[Templelands]

We have a fox problem, with a fox pinching 6 chickens during the day. One right I. Front of our eyes.


What's the best way to sort it? I'm told poison is illegal. Not sure an airifle will work..


Cheers

[happy larry]

Without being critical i would remove the last part of your post,fox needs a bigger calibre,no poison is lawful in the uk.If you let us know your rough location maybe you would get a local member that could help you out.If it helps im in Burton on Trent.

[omnipeasant]

The air rifle will work if your aim is good. Or contact your local hunt. Next door farmer will know who they are.

[SallyintNorth]

Contact the hunt.  It's what they're there for.

[Templelands]

Thanks. If I'd put am going to poison I would deffo remove that. I'm researching and I discovered that is illegal, so that isn't an option for me.


I'm in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire. I'll look into the local hunt :-)

[Bionic]

Templelands,
I had a thread on the same topic recently called Fox Dilema.  The fox hasn't had any of our chickens yet but I feel it is only time as I have seen him lurking about several times.
 
Sallyintnorth suggested the hunt to me also. I have contacted my local one and they were very nice. I will need to pay £25 per year to join but they will sort the problem either by foot with dogs and guns or on horseback when in season (Oct to March).
Sally

[Sylvia]

Contact the hunt.  It's what they're there for.

Unfortunately hunting doesn't begin until September. But you will, if you put an ad. out in your local farm merchants or livestock market, find someone to shoot foxes. An air rifle won't do it, not even a powerful one and although foxes are a bloody pest, they deseve a quick death.
I was advised to put out meat with rat-bait in it and can tell you I was very tempted but, so far, common sense and a bit of compassion have stopped me.

[in the hills]

If there is a shoot nearby, try the local gamekeeper. They are keen to keep fox numbers down as they will be putting the poults down soon. Started "lamping" around here now.

[SallyintNorth]

Contact the hunt.  It's what they're there for.

Unfortunately hunting doesn't begin until September.

This is true.    Guess who gets the prize for the most useless advice of the week.     

[Rosemary]

Contact the hunt.  It's what they're there for.

Unfortunately hunting doesn't begin until September.
This is true.    Guess who gets the prize for the most useless advice of the week.     


Feels like bl88dy September here 

[Bionic]

Although the actual hunt may not begin until Sept your local hunt may go out walking with the dogs and guns as mind do. Its definitely worth contacting them. You may be surprised.
Sally

[Bumblebear]

What about the old "peeing round the chicken coop trick   Hubby and the dogs do the area thoroughly and <touch wood,  > no fox attacks so far even though they live in the copse just behind us.....

[graham-j]

Hi,your best bet wold be erect something to stop the fox from getting to your birds in the first place.A fence preferably electrified will help.
It doesn't matter how many foxes you kill,there will be another one along sooner or later.And one thing you an be sure of with a fox is,, if it can get to your birds sooner or later it will
Human and dog pee is just an old wives tale it doesn't work.
Prevention is always better that cure,but that dosn't mean I wouldn't be reaching for my 12 bore.

Graham.
 

[chrismahon]

I agree with Graham-j basically. But the jury is out for me and human urine, as our boundary protected with that is the only one a fox hasn't crossed to get in. Hasn't got through the wire and hasn't crossed over the electrified boundary. But has taken a very long route round through adjoining gardens to reach the chickens it now knows are there. Twice in 4 weeks.

[graham-j]

Hi,OK I admit I do it too but I have been told by a lot of people that it doesn't work,I certainly wouldn't want to rely on it as my only form of defense,but it can't do any harm.A good excuse to sit up by the pens and have a beer or two as well

Graham