Getting rid of foxes

[fowl farm]

So we've lost some birds. 1 chicken, 2 guineas, and I just witnessed, with my own eyes, a fox take its second duck. And where I would have thought really cool if it was the wild, these are MY poultry, and I want to get rid of the fox. Any ideas?

 

[sourland]

For those not experienced with trapping, a shotgun is the best way of getting rid of fox.

 

[Shadowjack15]

This is exactly why I finally joined BYC. We have lost ducks and chickens to fox. I won't go into my own stories but need you to know I have firsthand dealt with the horrid losses and injuries numerous times. There is at least one fox still here in our rural farm area - she is seen with squirrels and other "things" in several fields by three neighbors.I see her out in our pastures and right behind our barn. She is certainly not leery of me. I no longer free-range my older girls (only 7) without being actively right with them.I haven't let the newbies out to free-range at all. Before I put down milorganite I caught that jerk IN my run!! Girls going nuts. If I had not been in the barn and heard them at least one would be gone. I have used milorganite in the garden area and noticed the resident groundhog that lives in one of our stone walls was NOT feasting. Figured it was worth a try. The ONLY difference of anything around here is the milorganite. Coincidence? Perhaps. But worth a try for people that are losing their chickens. Every 7 - 10 days I put a somewhat thick line of milorganite about 5 feet around each run. I check it and if there is no smell I replenish it. I would be very interested in people that try this and how it works for them. I cannot remember what I paid for it but it wasn't too dear. Wish you luck.

 

[fowl farm]

All the birds free range. And night isn't the issue. He's getting them in the day, and I couldn't really humanely pen up the birds (except maybe the ducks, but they can fly out) because their pens aren't very large. The major point of these birds is de-bugging, with the exception of the chickens, who lay.

 

[Amiga]

Hi, fowl farm, I followed you over here from the Duck Forum.

This morning around 5 I heard what almost sounded like a baby crying, just a short, two-toned cry, several seconds apart four or five times.

Later I realized it might be a fisher (a type of marten) and looked for an audio clip. Turns out it was more likely a fox, as I have seen them around, and a couple of weeks ago a neighbor on the other side of the hill lost her entire flock over two or three nights to a fox.

Our circumstances enable me to keep the ducks in pretty secure areas, but we do go for walks together in brushy areas.

At least, we used to. I also have them for pest control, so I would like to be able to continue to walk them around the place.

The Milorganite sounds like something worth trying.

 

[fowl farm]

The more I read about other peoples fox problems, the more I like ours. One person said they lost 14 (?) chickens in one day. We've lost 5 poultry total over the course of 2 weeks! I'll try the Milorganite, but they are getting tired of the yard and wandering farther. Hopefully we'll be able to trap and dispose of it.

 

[aprophet]

For those not experienced with trapping, a shotgun is the best way of getting rid of fox.

A .22 or .22 magnum and a "dying rabbit call is pretty effective as well

 

[ivan3]

aprophet wrote: A .22 or .22 magnum and a "dying rabbit call is pretty effective as well

x2

Never have bothered with a shotgun for foxes, semi-auto .22 has served well. However, this is a function of location/SAFE fields of fire. There are a lot of audio files available on the web (fox kit/adult fox vocalizations) that can simply be recorded to an old battery operated cassette recorder and placed `out back'. If there are foxes within hearing they'll wander in for a look.

 

[fowl farm]

I think we'll set up a live trap, and my Dad suggested a drive. See, we live on 50 acres, with 230 behind us for sale, and about a mile down the road my brother and I scared up a fox while biking, so who knows where it might be. Plus, I don't know when he'll be back. The was the first attack in a week. Hopefully I'll be able to find his den. Thanks for all the help! Now to get him.

 

[fowl farm]

Hey, Shadowjack15, where do you buy Milorganite?