Fox vs. Chickens

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I'm hoping someone out there has an idea...solution or suggestion to a big new problem. We live in wooded area...wild turkeys included. A fox has discovered that our hens free range during the day. A few hours ago that fox was bold enought to come steal a hen right near the house. We have no firearms and our local government would be after us if we dared to try to protect our flock with a gun. Our place is in area where local government is on your back at the slightest thing....we have one local who has been hounded to get rid of his birds.

Any suggtions on discouraging this fox from stealing our hens? We don't really want to lock them up all day and all night too....although their hen house is safe haven for them. Please, if you have any ideas, share them. Thanks

-- Old Gramma (Gotitincalif@webtv.net), June 09, 1999

Answers

I used to have this problem back home in New York and what we did is to buy a giant Have-A-Hart trap and just caught the little guy and relocated him thirty miles down the road. No laws against that! I'm sure you can find someone to help you with the details at your vet's office. And you can just employ that tacic against any other varmints hanging around.

-- (workatthefarm@atl.ga), June 09, 1999.

get a couple of fox hating dogs,

-- al-d. (catt@zianet.com), June 09, 1999.

We have problems with coyotes and bobcats. We have not lost any chickens to varmits since we have had our kommodore dog...except the time we were gone to N.Mex for two weeks and our teenage son "forgot" to close the chicken house door and left the kommodore in the dog pen. We lost 10 hens that night; I'm sure it was coyotes. Keep the area where the hens range trimmed down with the weed eater...this will help also. Get dog hair from dog groomers and kennels and spread it around your property. Also don't let your chickens out until way past dawn and put them up BEFORE dark. The predators are most active at dawn and dusk.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), June 09, 1999.

I once came across the suggestion that, with access to a zoo, and one knows a cooperative keeper in the big cats section, sprinkling urine from any of these large predators around your property will actively discourage small predators such as foxes, skunks and raccoons. (I never had occasion to try this.)

Would the use of a crossbow in eliminating varmints be allowed where you live?

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), June 10, 1999.


Thanks for ideas...actually posted question on a few homesteading forums and surprised to learn how many people have or have had same problem. Got some thoughts on what to do... We lost our dog (lived to a ripe old age though) awhile back. Thinking about adopting another but son thinks it is not a good idea. I think he's afraid he might inherit dog...like we inherited so many. I learned about foxes...their likes, dislikes and lifestyles. Always amazed at how much information is so readily available on the web. As far as the cross=bow idea...I'm not so sure that either Grampa or I have muscle or eyesight for it. Thanks again folks. Take care, prepare and keep sharing information. Your great...most of you that is. Admit to skipping some posts...too much for this Old Gramma.

-- Old Gramma (Gotitincalif@webtv.net), June 10, 1999.


Tom, Over here in the UK,big cats's droppings are marketed as ZooDoo.what a great name !

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), June 10, 1999.

Hey Old Gramma, put straight vinegar in one of those hand sprayers and spray every one of your birds! They will stink to high heaven and the fox will think twice before he eats a stinkin bird!!!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), June 10, 1999.

Hello!

Sounds like the dog idea might work, but I would suggest a puppy - well protected from the fox 'til he grows- because an older dog might like chasing chickens and could wipe out the whole flock in minutes. Not a pretty sight - they just mangle and leave them. I have heard several people who owned Kommodore (sp?) dogs and chickens and were very pleased. They are expensive to start and have LOTS of hair though. I have been considering one myself. You may need to resort to building a big enough covered run for the birds if you want to insure they are around next year. Good Luck! (and don't let your son discourage you from getting another dog).

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), June 10, 1999.


Actually, it *IS* illegal in many areas to release trapped animals away from your property. Most farmers already have plenty of pests like woodchucks, foxes, etc, and DON'T appreciate strangers bringing them more.

One idea for pasturing chickens safely is to build a portable,fully enclosed, but floorless pen that you move from one area to another each day. That way, they have access to fresh grass and bugs, spread their fertilizer around, and are still protected from predators. I've used that method successfully for 2 years, and haven't lost a bird yet, despite plenty of local foxes, mink, raccoons, etc.

-- Debra (dgraff@vt.edu), June 10, 1999.


Follow up to Deb's idea of a moveable ark.

We built three fully enclosed chicken runs.Imagine them arranged to make a T shape.Where the arms of the "T" intersect each other,place your hen house.Arrange for it to have doors for access into each run. Let the chickens into one run at a time & rest the other two runs.

Saves moving the ark around.

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), June 10, 1999.



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