What happens when foxes start eating chickens (graphic)

[BelovedBirds]

If you have ever been through a fox taking your chickens, you have a good idea how they operate. They have a typical stalking sequence where they hide behind objects in the landscape, get within 30 feet of their target, rush out and grab a chicken, then run immediately back to shelter in the woods. The fox is usually exposed for 5 seconds or less. I had a problem since March with chickens being taken. I had to do something about it or would have lost all of my birds.

My house has an end window that overlooks the chicken barn and yard area where they spend most of the day. I removed the screen and lifted the window a few inches. I placed my loaded 12 gauge shotgun on the window sill (could not do this with children around!). Then I sat in a chair near the window and waited for the chickens to squawk. They will make alarm sounds when they see the fox and it is guaranteed they will see it before I do. I started killing foxes in June and think I finally got the last one this week. It was VERY difficult to kill them. I got lucky with the last 2, they were more focused on the chickens than on me aiming a gun at them. I shot them just before they ran out from behind some bushes. The key to killing them is that I was where they could not see me until I had the gun pointed at them.

https://www.selectedplants.com/miscan/fox1.jpg

https://www.selectedplants.com/miscan/fox2.jpg

https://www.selectedplants.com/miscan/fox3.jpg

https://www.selectedplants.com/miscan/fox4.jpg

Some will consider killing foxes brutal. I consider @70 dead chickens (mostly new chicks) eaten by the foxes to be brutal. Mother nature makes NO allowances for how you or I feel. You have a choice, protect your birds or know with certainty that predators will kill them. Am I certain this is the last of them? On the contrary, this area - like most of the eastern U.S. - is loaded with foxes. There will be another, it is just a matter of time. Meantime, I have about 200 eggs in the incubator and about 40 chicks growing.

It is brutal. Killing native wildlife is not an answer. Protect your animals by containing them securely. People have no right to kill a wild predator who is just doing what they do to survive, if they are not fencing in their animals properly.

 

[bobbi-j]

I can't recall another thread where a poster was so rude and insulting.

IMO, he should be banned.

I can. The easiest solution to the problem is to keep scrolling and don’t respond. Like I tell the kids at school, every time someone pushes your buttons and you react, they win. Every time.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It is brutal. Killing native wildlife is not an answer. Protect your animals by containing them securely. People have no right to kill a wild predator who is just doing what they do to survive, if they are not fencing in their animals properly.

Yes, they do in the US. But I am not going THIS road again. I personally would not kill them unless they were actively attacking my pets, but it is a legal right in the US. Just FYI.

 

[mowin]

It is brutal. Killing native wildlife is not an answer. Protect your animals by containing them securely. People have no right to kill a wild predator who is just doing what they do to survive, if they are not fencing in their animals properly.

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree. My chickens are contained. I've never lost one yet. I have however had injuries when the gals were bouncing around the coop/run as predators tried to get inside. According to you, I'm supposed to let this happen.
Your correct, it's brutal. Brutal to watch.
So, my livestock is fenced/contained properly, but I'm supposed to sit back and do nothing? What about sheep, goats, hogs. Are they supposed to be in totally enclosed structures? Can't enclose paddocks that are acre's in size. Electric fencing isn't the fix all that some think.
I've killed 100's of coyotes, fox, and a few dogs over the past 30+ yrs that had no issues getting through 6 strand electric fencing, to rip a lamb from it mother as she gave birth. This is fencing that's so strong, if you got nailed, it would about knock you to your knees. But, according to some, it's there right to do so. I've seen coyotes eat sheeps hind ends off white they were still alive. But, it's there right to do so.
Sorry. But I'll continue to shoot any predator attacking livestock as allowed by law.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree. My chickens are contained. I've never lost one yet. I have however had injuries when the gals were bouncing around the coop/run as predators tried to get inside. According to you, I'm supposed to let this happen.
Your correct, it's brutal. Brutal to watch.
So, my livestock is fenced/contained properly, but I'm supposed to sit back and do nothing? What about sheep, goats, hogs. Are they supposed to be in totally enclosed structures? Can't enclose paddocks that are acre's in size. Electric fencing isn't the fix all that some think.
I've killed 100's of coyotes, fox, and a few dogs over the past 30+ yrs that had no issues getting through 6 strand electric fencing, to rip a lamb from it mother as she gave birth. This is fencing that's so strong, if you got nailed, it would about knock you to your knees. But, according to some, it's there right to do so. I've seen coyotes eat sheeps hind ends off white they were still alive. But, it's there right to do so.
Sorry. But I'll continue to shoot any predator attacking livestock as allowed by law.

then we dont disagree, I said "unless they are contained". As in, if they are contained to the best of your ability, then lethal force may be the only option.
Free ranging, and then killing any wild animal that dare take an easy meal, is barbaric and irresponsible.
We breed our domestic animals into existence, the burden of securing them is on us. It isnt the fault of the animal, but the owner entirely.

