[MikeM]

Lost a chicken this afternoon, about 4 o'clock and right in the garden. We found her body missing a head and several piles of feathers in a bramble thicket. We're surrounded on all sides by fields and I have seen foxes in the daytime. What is the collective wisdom as to what took her?

[taz08]

fox

[OhLaLa]

Fox.
 
Many people think fox only visits at night, but if you were looking for a snack, would  you only look at night when chef had locked up the kitchen, or during the day when you could choose from the menu?
 

[MikeM]

yup, we thought fox as well. What gets me, this was done when we were both out in the garden, my wife was only about 50 ft away. Really galling, she was our top hen, a real character.

[graham-j]

Hi,sorry you lost you lost your hen,it's bloady sods law the fox took your best hen.

Graham.

[FaeFife]

Fox most likely. They have cubs to feed at this time of year and become brazen, under pressure to provide a meal. Often seen during the day and close to gardens. Which reminds me, I better go and lock up my hens!

[lachlanandmarcus]

Definitely fox, I lost a lot in broad daylight at this time of year a few years back. Exactly the same MO.

[Padge]

I always thought they killed indiscriminately and not one at a time   we had a wipe out a while back

[lachlanandmarcus]

Apparently (only read this recently) if we left the carcasses long enough, foxy would come back and remove them and bury them for later, but that normally we come across the scene and remove the carcasses. So it might not be as indiscriminate as it looks.
But it would be preferable from humans POV if they only took one at a time and we could improve security/defences before they came back for the next :-((

[plumseverywhere]

We lost 99% of our flock at a similar time of day. Neighbour was stood right near by and the fox ignored his efforts to shoo him off! bold and brash they are.
I've heard to theories - one being same as lachlanandmarcus about the fox returning to cache his kill the other is that the noise made as he kills the chickens sends it into a frenzy and he panics to stop the kerfuffle so kills them to shut them up.  who knows - horrible when it happens. We used the left over dead hens to bait the trap which wasn't pleasant but it worked.

[MikeM]

that's a good point plums, I need to think about getting rid of this fox. Pretty much all our neighbours have poultry and it's a miracle we haven't been hit before now. I'll have to warn the neighbours there's a fox around, I know one of them has a firearm, hopefully he can help get rid of it.

[plumseverywhere]

Mike, we had 7 foxes dispatched within 3 or 4 weeks. I lost nearly all of my beautiful (and many rare breed) hens and 2 lots of neighbours lost ducks, chickens, lambs and geese. We've been over run and I hate to say it but I think many were town foxes that had been moved here - very bold and very mangy (actually felt sorry for the one that was in agony with mange and then he passed it to my wether goat!!)
We contacted a local gameskeeper who lent us a trap and also the lady down the road one too. It made shooting easier. They are feeding cubs about now aren't they? I think they become more bold (like they do in the extra cold weather) Good luck with yours, hope its sorted soon.   

[Roxy]

Foxes are a problem here too. I saw one last night, well before dark, sitting in the trees next to my field.  My hens had gone in their sheds, but Mr Fox was probably hanging around thinking he may nip in and take one.  They do not always take the lot, a fox comes in our field during the day, and sometimes helps itself to just one, to carry off.
 
They do have cubs to feed, but there are plenty of rabbits, and should be able to catch enough young ones rather than our hens.  I have no problem with shooting foxes, or live traps, but have to agree with the man who comes shooting on our land  ....and that is, he will not shoot at this time of year while they have young in the nest.  Much as foxes cause me sorrow and pain, my love of wildlife and nature would not allow me to murder their mum and leave them starving ...daft I know!!

[MikeM]

well, looks like Reynard has struck again, our neighbours this time. About the same time of day, heard a terrific kerfuffle from their poultry area, run up to see what was going on and saw a big pile of feathers. They're out at the moment, so can't contact them, but looks like their cockerel got it (lovely big fella he, was, just like foghorn leghorn).
I have no special hatred of foxes, but this one is starting to hack me off.

[plumseverywhere]

I had no hatred of them when we moved here but like you, the do hack us off now!! What makes it worse is that the couple next door are parents to the illustrator from the film 'fantastic mr fox' - they have taken it literally, they think they are fantastic and they feed the blardy things - on our boundary!! grrrr!  hope your little problem gets sorted soon Mike.