Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks

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Bootychooks

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Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« on: June 25, 2017, 12:09 »
A fox has been in our pen this morning. He has taken one chicken and injured 2 others. The other three are traumatised. I have sprayed the wounds with Gold Purple Spray. One is very badly wounded. Not sure if she will survive. Any tips to stop Mr Fox from returning?
« Last Edit: June 26, 2017, 13:11 by Yorkie »

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greenjay

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2017, 13:06 »
so distressing when they are attacked.
this time of year a vixen will be feeding growing cubs.
though it sounds like he was playing a bit by attacking others.
you must fox proof and ideally get a pest controller in to eradicate!!
the fox will be back.

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Yorkie

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2017, 13:12 »
Hi Bootychooks

Welcome to the site but sorry to hear about your chickens and the fox.

I've split your post from the other thread and moved it into here as more people are likely to see it.
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...

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Sassy

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2017, 15:45 »
So sorry to hear about this. You cannot stop the fox returning (unless it is culled ). You need to stop the fox getting at your birds. You don't mention how they are kept ie free range etc. An electric fence is one of the easiest deterrents. Or a fox proof fence, min 6' high including a 45 degree outward facing top bit to the fence, this would also need either the fence to be extended into the soil to prevent tunnelling in or using weld mesh on the ground around the outside of the fence. With both of these options you would need to ensure there is nothing eg a wall or bit of equipment that the fox can use as a launch pad in - he does not consider how to get out! One or a mixture of these is your best bet, it does depend on your set up.  :)
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted!!

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Bootychooks

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #4 on: June 26, 2017, 22:12 »
Thank you Greenjay and Sassy for your replies.
He hasn't been back yet and our poorly chickens are recovering, staggering around the pen. I am considering getting electric fencing, but the fences belong to neighbours on 2 sides so we will have to have a chat with them. There are loads of foxes in our area (urban) and I know of 2 neighbours who feed them regularly. I suppose we've been lucky- never had any problems till last Christmas.

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Sassy

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2017, 09:03 »
Thank you Greenjay and Sassy for your replies.
He hasn't been back yet and our poorly chickens are recovering, staggering around the pen. I am considering getting electric fencing, but the fences belong to neighbours on 2 sides so we will have to have a chat with them. There are loads of foxes in our area (urban) and I know of 2 neighbours who feed them regularly. I suppose we've been lucky- never had any problems till last Christmas.

Can you fence within your garden? Look at electric poultry fencing online.  :)

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New shoot

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2017, 11:10 »
My big run borders 2 boundaries in my garden, but I have a separate run boundary within those.  It is also roofed, which I think is important if the run is near a fence or wall.  I've seen the fox go over the 6 foot fence between me and my neighbour.  It would be an easy jump down into an open pen.

Hope your girls continue on the mend Bootychooks  :)

 

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greenjay

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2017, 21:20 »
good to hear the girls are recovering and that he has not been back.
from my understanding an urban fox likes an easy meal i.e being fed.
its probably just fun if she comes back to play with your hens.
secure your girls from your own side even if you have to double fence.
the worry is not knowing if or when the fox will be back

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janz70

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2017, 10:06 »
just fun!!!! what is that supposed to mean.

Foxes are predators and will rather eat a live hen than a bit of stale pizza and also go into a killing frenzy when they get access to lots of pray - read on!

I live in the sticks and have my hens free range during the day, and lock ip during the night.
I have lost the odd one over the years but put that down to the natural run of things and its better for them to free range than to cooped up all their lives

But

Last week we had a visit between 4 and 6 pm (still bright sunshine, summer afternoon) and it killed 2 cocks, 9 hens, and 9 pullets. thats left me with 1 cock, 1 hen, 1 pullet 4 years of work down the drain, unfortunately thats the end of free ranging.

PS we have dogs that visit the area 2 a day and leave their calling cards so to speak, obviously human presence when collecting eggs etc, even did the old man pee trick and it has made no difference, keep them penned in for their own safety.  :(

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greenjay

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #9 on: June 29, 2017, 20:31 »
by just fun I meant their fun!
 indiscriminately killing what they can and not taking them to eat

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New shoot

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2017, 13:51 »
by just fun I meant their fun!
 indiscriminately killing what they can and not taking them to eat

I think it was clear what you meant Greenjay.  Foxes do get completely overwhelmed when faced by lots of flapping hens and will just go on killing until nothing else moves.  Even if they take a few dead hens away and try and bury them for later, it is usually way more food than they can actually eat.

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jededitor

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Re: Fox attack - prevention? - from Bootychooks
« Reply #11 on: July 13, 2017, 22:38 »
Before we roofed over the run the local fox always managed to get over our wire. Fortunately we had a very canny cockerel (father of our present one) who would defend the entrance of the hen house while the fox was attempting to get in and the neighbours dog would raise the alarm.

Since the roof no problems at all/



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