[Lazarus]

Mr Fox paid us a visit yesterday, in broad daylight, and took a laying hen. Five minutes later he was back and savaged our prime cockerel. Bast**d. I got a couple of shots in with the air rifle, but it is clear I really need a shotgun licence! It's time to resume foxhunting proper methinks.

[chrismahon]

You'll be in big trouble if someone finds out you've shot at a fox with an air rifle. It can only be injured and that's not humane so not legal.


Get a shotgun licence and learn how to use one. You will need special ammunition for a fox -largest legal shot size.  In the meantime your urban fox will be back daily, so keep your chickens safe in an enclosure.

[in the hills]

Country foxes can come back daily too .... one returned daily to pick off a neighbours hens in daylight.

Is there a local gamekeeper? They will often help.

You can trap them .... others on here will be able to tell you how.

Air rifle is not humane.

[Goldcraig]

We had a few visits and lost 2 ducks. We set the trap and caught one fox....set the trap again and managed to catch a Springer Pup, next time, a working cocker !!! fab piece of kit lol...On a serious note our dogs are out all day every day and this does not deter the foxes....trap, trap and trap again ....

[ScotsGirl]

Unfortunately at this time of year vixens are jumpy and won't go in a trap. I lost 10 hens and a cockerel last week mid afternoon. We set a trap but fox goes round it and heads for the live hens! Shotgun is the only thing that will stop it. It jumps straight through squares of stock netting.


I'm going to try keeping them in runs for a bit until cubs are grown up. Hopefully then they will hunt less. They didn't even take one just murdered them all

[twizzel]

Yes get a shotgun and be very careful in the next few days- our neighbour kept losing his hens in broad daylight and the chicken were very close to the house. I've lost a few but touch wood been ok this year but shotgun is always on standby...

[hughesy]

We've lost 5 or 6 lately too and always in the afternoon.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I agree, if there is one thing I despise its foxes, thankfully any fox leaves our hens alone. To keep the fox out I would suggest either putting high voltage electric fence around where the hens are, or build a very high fence and put a powerful electric wire around the bottom of it, plus get a shotgun too, so if you see him lurking shoot him.

[Lazarus]

I was only joking about the air rifle.  More like using an air guitar really - in the event, I actually just pointed my fingers at Mr Fox and shouted 'bang'. You will understand I was really that vexed and hopping mad at the time, I had to do something to release tension! Fox ran off  - mission accomplished, I suppose. Anyway, I have now calmed down and propose to make a humane trap out of an old dog cage. If this is successful, I plan to release any foxes into the forestry next door in the hope that they can find their way back home. Chickens will be confined indoors until they can grace the table. If anyone will be eating them, we will!

[Porterlauren]

To release a trapped fox is illegal. . . .

Also releasing them into the territory next door does nothing, apart from educate the fox to the trap and then let them go back into their territory, to come back and kill your birds another day . . . . .

Trying to trap a fox that someone has already trapped and let go, is a nightmare!

[midtown]

I plan to release any foxes into the forestry next door in the hope that they can find their way back home.

No, no, no, please don't!
Apart from the legality of such an action, the likelihood of the fox(s) returning will not be diminished.
Is the forest managed by the Forestry Commission? Give the local office a ring and ask to speak to the Wildlife or Deer Manager.
They should be able to recommend someone who will carry out a humane kill of any live-catch fox. 

[shotblastuk]

crossbow

[Lazarus]

A man I met in the pub has come up trumps. He's said there is a local project sponsored by a well known concern to tag all foxes so that we can monitor their whereabouts by mobile phone. When I told him about me shouting 'bang' to frighten the fox away he laughed. I found that unnecessary. He also told me he knows someone who can supply a heat-seeking rocket-launcher, but it would cost me. I don't know if I'm ready for that - on humanitarian grounds.

[Lazarus]

Reading the replies, we are thankfully becoming more informed. However, we have, without really thinking it through, installed an electrified chicken fence in an effort to protect the stock. The problem is that the only energizer we have is 'cattle strength' and we are coming to understand that this may transgress welsh assembly or possibly other regulations, as a fox may receive a shock of circa 8000v on a wet nose, which would be difficult to justify with the animal rights people. Can anyone can point us in the right direction as to what voltage if any is appropriate (and/or legal) for the purpose.

[bloomer]

i don't know about legal but 8000v is about what a mains charger suited for horses puts through a solid wire, it hurts, you get over it, mr fox will get the message!!!
 
if i ever have to electrify a chook pen (im lucky i dont currently) its about what id use as it has the advantage of burning off grass etc that touches the wire rather than shorting out...