I have read a good number of posts on here regarding foxes and other predators, but I could still use some advice. We have have had free-ranging chickens here in upstate NY for about 10 years. We have lost some to predators over time, but nothing like this. I love that we have a variety of wildlife around here, and have accepted that they need to eat and feed their young as well. I have every predator you can think of, including cougars, coyotes, bears, hawks and eagles. I don't want to shoot everything that eats my chickens, because, as pointed out in your forums, more predators will just take their place.
I am pretty sure this gray fox has kits it is feeding, and we were losing almost 1 chicken every day for the past few weeks.
I gave away 4 of my laying hens to a friend hoping I can get them back if I solve the problem. I have the rooster, 1 hen I couldn't catch to give the friend, and 1 broody hen in a secure crate in the very secure coop sitting on eggs with 2 just hatched. Before I knew there was a problem, I purchased 8 chicks who are now ready to come outside. They are in a crate that they are getting too big for in the closed up garage.
Since I fenced in the chickens around the coop (before I gave the 4 away) I lost one when the fox dug under in the middle of the day. They were trapped inside, and it apparently came and went as needed. As I was working on fencing around the bottom to prevent fox from digging under, I discovered we have a family of groundhogs inside the fence who are helping with the digging. Also working on the bottom, I watched the rooster fly/jump over the top of the 4' wire fence where I had attached some netting and chicken wire another 2' above.
So, multiple problems here, and I have not come up with a single solution.
I did try a live trap, but so far no capture.
I won't use a leg trap because I am afraid my dogs will find it before the fox.
Husband tried shooting at it, but no luck, and it came back hours later.
I am tempted to let the remaining roo and hen go back to free ranging, figuring fox will have to find them rather than having them trapped in the Chicken Diner, but I still have the problem of what to do with the remaining growing flock.
Has anyone tried an Eglu Cube with walk-in run?
omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping
Some of Eglu's forums seem to suggest that raccoons might be able to get in the Cube.
I am also considering buying just their large walk-in run, which has a skirt around the bottom that seems fairly secure. If I raise the young-uns in an enclosed space, they won't know what they are missing out on the range. Either way, it will be an improvement over the garage crate.
And then what do I do with Broody Mama and the 2 or more chicks?
I am really struggling with this, and seriously thinking it is time to give up chicken keeping. I am 66YO, and getting too old to be fixing fences for the rest of the summer only to have Foxy defeat me at every turn.
Any ideas and comments will be appreciated.
I am pretty sure this gray fox has kits it is feeding, and we were losing almost 1 chicken every day for the past few weeks.
I gave away 4 of my laying hens to a friend hoping I can get them back if I solve the problem. I have the rooster, 1 hen I couldn't catch to give the friend, and 1 broody hen in a secure crate in the very secure coop sitting on eggs with 2 just hatched. Before I knew there was a problem, I purchased 8 chicks who are now ready to come outside. They are in a crate that they are getting too big for in the closed up garage.
Since I fenced in the chickens around the coop (before I gave the 4 away) I lost one when the fox dug under in the middle of the day. They were trapped inside, and it apparently came and went as needed. As I was working on fencing around the bottom to prevent fox from digging under, I discovered we have a family of groundhogs inside the fence who are helping with the digging. Also working on the bottom, I watched the rooster fly/jump over the top of the 4' wire fence where I had attached some netting and chicken wire another 2' above.
So, multiple problems here, and I have not come up with a single solution.
I did try a live trap, but so far no capture.
I won't use a leg trap because I am afraid my dogs will find it before the fox.
Husband tried shooting at it, but no luck, and it came back hours later.
I am tempted to let the remaining roo and hen go back to free ranging, figuring fox will have to find them rather than having them trapped in the Chicken Diner, but I still have the problem of what to do with the remaining growing flock.
Has anyone tried an Eglu Cube with walk-in run?
omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping
Some of Eglu's forums seem to suggest that raccoons might be able to get in the Cube.
I am also considering buying just their large walk-in run, which has a skirt around the bottom that seems fairly secure. If I raise the young-uns in an enclosed space, they won't know what they are missing out on the range. Either way, it will be an improvement over the garage crate.
And then what do I do with Broody Mama and the 2 or more chicks?
I am really struggling with this, and seriously thinking it is time to give up chicken keeping. I am 66YO, and getting too old to be fixing fences for the rest of the summer only to have Foxy defeat me at every turn.
Any ideas and comments will be appreciated.