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Looking for advice on how to get rid of a fox
I have a fox that just took out a bunch of my chickens and is probably still coming back to try and get more. I think I have found its den not far away. My idea is to try and shoot him if I can. I think that he probably has a female and cubs that he is providing for. Does anybody have any advice for me on how to get this fox/foxes?
craigmartin
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 I have a .22 with which I would be able to shoot foxes.
craigmartin
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 What part of the country are you in ?
dave w
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 I am in Co. Waterford. I am within about 15-20 minutes of Carrick-on-suir.
craigmartin
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 A bit to far down for me some local shooters should be able to help you out
dave w
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 Would you know anyone down this way who I could get in contact with?
craigmartin
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 This is exactly the problem I have right now.I purchased a fox cage trap from mceoin and the fox took three more on the day I got it set up and baited it with half a chicken carcass .He has not taken bait yet.He will keep coming back at all times of the day or when he knows your chickens are left out when it is quiet and strike When he thinks your not around.
Our chickens were taken while we were having breakfast and having lunch.
I have erected temporary fencing giving them a smaller area to free range that keeps them away from the boundaries or fringes so to speak.for now it seems to be working.
This is where the fox is watching form and hiding in wait for a chicken to venture close to the fringes and strike.I have video footage of the fox taking my chickens this way.
Not an ideal area for shooting here.So I opted for trapping instead.
If you can shoot it, this is a better option.
roostercroweburn
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 @roostercroweburn Could you give me a link to the fox trap you bought?
craigmartin
Sunday, May 15th, 2022 No problem craigmartin
https://www.maceoinltd.com/vermin-control-traps-snares/fox-d...
roostercroweburn
Monday, May 16th, 2022 Wow! That is quite the price. I think I will be trying to get this fox/foxes another way for the time being.
Thanks though
Carter
craigmartin
Monday, May 16th, 2022 Hi Craig , you’d be better off securing a run. There’s never just one fox. Shoot one, there’s definitely another. Save yourself the worry and heartache
Adrian Kelly
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 I have had chickens most of the time since the spring of 2020 I think it is and I usually let them out everyday. Until about this past weekend I have had very little problem with any wild animal getting my chickens in the area that I usually keep them. If my brain serves me correctly I lost only two or three to wild animals on two or three separate occasions in this immediate area before this past weekend. I have lost a batch of chickens in an area not too far away.
So anyways I have hope that if I could take out this fox and his family, if he has any, I might have some peace at least for a while.
Thanks for all your replies.
Carter
craigmartin
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 I'm sorry to hear what happened Carter. I have been having similar problems recently. I agree with Adrian is there anyway you can secure your hens? It's lovely to see our flocks running free but until the day the lion lies down with the lamb the fox is always going to be their enemy. If you keep a fairly docile breed the electrical poultry netting might be a good solution and you can move it easily to fresh ground. This worked for me until my newest batch who are in an area with trees. They simply climbed the trees and flew over! Last week the hens were very agitated and when I looked there was the fox standing on the bank. He seemed almost fearless and didn't run off until my screams became too much! Now their freedom is severely curtailed sadly, wings clipped and temporary fencing up but they are adapting and making the most of what's available. You may not need to take such drastic action but I would recommend the poultry netting.
Joseph lawler
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 Poultry netting or electric fence ran from mains. I’ve had foxes shot here too , makes little difference they killed a whole family one time of 5 in a single night so you won’t have any peace of mind shooting them . There’s always one more. And that’s just the fox. There’s dogs, pine marten , mink and even badgers there too.
Granted you could go a year without any attack them bam . All killed one morning .
Adrian Kelly
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 I think though that most of the time these animals won't come during the day. So as long as I shut up the chickens at night in secure pens then I am fine. It is just that this fox has gotten a bit bold and I think is coming during the day now. I know that this might be about my only option to keep my chickens safe but I am not too interested in spending a lot of money on a electric fence, or sacrificing the free range part. I sell most of my eggs as free range.
craigmartin
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 Yes it’s expensive enough but worth it once you’ve went through having a few attacks over the years.
You do know even penned birds are considered free range?
I have mine to roam over a quarter of an acre but they are fenced all round .
Adrian Kelly
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 Foxes come at all times and and seem to be getting bolder and braver all the time. It was about mid day when I saw that one. Your eggs would still be free range as the bigger fencing is 50 metres and you can join a few of them together to make an even bigger enclosure if you like. However the choice is always yours.
