FOX!

[canesisters]

I was in the coop yesterday just playing with the flock and watching to be sure that the 6week olds were getting along ok with everyone else. I tossed a little scratch out and was looking around at all the TALL weeds taking over the pasture when I spotted a fox. It ducked under the back of the paddock fence and headed right for the corner where I was standing. Now... the coop is in the corner of the yard - on the other side of the fence is the paddock and right where the 2 of them meet is the gate between one field and the other. The fox appeared to be heading for the gate - not for the coop. When I saw it I started talking to it - thinking that as soon as it realized I was there it would spook. It just kept trotting across the field as if it hadn't a care in the world. When it was roughly 20 yds away I was talking much louder saying things like "Are you insane?? Don't you realize that I'm right here? If I had the gun you'd be a gonner!" It kept trotting along. When it rounded the gate post (less than 10' away) I dropped my bucket and started yelling and clapping my hands. That did it, it turned into a small ball of streaking fur and was gone in an instant.

I was concerned that it wasn't concerned about me being there. Before anyone starts going on about rabies, it was the picture of health. Smooth, shiney coat. Easy, confident gait. Head up, ears alert, eyes bright. Not even any of that 'motheaten' look from fleas & ticks. I know enough about dog body language to be pretty sure that it was NOT heading for the run - at least not that time. It's head & ears were pointed off toward the creek and it was moving as if it had a purpose, not as if it was following a scent or looking to scare up some unknown critter.

We have an ABUNDANCE of rabbits - and with the creek, there are frogs galore too. I had seen a fox in nearly the same spot about 6-8months ago so I assume that it's quite possible that it's been right here all along. My fence is 6'high. There is an 8"wide apron along the bottom to make digging a little bit more difficult. But there is no top on the run other than a web of fishing line to deter hawks. Like I said, the coop is in the corner of the yard - so the dogs are out there messing around most days.
I don't want to wait until it does actually make an attack on the coop - but I'm not sure what I SHOULD do. Since it doesn't seem to have pegged the coop as a food source yet, would deterants be my best choice?? Couple of lines of electric wire? I heard once that pouring amonia around will work on them.
Or - should I go ahead and set the trap?

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i can only think of getting coyote urine to dab around the coop. it could be your dogs are a deterrent to the fox getting closer to the coop too, or even your scent. maybe it has a good feast of mice, other rodents, bugs and frogs that it's not taking any interest in the chickens yet. but i don't blame you for being cautious with a fox around. they tend to be around mostly in the early morning or towards dusk around here. occasionally i've seen them midday, but i don't think they tend to be night hunters other than looking for the occasional frog.

is there a wildlife officer you can call about trying to relocate it if it becomes a nuisance?

 

[Carol Dee]

I left my response on the other post!

 

[lesa]

I have seen fox run right past my chickens... I can't explain it. So far, no loss to fox. I wouldn't blame you for shooting it- it may happen some day.

 

[secuono]

There's no real reason for them to fear us, we don't live in the woods/fields chasing them.
Our foxes walk in open, short pasture more so than the tall stuff. Walk in the day time, night, anytime, right past people and larger animals.

Once the fox tries a chicken or rabbit and realizes how easy the meal is, you will be over run with them.
You need to start protecting them now before you loose countless animals. Hot wire is the best bet, traps/snares after they start threatening livestock. I don't think its right to kill wildlife when it is not harming your animals. I killed before the fence went up, now I leave them be as they leave my animals be.

I've tried dog urine, human male urine, wolf urine, none of it did anything, they don't care. And they will get used to noise scares and water sprayers, those are only temporary money wasters.
They need a real, physical thing stopping them.

 

[StonyGarden]

Funny you made this post Canesisters. I saw 3 kits last night down the road a ways. I always thought foxes were nocturnal. Learn something new every day! Hopefully they don't get interested in your chickens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Foxes are mostly nocturnal hunters. But like raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and many other mostly nocturnal hunters, they will hunt in the daytime. Just because you see one of these during the day does not mean they have rabies or are sick. Maybe they had a bad night hunting and are still hungry. Maybe Mama has a bunch of hungry babies back home. Maybe Mama just weaned them and kicked them out so they are out looking for a new home. Maybe they are hippies and just live life on their own terms.

I still treat every one of the nocturnal hunters I see during the day as if it might be sick and give it a wide berth. Or, like in the case of that skunk that was acting really erratically last summer, I break out the shogun, just in case. There was something wrong with that skunk. But, yeah, seeing coyotes or foxes during the day is not that unusual around here.

Foxes and raccoons, things like that, are funny. They may go through your compost pile on a regular basis and ignore your garden or chickens for a long time. But you never know when they will take an interest. If I see something that looks like it is just passing through I generally leave it alone unless it is acting erratic like that skunk. But if it starts to include my compost pile, chicken feed, fruits, berries, or garden in its regular rounds, it has to go.

 

[Jared77]

I wonder too because we've had a HUGE surplus in rabbits this year. I swear I can't walk 10ft without kicking out some. Could be the surplus of them has brought them out earlier. Seems to be the year for them.

Now if I could just change those rabbits into pheasants life would be REAL good.

 

[897tgigvib]

Do you have an air horn?

I have a deluxe model. One time when I used it the earthquake detectors in Russia detected the vibrations as a 9.0 earthquake, anyhow, only a teency exagerration, but if you use one of those at an animal at close range, while doing an all out gorilla charge, that animal will not stop running until it circumnavigates the planet. oh reminds me, that bear i used it on a couple years ago ought to make it back from it's circumnavigation in a couple more years...

 

[bj taylor]

the coyotes set up singing early tonight & close. the goats got instantly nervous, the male german shepherd's hackles go up & he's ready to rumble. the female german shepherd heads for the house.
the coyotes have been intense the last several nights. I think they are trying to figure out how to get inside the fenced perimeter. I have the goats penned up at night also, but these coyotes are making me nervous. the shotgun is sitting by the back door.