[rikkib]

  :sheep:could any body please help i have 4 soay ewes we recently have had a problem with a rogue fox taking hens cocks during the day from locals myself have lost nun the local keeper has been called to resolve the problem and is now making a meal of it saying that the soays are at risk? IM not so sure the locals have even started to exagerate the skills cunning and killing ability of the fox foxy has even got the blame for the recent weather and the missing tractor   somebody out there please respond so i and my neighbours can sleep at night  DO THEY TAKE ADULT SHEEP IN GREAT CONDITION

[Gunnermark]

They'd have to be a pretty big fox to take down a healthy ewe!!

[rikkib]

LEGEND AND MY NEIGHBOURS SAY HE IS AS BIG AS A ALSATIAN DOG BET YOUVE HEARD THAT BEFORE

[Anke]

They would long be extinct if they were able to take ewes... different with dogs running wild though...

[in the hills]

Ermmm ..... well they are crafty Im sure and I have only kept sheep for a couple of years but wouldnt feel worried about ADULT soay. We have Soay and I am pretty certain that Mr Fox wouldnt get them. I have wondered about the lambs  ...... mine are due soon but sure the adults would be okay and I am hoping that if Mr Fox comes calling the ewes will see him off.

They chase my cat out of their field and the ram even chased my poor dog all around the paddock. Think your adults are quite safe. Just remembered that I did read in The Soay Society book that someone suspected that their soay had killed a fox. Oh dear, the gamekeeper could be out of a job! 

[rikkib]

yes dogs running free why is it people sea grass and think it is their right tu let theirdogs run wild last summer aneighbour walking her labrador canny beAST iwaslead to beleive should of known better chased two young goats of mine rond a field of mine only escaping when they leapt a fence   this wasnt a problem according to her he the dog was only playing and would not hurt them   perhaps if i had chased her around the field till she jumped the fence due to exhaustion i would be writing this message from prisonnow

[Bangbang]

Your foxes can drive tractors?
Cool ! 
Ours steal wheelie bins 

[rikkib]

will be taking their tests next month hopefully pass have you seen the price of lessons these days

[Bangbang]

I've never heard of a fox taking a full grown sheep.
Though I dare say they might chew on one that has died naturally
which could give the impression that it was killed by one.

[LOCHBYRE]

I would say no 
They of course will take lambs but not fully grown, alive sheep 

[shrekfeet]

rikkib I think you need to take your computer back to the shop and ask them to give you one that has commas and full stops. Made me out of breathe reading your message!
;-)

 

[daddymatty82]

you not heard foxes  are bigger now? seen the size of the recent shot ones? i think a fox would take a healthy sheep but it would be an opportunity attack kind of if a lonely sheep lead down on its own asleep but others around you should be fine as there warn each other

[Muttley94]

We have a fox problem too but I haven't worried about my ewes. They chase the neighbor's cat and black lab. They even chased my 12 year old brother out of their field! I am worried about the lambs who are due around now so I built the fence higher and repaired any holes, but how high can a fox jump? And I know this sounds stupid but could they climb wire mesh? I was told they can climb but that may have been a joke 

[Moleskins]

My understanding is that foxes climb wire fencing. I may be wrong but I heard that if the wire is loose it wobbles about as they climb and they don't like that. Fox high fencing round a field is a bit of an extreme measure and the fox will go somewhere else and be a problem far better all round if you spend the fencing money on a gun .........

[Muttley94]

Thanks moleskins, think I will just get my game-keeper friend over to help with my extremely cocky fox, sooner rather than later! I went to check on the ewes just now and he is sitting right next to the fence in broad daylight and didn't even flinch when I shouted at him. Luckily my dog escaped from the house again and barked at him, causing him only to run a few yards away and sit watching us. When did foxes become so brave?!