The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: DippyEgg on June 09, 2020, 09:54:42 am

Title: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: DippyEgg on June 09, 2020, 09:54:42 am
There's a young fox inny chicken coop. It must have been trapped in there all night. "Fortunately" it's only killes three hens. What can I do? It's still in there. If I let it out surely it'll just come back? I know you're not allowed to kill them.

Can I put on a scary mask to frighten it into not coming back?  ::)

Feel a  bit sad about it as we've kept free range hens for 11 years now amd never had a fox visit this far.
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: bj_cardiff on June 09, 2020, 11:17:44 am
You are absolutely allowed to kill them! I would be calling around my neighbours to see if any of them had a shotgun!
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: DippyEgg on June 09, 2020, 11:57:27 am
Thanks! I only know someone with an air rifle though.
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: bj_cardiff on June 09, 2020, 12:01:47 pm
In that case I think the only solution is to call a wildlife sanctuary for them to collect, or to release it. You will need to up your security though, make sure the hens are shut in a secure house. Fox cobs are big now and need a lot of food!
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: macgro7 on June 09, 2020, 07:58:26 pm
I would make a hat or a really fancy collar for a winter coat  :knit:
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: DippyEgg on June 09, 2020, 09:46:42 pm
Thanks macgro7  :roflanim:  Fortunately for the fox the children convinced us to let it go as we couldn't find a way to kill it humanly.  Perhaps we need to get a shotgun.
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: doganjo on June 09, 2020, 09:49:11 pm
They are such lovely cuddly furry things aren't they  ::) ::)  Killing machines
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: arobwk on June 09, 2020, 10:10:01 pm
Can I put on a scary mask to frighten it into not coming back?  ::)

If it happens again, perhaps you could hire a fancy-dress chicken costume to put the sh*ts up him/her. 
I would suggest you (in costume) chase it around chicken run and peck at it while doing so - a sharp stick might adequately replicate a sharp peck.
If it's a young fox, it might believe that scary monster chickens exist and go chase rabbits instead  :innocent: ;D
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: DippyEgg on June 09, 2020, 11:25:00 pm
Well arobwk , I did roar at it as it ran away and I am sporting quite a scary Lockdown Hairstyle,  so perhaps I don't need to bother with the chicken outfit?  :fc:
Title: Re: what can I do with this FOX?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 09, 2020, 11:48:10 pm
They are such lovely cuddly furry things aren't they  ::) ::)  Killing machines

Just like human beings then.