He came by in broad daylight, at about 4:30 yesterday afternoon. He killed two chickens and was pulling the feathers out of a third when we noticed him in the front yard. We shut up the FIVE hens we have left, and heartily thanked our three-year-old, who had first alerted us with cries of, "There's a fox eating our chicken!!!"

This morning, Sarah went out to feed and water the chickens. There was the fox--at 8:00 on a bright sunshiney morning--hanging around the yard waiting for the chickens to come out. Sarah chose to leave the chickens IN. The fox ran off at the sight of Sarah, just like he ran off yesterday when we went out to rescue our hen.

My question is this: does a fox normally show his face in broad daylight? Would he be really hungry (but he didn't eat the two he killed) or rabid? My birthday is next week. I want a dog, a fence, and a pellet gun.

-- Cathy N. (eastern Ontario) (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 30, 2002

Answers

We had a coyote hang around our chicken yard for a day and that was it. I had no choice on shutting them in during the mid day because coralling 45 chickens into the hen house while it is still light was not to be. We do have a dog which I know helps. We have a fence around the hen house but have about a dozen who fly over the fence and pasture themselves. Never saw any feathers so don't think he got any. My husband walked the pasture with his shogun when he came home from work but never saw anything.

-- Nancy (nannyb@huntel.net), March 30, 2002.

fox will come out anytime of the day,, and use a 22 or 12 gauge,,you dont want it wounded and sick,, then you may have a sick/rabied animals hanging around

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 30, 2002.

wow! That is a little too scary. I would see if there are any neighbors who could take care of it. Maybe someone who sells furs????

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 30, 2002.

We had a fox hanging around here last spring. I did see him occassionally during the day. I did not know that they would take all your chickens in one night until this one just about did. We had 19 young chickens in a portable coop. I figured if he broke in he'd take one or two, and I'd know it wasn't secure enough. Wrong! In one night, he took 15, and was coming back for more when I stepped out the back door at 7 the next morning. The boys said, oh, yea, they'd seen on Crat's Creatures how a fox will take them all and bury them!! We started putting the remaining chicks back in the garage brooder at night until hubby made a fox proof coop. We've only lost one since, and I don't know if the fox got it, or if it just wandered off. They are out during the day. But we did see a dead fox in the road awhile back, and haven't see the fox since, so maybe it was just the one and he's gone. Good luck with yours meeting a similar fate;)

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), March 30, 2002.

Forget the pellet gun - shoot to kill and use appropriate fire power for a quick and humane death. 12-gauge is my choice, or the 22.

Keep the chickens locked up, your weapon at hand (SECURELY at hand), and the kids in your sight until the fox is taken care of. This IS the time of year for rabies and you're right to be concerned.

-- Michaela (flhomestead@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Thanks for the gun advice; I wouldn't mind getting a shotgun. But this is Canada, and we'd have to get a permit. We can get a high- powered pellet gun without a permit. We are still considering what to get, but we've heard that getting the permit could be a long process.

-- Cathy N. (eastern Ontario) (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 30, 2002.

go to Detroit,, buy it there, and sneak it back

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 30, 2002.

Hey that's great advice. I'm sure you'd have NO trouble sneaking a weapon across the border these days. Sheez.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), March 30, 2002.

I too think foxes are out some durring the day but I know that in Howell county Missouri they have a rabies alert out as they have two confirmed cases of rabies in skunks so they are advising everyone to get thier pets the rabies shots. They are also warning everyone to keep on the lookout for animals in the day that you usually only see at night. Hope you get the fox. It is funny how cute the little wild critters can be until the coons hit the corn or foxes the hen house. gail in missouri

-- gail missouri ozarks (gefozarks@centurytel.net), March 30, 2002.

One word: HOUNDOGS Can you ask around and find some of the local houndsmen? Perhaps borrow some beagles for awhile or something.

-- Laura S. (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), March 31, 2002.

Seeing a fox during the day isn't very common...seeing one during the day close to a house is really unusual. I'd seriously be worried about rabies. Since ya'll can't have guns up in Canada(oh boy could I ever not live there..lol) the best way to do away with your fox is a live trap. Take one of the chickens it has already killed to bait it with. Foot traps will work with foxes but aren't as reliable as a live trap. After it is caught then you can dispose of it(sharp stick, baseball bat or what have you). Pellet guns don't do too much good unless you are trying to scare away a neighbors dog. Can ya'll have bows up there? Those are just as leathal as a gun but you have to be a bit closer to your target.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Can we maybe put this gun thing about Canada to rest for good??

Despite popular belief, Canadians CAN OWN GUNS!!!!! The difference is, you must apply for a permit and then you must register the weapon!! If Cathy wishes to, she may go, do so and then proceed to buy a gun to keep the critters out of her yard.

Sheesh!!!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Tracy, we would like to get a regular shotgun, and plan to do so in time. But we were told that it can be a long, drawn out process. And Stan, I can just imagine the headlines: "Baptist Preacher Arrested and Deported for Smuggling". No thanks.

-- Cathy N. (eastern Ontario) (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 31, 2002.

How about calling animal control or such .One that close to the house is dangerous with small children .Do not let them out alone.If you do not have a weapon , I would at least have a baseball bat handy.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), April 02, 2002.

My apologies, Cathy -- it CAN take a while, but the fact is that it can be done, with patience.

I took exception to the fact that, once again, assumptions are being made about Canada by those who haven't bothered to actually look into what they are saying, but simply repeating false information. And they seem to want to persist in this, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Should you wish to get a gun license, it is my understanding that, in Ontario (it varies from province to province) that the registered gun owner would have to take a gun safety course, apply for a permit, and then, upon the permit being granted, buy and register the weapon.

At this point, with summer coming and little ones wanting to be outside, you would probably do better to call animal control. In the meantime, for the next time this happens (and it more than likely will), apply for the permit. Unless you or your husband have a violent crime record, there is no reason why you wouldn't be granted a permit.

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.