Will a Grey Fox kill my hens?

[janinepeters]

How about firing a shot just to scare off the foxes like you scared off the dogs? I agree with your philosophy of taking responsibility of keeping one's animals safe without killing wildlife, and keeping predators at a distance as much as you can will help prevent future conflict. Then you maybe you can let the hens roam for just a couple hours a day. Teach them to come when you call by rewarding them with a treat, and you will be able to get them in when you want.

 

[1livelychick]

So smart to just leave your girls in a safe and confined area. At the end of April, I was out feeding the chickens around 9:30 in the morning...A lone Coyote just happily walked down our driveway...I yelled at it and it dashed off. It walked within 30 feet of my roo and hens that free range.....within a week...the killings started..first lost my favorite roo, Valentino and a few after that. I stopped the free ranging when my last hen was badly mauled, I managed to nurse her back to health...so the moral of the story is that the fox is just waiting for the right moment to strike!

 

[sweet_peeps]

Quote:
I can't take the chance of scaring the mother off and the young ones getting separated from her.
That would break my heart. Poor little ones.

And my girls come when I call them especially if I have a treat.
Henny Penny will just stand there if she's scared though so I know when something's not right.

I will let them out if my husband or I are out in the yard for a couple hours but otherwise they will
be locked up.
Thanks!

 

[sweet_peeps]

Quote:
I'm sorry you lost most of your chickens.
It's thrilling to see wildlife up close but no one wants their chickens to see these same animals up close.
With all the woods around me I never know if she's just watching from the trees.
So, i'll be the responsible "mama" and do what's best for my girls whether they like it or not.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
I thought it stood for poop, shows what I know ;-) .

 

[1livelychick]

Quote:
I'm sorry you lost most of your chickens.
It's thrilling to see wildlife up close but no one wants their chickens to see these same animals up close.
With all the woods around me I never know if she's just watching from the trees.
So, i'll be the responsible "mama" and do what's best for my girls whether they like it or not.

Thanks, I still have a fair number of hens and roos....it's difficult for any of them to face a fate such as that of a wild animal. Especially since all my birds are so tame.
We have a whole pack of dogs here on the farm that are our pets and are tame around the chickens. It makes it difficult for the chickens to discern which is friend or foe.
Wild life is great to see but not so close that they feel comfortable to walk down the driveway and are unafraid of humans. Even with the pack of dogs we have..... it still felt safe enough to pass right by me! It's just an invite for future problems!
Good luck with the safety of your chickens!

 

[janinepeters]

"We have a whole pack of dogs here on the farm that are our pets and are tame around the chickens. It makes it difficult for the chickens to discern which is friend or foe."

I have found that my chickens are remarkably able to distinguish between our pets and strange animals. They know that none of our 4 cats will hurt them, but sound the alarm whenever a stray or neighbor's cat wanders into the yard. It is really interesting, because our rabbits, on the other hand, have come to believe that all cats are nice and do not seem to know to be suspicious of strange cats.

 

[1livelychick]

Quote:
Our cats are no problem...we have about a dozen on the farm. But since the coyotes invaded....our roos make a strange sound if one of our dogs comes around the corner and surprises them....even if the chickens are in their runs. We have a rottie and pitt run the property at night just to keep the preds at bay.

 

[sweet_peeps]

Quote:
I thought it stood for poop, shows what I know ;-) .

I thought so too but that was a quick and funny comeback.

 

[sweet_peeps]

That is very true that the foxes feel comfortable enough to just trot across my yard.
I think i'll start making noise and yelling at them when I see them.

We have neighbor dogs that come visit us that are sweet and gentle and my chickens probably
let their guard down.
Now, they sound off the alarm when any dog even barks in the distance.

I haven't noticed any cats around here lately. Maybe the fox are thinning them out.
My neighbor had/has way too many.