Joseph lawler
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 @Adrian Kelly What your saying about penned birds being considered free range, is that because they are not shut up into a very small wire pen with other birds like it is done commercially?
craigmartin
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 Where would you guys advise buying this electric fencing?
craigmartin
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 I bought mine here from the Irish fowl shop. If you order before 12 o'clock you will get next day delivery. It's expensive yes but I don't think you will regret it.
Joseph lawler
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 It depends on your set up but I have mine with their house and run in the middle and have an enclosure for each batch for breeding purposes. They have plenty of grass as there is no more than eight or ten in each. You could also surround a few houses with the bigger netting and let them range together. The electric fencer is always on even when they are locked up at night.
Joseph lawler
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 When fox's have cubs to feed they hunt day and night. Its at this time, that they tend to raid coops more often. Snaring might be the way to go here, if there are no dogs or cats in the equation? Another option, if you know anyone with terriers, is walk the land, and find the earth. He will deal with the lot, for young cubs, are more than capable of taking chickens, and they can be quite bold too.
nedzer
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 Nedzer I gave him a pm there hopefully get it sorted this weekend for him if he is open to using the terriers don’t usaully use them this time of year but Ik the feeling of getting them taken as already had to deal with my own problem one a few weeks ago
Woolly123
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 @craig Martin yes anything over a few square foot per bird is considered free range commercially as long as it’s not caged.
I wouldn’t go by that but a large area fenced off is essentially free range. I mean you could go by free range meaning they are completely unopened and free to roam anywhere but you’ll get the odd people saying that’s bad husbandry due to risk of attack. It’s essentially your choice , I know I feel better with them penned , I know they’re thriving and no risk of a bad death for them
Adrian Kelly
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 the only permanent solution is to shoot him,he called to me couple wks ago & killed 2 lambs the 1 night,thankfully we shot her the following night,when they taste blood they keep coming back
Tadhg13
Thursday, May 19th, 2022 Permanent for a while at least Tadhg!
Adrian Kelly
Thursday, May 19th, 2022 Yeah, the question is when will it stop being the permanent solution against foxes.
craigmartin
Friday, May 20th, 2022 it permanent for that one anyway,nothing killed since,when u own & are responsible for the welfare of animals sometimes u have to make decisions that everybody may not agree with,thats farming & life in general
Tadhg13
Friday, May 20th, 2022
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Looking for advice on how to get rid of a fox
I have a fox that just took out a bunch of my chickens and is probably still coming back to try and get more. I think I have found its den not far away. My idea is to try and shoot him if I can. I think that he probably has a female and cubs that he is providing for. Does anybody have any advice for me on how to get this fox/foxes?
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
I have a .22 with which I would be able to shoot foxes.
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
What part of the country are you in ?
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
I am in Co. Waterford. I am within about 15-20 minutes of Carrick-on-suir.
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
A bit to far down for me some local shooters should be able to help you out
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
Would you know anyone down this way who I could get in contact with?
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
This is exactly the problem I have right now.I purchased a fox cage trap from mceoin and the fox took three more on the day I got it set up and baited it with half a chicken carcass .He has not taken bait yet.He will keep coming back at all times of the day or when he knows your chickens are left out when it is quiet and strike When he thinks your not around.
Our chickens were taken while we were having breakfast and having lunch.
I have erected temporary fencing giving them a smaller area to free range that keeps them away from the boundaries or fringes so to speak.for now it seems to be working.
This is where the fox is watching form and hiding in wait for a chicken to venture close to the fringes and strike.I have video footage of the fox taking my chickens this way.
Not an ideal area for shooting here.So I opted for trapping instead.
If you can shoot it, this is a better option.
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
@roostercroweburn Could you give me a link to the fox trap you bought?
Sunday, May 15th, 2022
No problem craigmartin
https://www.maceoinltd.com/vermin-control-traps-snares/fox-d...
Monday, May 16th, 2022
Wow! That is quite the price. I think I will be trying to get this fox/foxes another way for the time being.
Thanks though
Carter
Monday, May 16th, 2022
Hi Craig , you’d be better off securing a run. There’s never just one fox. Shoot one, there’s definitely another. Save yourself the worry and heartache
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
I have had chickens most of the time since the spring of 2020 I think it is and I usually let them out everyday. Until about this past weekend I have had very little problem with any wild animal getting my chickens in the area that I usually keep them. If my brain serves me correctly I lost only two or three to wild animals on two or three separate occasions in this immediate area before this past weekend. I have lost a batch of chickens in an area not too far away.
