[benkt]

When I went out to lock up this evening I found we'd been visited by a fox. Three Khaki Campbell girls missing, Two Aylesbury's found dead and another badly bitten. I've cleaned up the injured girl and covered the bite on the back of her nexk in purple spray. I've also moved her and the three surviving Khaki's in to another run which has slightly more secure housing in case he comes back tonight.

I'm absolutely gutted about the Khaki Campbells we've lost so if anyone has replacements for sale I'd gladly buy them up. At least I've a drake and two girls left to try to start hatching again in spring. Tomorrow will be spent trying to find someone who might come out and here and try to shoot foxy before I lose any more.

No more work for me though tonight I'm feeling knackered and shaken, glass of wine and telly instead!

Ben

[jaykay]

 Oh no 

[Sandy]

Horrid thing to happen but thats nature, to Mr or Mrs Fox you are a handy take away and I know they sometimes do not eat any but kill the lot!!!  Not sure how to make it better for you but maybe a lesson learned for the next lot...my daughter gave up after a while and several things killed.....THink the wine is the best answer then something will come to you...(think there should be a glass of wine smiley!!

[chrismahon]

Feel for you Ben. We were hit for the first time on Christmas Eve. Lost two Blue laced Wyandottes from our breeding trio -just one hen left. Our fault, as we had become complacent about security. So we've impimented a 4 stage plan of improvements with just the electrification of the boundary wall to do now.

[grumpsgarden]

weve been getting day time vist from at least 3 foxes for weeks now seen them as well and chased them of but have lost over 30 birds in this time as well from as early as 9am to 3pm they are around

[Sylvia]

I've known folk say the fox never visits and on the one night they haven't bothered/forgotten to lock the hens away he's been. The truth is he comes around every night on his "rounds" just in case you've left him an opportunity

[grumpsgarden]

unfortly ours are easy pickings for the fox they are free range but we have noticed that the ducks no longer go up into the field but stay by the house and ive seen the fox dueing the day from kitchen window making his way to my birds , also caught the fox heading to the duck house but sent the dogs out to chase him away

[daddymatty82]

maybe borrow a trap and put the dead in the trap for him then shoot the buggar

[grumpsgarden]

ive had 2 men with guns out trying to get them , but they never seem to be out when they come which is early eveing , they did see 3 foxes but was walking the area first so no gun on them and with 3 acres of trees the foxes have lots of hiding places think they going to try bating the area oh what fun we have with our animals but cant live without them

[Small Farmer]

We thought we were Ok but lost all nine one night when the son was in charge and forgot.  Every single chicken was taken over a 4ft fence and carried off.  We tracked them for 400m to the main road and then lost the track.  It must have taken most of the night.  At least we didn't just have a carnage of slaughtered birds to clear up

We now have two electric fence tapes on standoffs on the fence to make it harder for him. He still got one in the autumn but was unable to get it out of the orchard because of the electric.  Perhaps he learns because he switched his attention to the neighbours and got all theirs.

 It seems eternal vigilance is needed.

[Pocagranja]

Sorry to here about your loss, must be terrible
We have our poultry inside a 2m fence, housing with open access for all the chickens to come & go as they wish (we live in the Spanish hills). We have seen foxes & heard them.  A Spanish neighbour told us a trick to keep them away: A man must urinate in a bottle then pour it around the base of the fence (not female urine as hormones no good) this must be done weekly to keep the odour fresh!  Don't worry it doesn't become smelly to humans. 
Whether it works or not?  We have not had a problem with foxes since we started poultry keeping, about 6 yrs ago.

[chrismahon]

We relied too heavily on urine spread along the base of the boundary walls. The area that wasn't treated along the canal was where it got in midday. Of course rain washes it all away as well so after rain the spread has to be repeated. It may have an effect during the day, but at night it doen't work at all -they know we are not around at night despite the smell. One visits every single night and walks around all the coops to see if any have been left open. It enters and leaves at the point where the urine spills are most concentrated.

[princesspiggy]

It enters and leaves at the point where the urine spills are most concentrated.

upgrade to tiger pee!
we lost our duck this year, still gutted. 

[tazbabe]

aw, really sorry for you, it's just horrid to lose some of your flock.

[Small Farmer]

We're in two minds about the foxes because we have hundreds of rabbits some years, and the foxes make a difference.  Its a delicate balance.