- Jan 23, 2018
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can't stand weasels.
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About fox. Last year a neighbor with a 'holiday' cabin across the road from us had a female fox take up residency under the cabin and raise a family of kits feeding them off the local flocks. Neighbor lost their entire flock and we were finding feathers and bones around our pond. We didn't loose a bird, mainly because our coop is metal clad and the run is hot wired. The run is chain link kennel panels.
Everyone saw the fox. She was a beautiful big and very healthy animal....probably from all the chicken and guineas she ate. Mainly we would see her in our pasture and marching up and down the road in the morning and early evening. Finally I called the local conservation officer and asked if they would please come and set live traps for her, or if we set our live trap and caught her would they please relocate her to conservation property.
He chuckled and told me they say out fox a fox for a reason. He said they were very hard to catch in anything other than a foot trap and would sit back and watch you and your property without you ever knowing they were there. The best thing to do he told us was shoot her as she had proven to be a menace to domestic livestock.
We didn't loose a bird to her or her little ones although we did find tiny fox prints in the dirt around our run. Mamma moved on or was shot as we got word out to the neighbors to take her out with MODOC's blessing. We know her kits are still around and people are gunning for them also. But for now the pillaging of flocks has stopped.
About hot wires. Don't be afraid of them. I've had chickens reach through the fence and accidentally touch it with they wattles. They only do it once and it doesn't cause them any physical harm as far as I can tell. Same with dogs. We have 4 of the darling idiots and each one has tested the hot wire. One just a few weeks ago while I was gathering eggs. I followed his howling self into the house, rubbed his nose and told my husband. "Hot wire works!"
All you have to do is when your hens are out being chickens, turn it off and remember to turn it back on once everyone is tucked in at night.
IMHO, I would NOT be letting any of my flock run free with the predator problem you have going on. In such a situation, a secured flock is a live flock.
About fox. Last year a neighbor with a 'holiday' cabin across the road from us had a female fox take up residency under the cabin and raise a family of kits feeding them off the local flocks. Neighbor lost their entire flock and we were finding feathers and bones around our pond. We didn't loose a bird, mainly because our coop is metal clad and the run is hot wired. The run is chain link kennel panels.
Everyone saw the fox. She was a beautiful big and very healthy animal....probably from all the chicken and guineas she ate. Mainly we would see her in our pasture and marching up and down the road in the morning and early evening. Finally I called the local conservation officer and asked if they would please come and set live traps for her, or if we set our live trap and caught her would they please relocate her to conservation property.
He chuckled and told me they say out fox a fox for a reason. He said they were very hard to catch in anything other than a foot trap and would sit back and watch you and your property without you ever knowing they were there. The best thing to do he told us was shoot her as she had proven to be a menace to domestic livestock.
We didn't loose a bird to her or her little ones although we did find tiny fox prints in the dirt around our run. Mamma moved on or was shot as we got word out to the neighbors to take her out with MODOC's blessing. We know her kits are still around and people are gunning for them also. But for now the pillaging of flocks has stopped.
About hot wires. Don't be afraid of them. I've had chickens reach through the fence and accidentally touch it with they wattles. They only do it once and it doesn't cause them any physical harm as far as I can tell. Same with dogs. We have 4 of the darling idiots and each one has tested the hot wire. One just a few weeks ago while I was gathering eggs. I followed his howling self into the house, rubbed his nose and told my husband. "Hot wire works!"
All you have to do is when your hens are out being chickens, turn it off and remember to turn it back on once everyone is tucked in at night.
IMHO, I would NOT be letting any of my flock run free with the predator problem you have going on. In such a situation, a secured flock is a live flock.