Freeranging. Not secured in a pen, or coop. Free ranging.

I have foxes in the garden alll the time. They come into the yard every single night. at times, they will be feet from the ducks, and my rabbit.
Never had any incident that was remotely close, because Ive ensured their pen, coop and enclosures are fully secured with a double barrier that they cannot get through or dig under.

 

[Toothpick]

That last photo of the fox looks terrible. You probably did that one a favor.

 

[mowin]

then we dont disagree, I said "unless they are contained". As in, if they are contained to the best of your ability, then lethal force may be the only option.
Free ranging, and then killing any wild animal that dare take an easy meal, is barbaric and irresponsible.
We breed our domestic animals into existence, the burden of securing them is on us. It isnt the fault of the animal, but the owner entirely.

Freeranging. Not secured in a pen, or coop. Free ranging.

I have foxes in the garden alll the time. They come into the yard every single night. at times, they will be feet from the ducks, and my rabbit.
Never had any incident that was remotely close, because Ive ensured their pen, coop and enclosures are fully secured with a double barrier that they cannot get through or dig under.

So according to you someone with limited funds shouldn't be allowed to have livestock because they can't afford to house them the way you want?
Calling people barbaric and irresponsible is arrogant because they don't think the same as you.
Incredible.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I have just been setting back and reading some of this, for sure not all. But my opinion is, you do you. If you don’t want to kill an animal, cool beans, you want to relocate one, ok. It is your animals and no one lives the way you do. No one is living in your situation because it IS your livestock. There really shouldn’t be judging going on from anyone as to how someone choosing to house their animals let alone take care of predictors. It is someones right to free range their animals and their right to take care of any predators that may or have killed their animals.

I tried trapping a raccoon that I had tried to catch for 5 months or so. We noticed it show up shortly after moving here. Before I wanted to put my chickens outside into the coop, it had to go. I was going to relocate it and call it good cause there is a state park I could have taken him to. Well turns out it was a girl, but she disappeared. We didn’t see her for a couple days and I went out to the coop to check in the chickens (they had been out there for only a night) and something told me to look up in the tree next to their coop. And yep there was a coon sleeping on an elbow of the tree and a branch. Went and got the gun and shot it out of there. It wasn’t a baby baby but it wasn’t the ones we had been dealing with. The next day, there was another one. Same size. We determined that she had twins and must have gotten hit on the road. But I killed both of them because I wasn’t going to risk my chickens. Even if they are in a secure run and coop, it doesn’t mean something won’t get in and get them. If they want to get them, they will.

Everyone has to do what they need to, to protect their animals. Some animals cannot protect themselves as easily as others. And as humans, it’s our responsibility. Doesn’t mean that because someone chooses to free range or put fencing up and securing them that they don’t have a right to protect their animals. There are precautions that can be taken but ANY one free ranging knows the risk of loosing animals. But that still doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to protect their flock.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I was thinking of going there next year, but we're now leaning toward a country in Africa - just because we've not been to the African continent yet.

I just want to get out of the state of Illinois Take me with you!

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I will gladly answer you, I simply predicted your question (although you probably won't see my answer, because you said you would ignore me)
- If a fox breaks into your chicken coop and attacks your animals - then chase it, catch it and release it into the wild - what's the problem? The state will compensate you for the damage, you will repair the fence that it broke through!

My English is bad, I use Google translator, so I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding because of my expression, which means something completely different in Croatian! Although I try very hard to make you understand me, it seems that I am not succeeding!

- I really respect all peoples and it is not my goal to hurt anyone because of their way of life!
I respect the Americans, but I don't agree with their law regarding wild animals! That's a fact and I don't deny it!
You must understand that the law in Europe is totally different from yours, and that we solve the problem with predators differently than you do!
I never called people liars, but only ONE MAN here on the forum - German guy!
I wrote that several times, I don't understand how you didn't read it and I don't understand how you connected that I called people liars!

Actually, I am a very tolerant and calm person and I am sorry that you misunderstood me because of my bad English.
Here are a couple of older pictures of a fox that was successfully rescued after getting tangled in a net while attacking my chickens!
Poor thing, she injured her eye and was all exhausted.
But don't worry, the fox has been watered and released into the forest!View attachment 3257858View attachment 3257859View attachment 3257860

Aunt Angus wanted to know if you'd sacrifice the lives of your animals and allow them to be ripped apart by the fox. She is under the impression you would allow the fox to destroy them while they are trapped in the aviary.

The animals you keep rely on you for protection.