Why, Oh, WHY?! Foxes?

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Next stop, the corner of Electric Fence Street and Fox Trap Avenue.

 

[CityChicker]

LOL, that's funny Davaroo. I think you are right. I am not sure if trapping them is even legal here, although I know there are several local companies that will do it (don't know if you need a license to do it?). I am going to put up some sort of electric fence this week if I can.

We were just out there a little while ago and the fox was back. My husband walked out the back door and it was right there on our patio just watching the birds! I think the runs are pretty secure, but I went ahead and brought the birds inside anyway.

 

[IDIOT HUSBAND]

22 short amunition makes very little noise, so I've heard.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

News travels fast! We have lived in the house for 27yrs and never--not once have we ever heard, seen or saw any signs of fox AND less than 12 hrs after we put our new chickens in the coop----There is a huge grey fox behind the coop!! He didn't seem to be afraid of my dh.. we haven't seen any sign of him but I am sure he's out there somewhere...

I agree electric fencing--if you can't trap or shoot...

 

[nnbreeder]

They were always there but not noticed. Most people would be shocked at the amount of wildlife that crosses their property nightly.

Just build the coops and runs stouter then you think will ever be needed and you should be fine. Fox are both excellent climbers and diggers so be sure to adress both of those issues. Bury or lay perpendicular wire to prevent digging and cover the top to discourage climbers.

 

[catfish/okie]

Foxes love the suberbs and towns that are along river bottoms. In southern OK you dont see all that many in the country. too many coyotes. You may need something like a fortress to keep Red Foxes away from chickens. Best thing is a good watch dog that wont kill chickens.

 

[Davaroo]

Does it matter if you need a license, long about now?

I don't advocate illegal activities, but this is one of those times when swift action will save the day. You either let the fox rape your chicken yard out of fear of retribution, or stop him.

Have you ever heard of a shotgun trap? Basically it is the end of a shotgun barrel, baited. You make a funnel of plywood or something else, so the fox has to enter straight on to the barrel's end. When it pulls on the bait - a string attached to the bait pulls the trigger.
It is Rube Goldberg-ish, but is reputed to be effective. Use bird shot and have a safety backstop behind the target area to contain the shot if there is a miss.

It's loud and it is crude, but then so is Hulk Hogan. And he's pretty effective. If you own a scatter gun, this is a pretty safe alternative in suburbia.

 

[chilling in muscadine]

We had the same problem not to long back but we handled it with deadly force. The foxes were taking my free range game hens off the nest at daybreak and some of them were protecting biddies at the time. Heres what we did.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=108585

We ended up getting another fox not long after getting that one. I myself do not beleive in killing another animal but when you see it running off with one of my chickens in its mouth, well then its WAR! Good luck with what you do. The fox will return because it knows there is food.

Have you checked with the authorities? Maybe since its going after your flock there will be some kind of exception? If not get that electric fence up ASAP. Good luck with your delima and keep is informed.

Sara

 

[CityChicker]

Thanks everyone for all the input. I am still not done building all of our new runs, so it is not a big deal to modify them. I typically don't put a bottom on the runs, but I am rethinking that because of the fox. I am going to put an additional couple feet of smaller welded wire on the bottom and sink it down into the dirt/pea gravel/sand layers that we use.

We have done very well against predators in the past, even up in the mountains where we have lots of raccoons and even cougars. This is the first time (to my knowledge anyway) that we have had a predator so persistent that it keeps coming back hourly. It also acts very unafraid of us.

Anyway, I am modifying the runs and working on setting up an electric fence AND trap.