Wiley Fox

[whychicksmatter]

Just read the posts on losing 5 chickens to a predator. We were very surprised when my husband went down to do the barn chores around 5 p.m. the other day. It was still daylight, the sun just starting to set, and he met a fox coming out of the barn with my best Blue Laced Red Wyandotte rooster. I wouldn't have imagined he would do that in the daylight and there was a 6 foot chicken wire enclosure but it did have a lower level about 2 feet wide near the inside/outside door hatch. We have lived here for 4 1/2 years, lots of woods around though, and never had a problem like that before. Went down a bit later & found another fox who just stared at my husband who shone a light on it. They don't seem to be scared at all. So he fired a gun off a couple of times to try to scare them away but I was upset that they would be so bold to come & carry a good sized rooster over the pen before dark. We also lost a lovely, very heavy Silver Pencilled Wyandotte hen a year or so ago who was outside before we had put the top on the outside run. She was harrassed by a large crow or raven & she was damaged so badly that she died in a few days. This can be very maddening & frustrating. One of the fenced in runs posted looks as if it is fortified about the same as a prison yard. Anyone got any other ideas to keep predators away that they are scared to come near the barn?

 

[Howard E]

Can you share photos of these pens the fox are able to get in to?

 

[whychicksmatter]

Yes, I could. It will probably be later today before I can get that on.

 

[Trish1974]

I have found electric fencing to be the best deterrent with foxes, if that is possible with your set up.
It's a big misconception foxes are only nocturnal. I personally have seen the most fox activity from dawn to noon.

 

[hayley3]

I walked outside around noon one day and saw a very large gray fox face to face with my goose who normally hollars when she sees a butterfly but didn't say a word as that fox inched closer to her. Thankfully I opened the door when I did.
However normally I would see the fox early mornings and then again at dusk.

 

[aart]

Anyone got any other ideas to keep predators away that they are scared to come near the barn?

Dogs.

 

[cmom]

I lost a special birds several months ago to a fox during the day. Now is the time when they are out more during the day either looking for mates of hunting to feed their young. I have electric wire around my pens and coops. Nothing has gotten past the electric wire yet. It has been up for over 10 years.