The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: WoodlandsDevon on July 21, 2014, 04:58:45 pm
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I can get hold of a fox trap from a country store nearby which is £144.90. It is 50cm wide, 120cm long, and 55cm high. Is this big enough to entice a fox into and is it worth it for the price? Advice appreciated.
Thanks
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No no where near big enough ! Also how fo you intend despatching Mr fox once caught ?
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When u get your trap leve it out side for a few weeks so that all the sent is washed off , when u set it scatter some fethers around the trap and use some chicken or iv herd that oily fish works well , .22 rim fire is best way to dispatch it or may be a 410 but you don't want to blow bits out your trap , hope this helps , I have found wires to be the best way to trap foxes tho
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I have a friend with a shotgun and a live rifle used for rabbits. should do the trick. ;D. What size do you recommend verdifish? Don't want to be paying much more for it.
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Can you not just get your friend to come and sit out one night and wait for said fox?? Might be a bit cheaper :)
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could be a possibility as we came back to our house at 10pm on Friday and the fox was sitting on the doorstep and the chickens weren't locked away!! :relief:
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This time of year it's probably a cub, so if your mate is patient, and waits out, it will probably come in pretty easily to a call. Good night charlie!
I'm out tonight with the lamp, tomorrow with the terriers and wednesday with the hounds.
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Havahart vermin traps can be bought off ebay for £40 I'm told. I've seen a photo of a fox caught in one last week so they must work. They are the floor plate type, rather than the bait hook type which we had no success with at all.
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I can get hold of a fox trap from a country store nearby which is £144.90. It is 50cm wide, 120cm long, and 55cm high. Is this big enough to entice a fox into and is it worth it for the price? Advice appreciated.
Thanks
Personally, when I do use cage traps, they measure around 5' x 2' x 2'. Having said that, at this time of the year you're most likely to be trapping youngsters so something like the one you illustrated will probably suffice, although a look on ebay will produce similar at far less money.
As has previously been said, you need to let the cage 'weather' a bit to get rid of human/metallic scent. You can hasten the process by liberal smearing with a tin of dog food, with the cage left open. You can bait the trap or the area in the immediate vicinity, for a few days prior to setting it in anger, and don't forget to cover the floor of the cage with a light application of soil/moss/lichen as Reynard dislikes the feel of the metal underfoot.
As for bait, well anything from a rabbit through to dog food with mackerel mixed in should be a welcome invitation. One unlikely favourite bait of mine is collecting the hoof trimmings once the farrier has visited. After they've been subjected to a couple of downpours, they don't half stink and I can see why they're attractive to fox!
When it comes to culling the animal, ensure the deed is performed by someone who can carry out the task in a quick and humane way.
Finally, be prepared for releasing non-target species and sprung traps with no sign of the intended quarry! :o