified, even the hasps will give a jolt. Plenty of racoons around here, and I was taking with a local lady who lost hens to foxes. I told her about the fence program, but even if you can't get reimbursed, it was comparatively inexpensive to prevent losses and give peace of mind. Still haven't had an incursion.

No shotgun, no laws to worry about, no staying up nights to nab predators, no traps etc. No headaches. The Unigizer can even be solar or battery powered. Done.

 

[JRNash]

I run one around my property, they are well worth the investment

 

[Eggsoteric]

Agree on the electric. Electrified poultry net fencing or electric wire. I use the net fencing, easy to set up, take down and move. How tall is your run? Unless you run electric wire at the top as well as the bottom of your run, you will need to place a roof over your run as fox are experts at climbing.

Best of luck.

 

[Cindy in PA]

People shoot foxes all the time & I have no problem with it. As far as being able to protect livestock, many times the laws are written that you can do that legally ONLY if you derive a big portion of your income from your livestock. Unfortunately foxes are protected by hunting seasons in most areas. Just so you are aware.

 

[JRNash]

There are a lot of man made laws that I don't agree with. When it comes to putting food on the table or feeding predators the predators are going to lose every time.