[Ross]

Just kill the blasted fox. Leave its corpse lying around where it was entering your property.
Hunting foxes with one dog is not banned.

[shetlandpaul]

oh yes it is. As the fox may not be to blame killing it out of hand is extreme. kill a non chicken eating fox any you may just get one that likes your hens.

[xxmillyxx]

I apologise as I think I may have given you the wrong impression with regards to my patterdale - when I said "good hunting stock" i meant they are good ratters, not by any means for "hunting" anything else.  I would not dream of hunting with one dog never mind more but I did get him to keep the rats down, as i had been advised to by several people.  Having said that the only thing he chases is the odd bee, butterfly or leaf and runs away from the new chickens and anything else that comes near and I wouldn't have him any other way.

If the fox gives us any trouble I must add I would not have any objection to it be shot, some may think I am wrong but I want to keep my chickens and other safe in their new home. 

Hope this clears the dog thing up for me though - they are my pets and need to live with all the wildlife around us as we do.

[doganjo]

I often hunt with more than one dog.  They are gundogs.  But they don't kill.  That is the difference.

[shetlandpaul]

well said. our neighbours collies often take rabbets. This is natural and up here were walking on bunnies. The farmers in the past have released polecats and when fur farms were closing a few artic foxs luckly for the chucks they have died out. we have a major problem with great skuas and greater blackbacked gulls. but like your the only thing ours chase is the odd cheeky chicken.