Author Topic: Eating fox killed chickens (Read 7252 times)

Luce747 · « **on:** December 10, 2012, 03:38:17 pm »

A fox has killed a number of our ducks and chickens.
Is it safe for us to eat the birds as the fox didnt take them?

Thank you.

Hermit · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:43:11 pm »

I wouldnt, the organs may have been punctured and so the meat tainted.

ZacB · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2012, 11:12:28 am »

I will try most things once.....but I wouldn't touch anything mauled by a fox. Vermin that could be carrying who knows what and left all sorts of bugs on your chicken carcasses - in my simple terms

We learnt what to do with left carcasses - leave exactly as they are and when mr/s fox comes back, which he/she will, usually quite quickly - get rid of the fox

chrismahon · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2012, 12:33:01 pm »

Foxes carry some nasty diseases in their mouth as a result of eating carrion. Chickens bitten can die later of the infection, even with antibiotics. Don't take the risk as others have said Luce. They may also have ruptured guts and the meat will be tainted anyway.

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2012, 05:22:53 pm »

we are using the carcasses as bait to lure/trap/despatch. I wouldn't eat anything killed by the fox for the reasons stated above.

graham-j · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2012, 06:21:10 pm »

Hi,I wouldn't fancy it again for the reasons stated above.I normally boil up any thing like that and give it to the dogs.

Penninehillbilly · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2012, 06:42:53 pm »

I would agree about not eating, when we have had 'visits' the bodies have been left bitten all over.
Sorry to read about the visit. Its always sad.

benkt · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:38:01 pm »

Sounds like good advice, just to be slightly contrary though, we've eaten fox-killed ducks before. I just opened them up and took the breasts off and we've not died yet.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2012, 04:51:29 am »

It should be fairly obvious where the fox' teeth have been. Cut those bits off and discard, eat the rest (cook thoroughly of course) - that's what I do. If in any doubt at all, don't eat it.

Like benkt, I've eaten duck breasts (and legs off Muscovies, they're big enough to be worth the trouble), and also chicken breasts. And made stock from carcases.

But then I eat roadkill if it was my car, or I saw it happen so know it's fresh when I collect it.