...is it "on"?
We haven't had any trouble with fox or coons or anything...just hawks. The woods around my house have been a haven for my birds, since the hawks don't have so much luck in swooping when my flock is under cover of trees, etc...well, now the woods are just as dangerous.
It seems we are on the radar of a red fox now.
Just comes and sits in the yard, right in the yard in the middle of the day. This critter seems to be in utter shock at the birds out free, just roaming around. It looks like it can't decide which one to eat first.
The thing just sat in the middle of the yard this morning looking at the birds as they screamed and clucked like you wouldn't believe. The fox runs off when I come out click-clacking around with my gun and yelling at it...but I can see flits and glimpses of it around the edges of my woods. *sigh*
My question for those of you with more experience...
Now that we're majorly on this guys radar...is it "on til the break of dawn" with this fox? Should I ready myself for a real problem with this guy? I mean, looking out at my big beautiful flock...if I were this fox, I'd make this my first and only stop for all of my snacking needs! Is it only a matter of time til I lose one of my pack now?
My birds become completely despondent when not free ranged...so I don't know what to do. He was out sitting in the yard this morning, so I'm putting the birds in the run for the day...but it makes them loco. They've all been free ranged since they were youngsters and do NOT like being kept in the run....will they get over it? Should I let them free range anyway?
How vicious are foxes? Anyone have any tips on fox behavior?
Thank you so much for your help. I have so much going on right now with my flock. I have two new cochin girls with me now that just came out of quarantine. Unfortunately, their brother, the biggest and more beautiful cochin roo I've ever seen, is currently stewing on my stove. He was waaaaay too aggressive to keep around. That and I have a silkie dying of something unidentified....I'm just up to my eyeballs in chicken worry right now and to think that my awesome flock is now in fox danger. Man, I'm just so wiped out at the moment. My flock is so badass and they stick together like nobody;s business...but they are just chickens. What they have in fierceness and pack mentality, they totally lack in physical strength. This fox is so big and healthy looking....they are no match for this critter.
What would you do?
We haven't had any trouble with fox or coons or anything...just hawks. The woods around my house have been a haven for my birds, since the hawks don't have so much luck in swooping when my flock is under cover of trees, etc...well, now the woods are just as dangerous.
It seems we are on the radar of a red fox now.
My question for those of you with more experience...
Now that we're majorly on this guys radar...is it "on til the break of dawn" with this fox? Should I ready myself for a real problem with this guy? I mean, looking out at my big beautiful flock...if I were this fox, I'd make this my first and only stop for all of my snacking needs! Is it only a matter of time til I lose one of my pack now?
My birds become completely despondent when not free ranged...so I don't know what to do. He was out sitting in the yard this morning, so I'm putting the birds in the run for the day...but it makes them loco. They've all been free ranged since they were youngsters and do NOT like being kept in the run....will they get over it? Should I let them free range anyway?
How vicious are foxes? Anyone have any tips on fox behavior?
Thank you so much for your help. I have so much going on right now with my flock. I have two new cochin girls with me now that just came out of quarantine. Unfortunately, their brother, the biggest and more beautiful cochin roo I've ever seen, is currently stewing on my stove. He was waaaaay too aggressive to keep around. That and I have a silkie dying of something unidentified....I'm just up to my eyeballs in chicken worry right now and to think that my awesome flock is now in fox danger. Man, I'm just so wiped out at the moment. My flock is so badass and they stick together like nobody;s business...but they are just chickens. What they have in fierceness and pack mentality, they totally lack in physical strength. This fox is so big and healthy looking....they are no match for this critter.
What would you do?