things kill my chickens I kill the things. Lost over 60 chickens and 4 turkeys to predation trying to free range chickens. Killed raccons, feral dogs, but caught many racccons in live catch and released them elsewhere. Monday night I lost my pet hen that lived in my garage. Inadvertantly left my garage door open monday night and something got it. Set my traps last night inside my garage and caught a fox that sits there and looks at me. Chickens are plentiful, foxes aren't. I hate to kill it but it's in a leg hold. ........i'm sick of it.
Hah I'd kill it, but foxes are very common where we live... I am sick of the one who thinks he can sit in my front yard and bark at my dogs...grrrrr he is after my ducks
if you don't want to kill it... don't. caught in a leg hold or not, they can be subdued and brought elsewhere. there is a pretty simple noose pole that can be made up from some pvc or copper pipe and cable (or sturdy rope for a one time use). I have caught many foxes in legholds and transported them elsewhere. you'd be surprised how calm they can be once they realize they can't do anything about it. on the other hand, I get calls about every other day around here with "nuisance" foxes. we have so many now. like I tell people who call with the "I have caught a skunk in my trap and now don't know what to do with it" line (after I arrange to release it for them for a price).... if you didn't know what you were going to do with the animal before setting the trap, you shouldn't have set the trap to begin with.
It gets disheartening doesn't it? I have not lost a chicken yet but I have killed critters and a dog trying to get to them. It gets very old indeed. As for the fox..no problem killing it for me I have tons of them here...one who likes to use my front deck as his personal restroom. His days are numbered. A constant battle to keep them safe but I choose not to live in a city so that is the cost *sigh*
I know what you mean. I've done in my fair share of attackers. I didn't like it. I eventually decided to go with an enclosed run. There are simply too many predators around me to feel good about free ranging (bears, foxes, hawks, dogs, skunks, possums, the occasional bobcat or coyote). My chickens still get lots of green stuff and they are happy and safe. I still have an occasional problem with a persistent predator, but there is no 100% in life.
I just picked up my 5 week old Great Pyrenees last night...maybe in a few months I won't have to worry about coons and possums anymore.
Kill it and get over it. Transport it around here and I will have to kill it. Plus if you get caught relocating it here and get caught, be prepaired for a tougne lashing. Why send your problem to someone else.
Be careful, there are a lot rabid animals this year. And it isn't even hot yet. A rabid bob cat walked into a bar in Care Creek, AZ and manage to bite and scratch just about all of the customes and the bar tender. When the cops showed up, it went after them. They shot it. Everyone is taking shots now. Be careful, real careful. Rufus
I live rurally and I've been at this free ranging thing for 2 years now without a loss. About a year and a half ago I bought a gun and then a game cam (for the coop area) and spent a good deal of time eliminating predators (raccoons and possums). Thankfully, no foxes have shown up. Last summer there was a decent push of predators but, you know what? Since then, I've seen less and less predators and it's been 6+ months since I've seen one on the game cam at night. I see lot's of deer but nothing dangerous! I'm a huge advocate of proactive predator control with free ranging. Sure. I'll lose a bird sooner or later, but so far my system of constant vigilance has worked and the predators have been fewer and far in between. I have yet to see a predator yet this spring!