So anyways I have hope that if I could take out this fox and his family, if he has any, I might have some peace at least for a while.
Thanks for all your replies.
Carter
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
I'm sorry to hear what happened Carter. I have been having similar problems recently. I agree with Adrian is there anyway you can secure your hens? It's lovely to see our flocks running free but until the day the lion lies down with the lamb the fox is always going to be their enemy. If you keep a fairly docile breed the electrical poultry netting might be a good solution and you can move it easily to fresh ground. This worked for me until my newest batch who are in an area with trees. They simply climbed the trees and flew over! Last week the hens were very agitated and when I looked there was the fox standing on the bank. He seemed almost fearless and didn't run off until my screams became too much! Now their freedom is severely curtailed sadly, wings clipped and temporary fencing up but they are adapting and making the most of what's available. You may not need to take such drastic action but I would recommend the poultry netting.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
Poultry netting or electric fence ran from mains. I’ve had foxes shot here too , makes little difference they killed a whole family one time of 5 in a single night so you won’t have any peace of mind shooting them . There’s always one more. And that’s just the fox. There’s dogs, pine marten , mink and even badgers there too.
Granted you could go a year without any attack them bam . All killed one morning .
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
I think though that most of the time these animals won't come during the day. So as long as I shut up the chickens at night in secure pens then I am fine. It is just that this fox has gotten a bit bold and I think is coming during the day now. I know that this might be about my only option to keep my chickens safe but I am not too interested in spending a lot of money on a electric fence, or sacrificing the free range part. I sell most of my eggs as free range.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
Yes it’s expensive enough but worth it once you’ve went through having a few attacks over the years.
You do know even penned birds are considered free range?
I have mine to roam over a quarter of an acre but they are fenced all round .
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
Foxes come at all times and and seem to be getting bolder and braver all the time. It was about mid day when I saw that one. Your eggs would still be free range as the bigger fencing is 50 metres and you can join a few of them together to make an even bigger enclosure if you like. However the choice is always yours.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
@Adrian Kelly What your saying about penned birds being considered free range, is that because they are not shut up into a very small wire pen with other birds like it is done commercially?
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
Where would you guys advise buying this electric fencing?
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
I bought mine here from the Irish fowl shop. If you order before 12 o'clock you will get next day delivery. It's expensive yes but I don't think you will regret it.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
It depends on your set up but I have mine with their house and run in the middle and have an enclosure for each batch for breeding purposes. They have plenty of grass as there is no more than eight or ten in each. You could also surround a few houses with the bigger netting and let them range together. The electric fencer is always on even when they are locked up at night.
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
When fox's have cubs to feed they hunt day and night. Its at this time, that they tend to raid coops more often. Snaring might be the way to go here, if there are no dogs or cats in the equation? Another option, if you know anyone with terriers, is walk the land, and find the earth. He will deal with the lot, for young cubs, are more than capable of taking chickens, and they can be quite bold too.
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
Nedzer I gave him a pm there hopefully get it sorted this weekend for him if he is open to using the terriers don’t usaully use them this time of year but Ik the feeling of getting them taken as already had to deal with my own problem one a few weeks ago
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
@craig Martin yes anything over a few square foot per bird is considered free range commercially as long as it’s not caged.
I wouldn’t go by that but a large area fenced off is essentially free range. I mean you could go by free range meaning they are completely unopened and free to roam anywhere but you’ll get the odd people saying that’s bad husbandry due to risk of attack. It’s essentially your choice , I know I feel better with them penned , I know they’re thriving and no risk of a bad death for them
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
the only permanent solution is to shoot him,he called to me couple wks ago & killed 2 lambs the 1 night,thankfully we shot her the following night,when they taste blood they keep coming back
Thursday, May 19th, 2022
Permanent for a while at least Tadhg!
Thursday, May 19th, 2022
Yeah, the question is when will it stop being the permanent solution against foxes.
Friday, May 20th, 2022
it permanent for that one anyway,nothing killed since,when u own & are responsible for the welfare of animals sometimes u have to make decisions that everybody may not agree with,thats farming & life in general
Friday, May 20th, 2022