[doganjo]

There HAVE been studies.

A fox, like most predators, will get pretty excited when in close confines with a lot of pet species, and will get into a bit of a frenzy. Especially young animals.

But it's an in built survival mechanism, as we like to say "make hay while the sun shines", something kicks in, and they kill as much as they can while it's on offer, and as you say, bury it for later.
Killing anything can be an un pleasant task at times, but it's part and parcel of the countryside.

They didn't b----y bury mine - they left them lying across my paddock in dismembered bits  - for at least 6 to 8 hours while I slept not knowing that my precious babies were being murdered!  I'd kill all foxes!

[Porterlauren]

Fair play, I can understand your horror and dislike of the species.

I just don't have a particular extreme negative emotional reaction to any species.

I take 1000's of rabbits each year, more rats, and hundreds of other quarry, including foxes. . . .

And I don't hate any of them, but I guess I can understand people that do.

I just kill them because they need killing, and because, for some weird reason the hunting (not the killing) lights a fire in me. . . . must be in my blood I guess.

I wouldn't kill all of anything though, where would we be then.

[ladyK]

I would feel the same - it's a really difficult decision.
In reference to foxes killing a whole coop rather than just one to eat: my understanding is that foxes (as well as other predators) get into a frenzy by panicking animals - this is what triggers the predatory instinct which is tuned to look for the weakest. Theoretically, if the ducks/chickens would stay calm during an attack they would just take the one they need to feed on. (I know that my dog who is otherwise OK around sheep will freak out if he can sense a sheep caught in a fence - he can smell the panic by a mile.)
Of course you can't do anything about the poor bids panicking when being attacked and thr fox would be back the next day for another feed, so the sad task remains... feeling for you.