Fox in the hen house

[rawolfee]

Not really in the hen house since our chickens are free range, but we have a fox problem. Over the last few weeks, we noticed something has been getting our chickens. My daughter swore she saw a fox a few weeks ago, but I didn't believe her. Figured it was a cat or something. Well yesterday I saw the little bugger. He was on the edge of the grass on the backside of the barn. I was actually able to walk up pretty close to it before it ran off. I think it may have been a young one. A little later, another fox ran across my pasture while I was bush hogging. This one seemed bigger. Thinking I may have a den close by. I am on guard now and bring a gun with me to the barn. However, I can't be out there all the time. Wondering if anyone has had any luck with sprays or any other commercial deterrents. I turned the radio on in the barn hoping the noise may help, but I suspect they will learn eventually it's not a threat. Any other ideas are appreciated.

 

[Nicodemus]

Only thing you can do is predator proof your coop and henhouse. I had to lay 2 foot tall hardware cloth on the ground all the way around our chicken pen under the fence. About 4 inches of it on the inside, and 20 inches on the outside. Then I covered it with a layer of dirt. That`ll stop any 4 legged varmint from digging in.

 

[Railroader]

You need a trapper...

 

[rawolfee]

That's part of the problem. We don't really have a coop. We let them roam and they roost all over the place. Mostly in an empty horse stall on the walls. Finding eggs is like an Easter egg hunt everyday. I guess I need to build a coop, but we definitely want them to be able to free range during the day too.

 

[Hillbilly stalker]

A good old cur for a yard dog will solve alot of problems. My buddy has a yard full of chickens, several cats and ducks. That Catahoula cur wont let any varmint in the yard, wont let anything fight or fornicate in the yard either.He can tell her to catch any animal in the yard and she wont hurt it a bit. They work 24/7 and only require a pat on the head every now and again. She works on snakes too.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Same idea as @Hillbilly stalker but different breed of dog....
Ive had very good luck with my pair of livestock guardian dogs. They are Anatolian shepard/great pyrenees crosses. Almost 300lbs together of killin machine when they go after a predator, but sweet and gentle with our goats and chickens. They know what to guard and what to get rid of with really no training at all. My cat, fine. Feral cat? Got to go! Neighbors dog runnin by the house? They will bark at em. Feral dogs or yotes? Well you get the point. If you want a round the clock guard then i highly reccomend this route. They are cheaper that a well built secure coop and fenced run. It is not an instant solution though. They do bark some at night, and may run off down the road if they dont have enough stuff to guard at the house, but if they have animals to watch they wont run down a fox or yote too far from "home."

 

[Artfuldodger]

I've heard of folks getting a donkey to guard goats
against coyotes. I'm not sure about fox though.
We walked up to a pasture of cows to look at a donkey and he got kind of aggressive and put himself between us and the cows.
Donkeys’ dislike of dogs also makes them effective against coyotes.

 

[Artfuldodger]

Chickens

Mini donkeys should outsize even bigger chickens. While chickens can get rambunctious and peck and scratch, your donkey should handle their guarding duties quite well with this feathered friend.

Predators of chickens include dogs, hawks, and foxes. The mini donkey should successfully chase off the latter two animals, but perhaps not all dogs, especially bigger ones. Do your part then to make sure your chickens are safe. You might keep them in a closed cage or even get an electric fence installed.

 

[kmckinnie]

I got NV scope. Shooting varmits is my thing. Plus most is double fenced. Pins inside a fenced in area. Good dogs. but things still happen. creatures of the nite have all nite. ?

 

[fishfryer]

Chickens

Mini donkeys should outsize even bigger chickens. While chickens can get rambunctious and peck and scratch, your donkey should handle their guarding duties quite well with this feathered friend.

Predators of chickens include dogs, hawks, and foxes. The mini donkey should successfully chase off the latter two animals, but perhaps not all dogs, especially bigger ones. Do your part then to make sure your chickens are safe. You might keep them in a closed cage or even get an electric fence installed.

Not really in the hen house since our chickens are free range, but we have a fox problem. Over the last few weeks, we noticed something has been getting our chickens. My daughter swore she saw a fox a few weeks ago, but I didn't believe her. Figured it was a cat or something. Well yesterday I saw the little bugger. He was on the edge of the grass on the backside of the barn. I was actually able to walk up pretty close to it before it ran off. I think it may have been a young one. A little later, another fox ran across my pasture while I was bush hogging. This one seemed bigger. Thinking I may have a den close by. I am on guard now and bring a gun with me to the barn. However, I can't be out there all the time. Wondering if anyone has had any luck with sprays or any other commercial deterrents. I turned the radio on in the barn hoping the noise may help, but I suspect they will learn eventually it's not a threat. Any other ideas are appreciated.

Don’t forget possums

 

[rawolfee]

The little one was out there again today. Almost got a shot at him with my 22WMR. He was sitting on edge of woods looking at the pasture. I am convinced this is a cub and he was looking for momma. He doesn't act very skittish. I am sure eventually I'll get a shot a him. Momma on the other hand might be difficult. If I shoot the cub, do you think momma will move on? All the ideas on here are good and will definitely figure out a long term solution. But right now I want to save my chickens.

 

[antharper]

I’d start really paying attention and keep my gun with me anytime I was outside . I let my chickens free range a few hours every couple days , but if I didn’t have a good coop I’d be out of the chicken business in short order

 

[gunnurse]

The little one was out there again today. Almost got a shot at him with my 22WMR. He was sitting on edge of woods looking at the pasture. I am convinced this is a cub and he was looking for momma. He doesn't act very skittish. I am sure eventually I'll get a shot a him. Momma on the other hand might be difficult. If I shoot the cub, do you think momma will move on? All the ideas on here are good and will definitely figure out a long term solution. But right now I want to save my chickens.

I’ll bet it‘s cute. Trap it and tame it. Name it Tipper due to the tail coloration. They like those little smokie wienies.

 

[SC Hunter]

Get a Great Pyrenees dog. My wife's princess Sophia is the best guard dog I've ever seen she barks at anything that's foreign around here. But mannnn she loves the family and wants all the kisses and hugs from the kids. She visits the neighbors every day and comes home on her own and comes running if you call her.

I'll probably always have a Great Pyrenees around now that we've had her. The other 2 dogs just do their thing and stay close but the Pyrenees guards things great.