Fox in the Hen House! WWYD?

[Winding_Down]

Devastated that a fox has discovered my flock and picked off two hens out of the barnyard yesterday. This was witnessed by someone who was visiting the farm who says he will come back with a .22 today and take care of the fox :no:

Of couse I do not want to shoot a red fox, and want to pursue trapping and relocating if at all possible.

Ideas? Suggestions?

I could put up the electric fencing for the girls but hate to do so as they are doing so well free-ranging and hanging out at the barn while I am working with horses.

[maunder]

Years ago I had two foxes figure out how to burrow under a fence and get some chicken dinners. I used a Havahart trap, caught them and relocated them. That is legal to do in my state if the animal is deemed ‘nuisance.’ They were healthy, or I would not have relocated them.

I had to change the way I kept the hens and eliminated their large area. They have a (so far) predator proof coop and run and are out in a small fenced area when I’m home.

I like them to have free range like you do, but free range unfortunately will mean something eventually will find them and pick them off.

[Sswor]

Yes, with the upgraded lifestyle to free range comes upgraded risk. But I think most chickens would take that risk.

Have a predator proof coop for them to roost in over night and you take your chances in the day time. Chickens live a good 14 years but only have good egg production for a fraction of that time so if the foxes get them, well, ordering new baby chicks in your new favorite breed is sure fun.

[NoDQhere]

We’ve decided that sharing the chickens with our foxes is something we can deal with. Foxes are rare in our area, chickens are not. The foxes kill very quickly so I don’t think the chickens suffer. (Chickens are locked in a safe coop at night)

[Winding_Down]

I agree with the above and I do have a predator proof coop. But this fox took out 4 in just one evening. So with 11 remaining, this could mark the end pretty soon.

[Nezzy]

If you free-range, you will have these issues. Sorry but that is how it works. Chickens are an easy hunt for foxes, coyotes, and hawks.

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=Nezzy;8732615]
If you free-range, you will have these issues. Sorry but that is how it works. Chickens are an easy hunt for foxes, coyotes, and hawks.[/QUOTE]

This. Does anyone you know have a livestock guarding dog? Or a really mean rooster?

[maunder]

The fox that found my gang killed the rooster right away because Angus stood up to it. I loved that bird.

Knock wood I haven’t had predators come in the yard in many years. I have a Jack Russell and he’s great at fox and predator patrol, but he’ll kill a chicken if given half a chance so they are separated by a fence.

[Winding_Down]

I have ordered a Havahart 1081 trap after doing some reviews online and on YouTube. My plan is to trap Reynard and give him a one-way ticket to our hunt territory 15 miles away.

[snowrider]

This time of year the foxes have cubs. Don’t relocate it now, and you need to check it’s even legal to do where you live.

Keep the chickens in unless you are watching them. You’ll find that the smart chickens survive just fine.

[Winding_Down]

@snowrider;8733103

This time of year the foxes have cubs. Don’t relocate it now, and you need to check it’s even legal to do where you live.

I already checked on kits’ ages and when they can be left on their own. In my region, kits are weaned and hunting by July/August.

[jdobbs64]

Ours are in a pen unless we’re home. too much risk free ranging otherwise. They are locked up tight at night.

[shayaalliard]

Truthfully relocating them is nearly always a death sentence. They will be strangers in other’s territory with no idea where to find food or other resources. It seems backward, but when it comes to wildlife, shooting is more humane than relocation most of the time.

[Mosey_2003]

Well, you have three options.

1. Kill the fox.
2. Create an enclosure that a fox cannot penetrate and keep the chickens within it.
3. Let the fox eat whichever chickens it catches.

Or, try and trap and relocate, which is not a plan I’m fond of for the reasons shayaalliard describes. Also, fox are notoriously hard to live trap.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

Lay chicken wire on the ground and attach it to the fencing and then digging will not allow the fox to get under the fence. You can create a fox proof chicken yard around the house with chicken wire or chain link fencing on the ground, on the sides, and on top of the yard.

And a nice big dog will keep the fox out of the area during the day. But do keep them in a pen when you are not home as foxes are out day and night and eat everything. Hawks are a bigger nuisance here as they will swope down all day long. And neighboring dogs also kill many chickens if you do not have a dog who will protect the hens.

[Mosey_2003]

Hardware cloth is stronger than chicken wire, FYI. I know coons and dogs can easily rip through chicken wire, I assume a fox might be able to as well.

[jdobbs64]

agreed. Chicken wire is useless.