How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Challenge a fox

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Challenge a fox

Anna, Why didn't you take care of the fox that was in your hen house that killed your chickens?

Cathryn
rainbowsilkies MI

From: Nikita <furball006@aol.com>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, July 26, 2011 12:11:50 AM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Challenge a fox

Hi Denise,

I should be so lucky. I chased off a fox one day that had previously killed 13 of my hens in one night. I had only four hens and two Roosters left. Which by the way, he killed both of them and carried both of them off in one night. I kept them in for a few days. Than I let them out again. When I returned to close the coop for the night, there was the fox, curled up in the corner of the coop. I chased it away. That night I Couldn't get remaining four girls in. After that second attac, the hens were like ' YOU SLEEP IN THERE! ' So I kept them our for the night.

I returned the next morning, to find the fox sleeping in my hen house. It had returned during the evening after I left. I guess the bedding, warm environment, food & water were enough to risk returning and dealing with me. That was the last time I saw that particular fox. I had two opportunities to get a really good look at it.

Now the one that I have lurking around is HUGE. It's larger than my Cairn Terrier. This fox has to be 30 pounds. I kid you not! A beauiful on at that. I'm a bit concerned because the first time it walked passed us, all of my dogs didn't notice him walking by. They were pooped from playing all day.

The second time my Aussie saw the fox. Started to run after it. Luckily, my dog has an amazing recall. When I said his name he stopped in his tracks and didn't go after the fox. I worry about an encounter, and all of my new birds getting wipped out.

I hope the hunters take out a few this year. I feel bad about that. But instead of killing one chicken, with me, it's always been a masacer. Always in the double digits. Plus, I don't want my dogs to reach the fox. I`m really concerned about that.

Foxes can do a lot of damage to your flock numbers. And I understand that they are not easy to trap. I wanted them trapped and relocated. but it looks like I'll have to wait for the hunters to take a few out.
Anna