[maunder]

He'll be back, 2Dogs.

You can only do so much to protect your flock. So don't beat yourself up that you've lost some. Everything likes chicken. No matter what, they have a better quality life with you than they would in a giant commercial facility.

If he's a large fox, it's not a cub establishing territory or passing through. Come January, he/she might pair up for breeding, and soon there will be kits to feed. So just think of things you can do to mitigate the chances they see your coop as an all you can eat buffet.

Good luck.

Agreed. They are intelligent critters. After a gorgeous fox got several of my flock last year (dug under a fence) he came back daily to see what was happening around my place. I'd see him/her sitting just outside the fence at about three in the afternoon each day.

I live in a very wild area, with the woods coming right down to the fencing. I made the decision to fortify the chicken run so that the hens are safe and fox and other critters can live in the woods. In my case it really wouldn't do any good to shoot everything that comes by because there is always something coming by that likes chicken. I also enjoy the foxes too. This one was just magnificent. Healthy and glorious in its red coat. I did shake my head and laugh at it when I saw it sitting on a little hump just watching the activity around the house.

My Jack Russell lets the fox know it's not to come into the fenced area again but Thistle isn't out all day. So far hens have been very safe since the fortification and fox doesn't come by as often, since there doesn't appear to be any point.

[2DogsFarm]

I already have chicken wire "apron" around the coop & fenced yard - extending about 1' out - to prevent digging in.
And the run is roofed with deer netting to keep hawks out.
I'm having some work done on the coop soon - rat invasion has the stone paver floor in the "people half" all uprooted & unlevel.
Rats have been poison-baited into remission, but I do not need to turn an ankle.

Anything else I can do to fox-proof the coop & yard?

maunder:
I am not advocating shooting as a preventative, I was just not unhappy to hear the kid shoots at coyotes.

[maunder]

Oh, I didn't mean to come across as criticizing for anyone shooting critters. I know people do and that sometimes it's very necessary. I just don't do it around my place because it wouldn't make a dent in the population . I also really enjoy the wildlife.


Sounds like you have a good protective plan in place. I didn't check my fenceline at one spot regularly and that's how that gorgeous fox found his way in.

[leaf]

I love my foxes too. I can't blame them for dining on my chickens that I used to let free range. I don't appreciate them coming over my fence though. I educated the local foxes with a hot-wire around the outside of the chicken pen. I had it about eighteen inches off the ground, worked like a charm.
I've also wired up a hen carcass ( one that the fox got but didn't carry too far away), and hung it from a tripod of plastic fence posts, then ran a wire to a charger that runs on flashlight batteries, used a garden stake for a ground. Slept with my windows open and laughed merrily when I heard Reynard go for the carcass. Foxes are very intelligent and can be trained that chickens are bad.

[Lynnwood]

Sorry for the loss of your chickens repeating what has been said here before

"The problem with Chickens is they taste like chicken"

[Tom King]

From all I've read here it seems to point most to loose dog or fox.

Tom King:
None missing - just the 3 bodies and evidence of a pretty good fight put up by the rooster.
The hens seem to have been slaughtered where they hid.

Survivors are doing better - they ranged a little further from the coop last night when they had their hour or so of freedom.
I get home from work around 5:30P and sunset begins around 7 these days.
Their freerange days may be ended, but they have a good-sized fenced yard.

And just now I hear the trash pickup outside - the "funeral service".
A pragmatic RIP.

He was probably carrying something home on the way by the chickens, and carried that home first.

[2DogsFarm]

He was probably carrying something home on the way by the chickens, and carried that home first.

Well I hope "something" was just a fieldmouse and fox returned to find the Major Shopping was MIA

[2DogsFarm]

I was cobwebbing my indoor yesterday and heard the hens making a racket.
I looked out to see a red fox looking for all the World like a dog on point, staring into their fenced yard.
In hindsight, I wish I'd tried to get closer quietly, but my first impulse was yell and go quickly.
Fox ran, and my poor hens ventured out from the coop where they had hidden.
Sigh.
So no more freeranging unless I am right there with them.

What say the fox-savvy COTHers:
Looked to me like a young animal, so can I hope he/she is just passing through?

Again: I've seen no sign of fox in the 8 years I've been here, or the 3 years I've had chickens loose in the yard.

[maunder]

My hens are very good at telling me when Fox is around. They also have a special call that they make when they see a hawk. I happened to be looking out my office door (coop is at the back of the house) one day when a hawk cried from up in the sky. Those hens did a completely silent duck and scurry faster than I thought they could move.

You could take a gamble that the fox was passing through - but I'd bet he/she will be watching.

[JanWeber]

Sadly, they don't really "pass through" - not when the pickings seem so easy. Mine no longer free range - hell, they don't go out unless one of us is out thete with them.

[JSwan]

Sounds like he's there to stay.

[2DogsFarm]

I may need some Chicken Mood Elevator for the survivors.

2 are moulting - the one that got bit is worst, probably jumpstarted by the stress. She is eating, drinking and acting normally otherwise & the scabs are gone, skin looks good - she just looks frightful - i.e. normal moulting chicken

But all 4 are reluctant to leave the coop and enjoy their fenced yard since being scared by the fox outside the fence.
If I toss treats out they will go for a while, but always retreat back inside.

ChickenPros:
Will they get over it?
I know chickens hate change & they have gone through some Major Change in the last 3 weeks.
But I hate to think they will confine themselves to the coop - even though it has sufficient space. It's a converted shed so pretty roomy for just 4 hens.

Or do I just need to get out more, accept they have food, fresh water, scratching space, etc & all of us will have to learn to deal?

[JanWeber]

They will get back to normal - it just takes time.

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks JanWeber
See my Location - I guess the hens & I will get there again some day...