[ellied]

I lost 4 to the fox a couple of weeks ago.  First one was at 4am under my nose - I was up dealing with a sick mare and foal at the time, in pjs and boots.  I chased himup the field hoping he'd be put off by the mains electric march fence given the bluebelle in his jaws, but he got over/through somehow, ran half way up the field behind and sat there looking at me.  I lost the menorcan the same day and a few yards away, it could have been any time.  Buffy was taken right behind my neighbour's kitchen window sometime after 6am, and Nora, one of the original welfare trust rescues has disappeared without trace, I found feathers for the other 3 but I imagine I just haven't seen hers rather than that she's hiding somewhere with eggs, tho it would be nice.

Mine were all completely free range - I have reverted to putting them into the pen when I feed their corn in the early evening, but it isn't foxproof so I'm not sure if I'm putting them more at risk of a mass killing where free range he just takes one and the rest have time to escape, but other than those there were a further 3 broody up the barn who could have been taken and haven't so I guess he hasn't yet got up courage to enter the garden and the penning is at least keeping them from wandering up the field at dawn.  It's the bolder wandering hens that have gone, not the close to home wussies like the cockerel

I had a couple of other hen deaths last week, unrelated, so am feeling pretty chook hopeless and don't know if I should just give up but most of the remaining hens are at least 3-4 years old and only one is a year old prime layer so they'd be little use to anyone else and I'd miss having them let alone the little egg money I get, so I'm doing what I can and just given up restocking that was planned for this spring/summer, at least til cubs are looking after themselves and less capable/desperate than the parent fox(es)..  possibly permanently, or maybe keep replacements in secure new pens if and when I can manage that..

[waterbuffalofarmer]

If I were you I would get a fox hunter to kill it, however it would have to be done correctly according to law.

[plumseverywhere]

We found our fox shooter by asking the local farmer across the road.  He made a quick phonecall and within the hour we had a really lovely man here who was quite obviously up to date on laws and very conscious of it being a humane job.
It was quick and efficient (yes, I felt a bit sick but it gets easier - never pleasant, but easier) and the numbers of foxes have reduced somewhat since a few other neighbours have called him to their holdings too.

[little bo peep]

I know there are various legal concerns with the shooting and trapping of foxes, and rightly so, but when it comes to keeping them out with an electric shock I would have no worries about it being too strong!!!

I lost one hen last week and two others still suffering shock. I think your best options are better protection for your girls and/or someone who knows what they are doing with a trap and a gun I should think. Good luck

[cooksey]

applying for your shotgun licence and shooting the foxes your self is a better method and isn't that expensive really

[Lazarus]

This has been something of a journey for me, it really has. As a farmer who has recently embarked on a small chicken enterprise, I started off hating and wanting to kill the fox, but I have now come round to a much more circumspect view. How can those of us who are keeping poultry captive for purely commercial, personal or (dare I say) selfish reasons, expect the natural predator, Mr Fox, to fall into line with humans and not try to provide any available fowl as food for their babies. We interfere with the natural order at our peril. Perhaps the real problem is not the fox but with those of us who try alternatives to buying poultry and eggs from the supermarket - where I'm told they are produced in a totally controlled and fox-free environment. The solution may not rest with the trap, poison or gun. I guess, we must try to be more understanding and accept the odd loss, while trying to protect our stock as best we can.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Yes... However if a fox has a taste for chicken you have to get rid of or it'll teach its young to eat chickens.

[chrismahon]

I was wondering how effective a paint ball gun would be? You could decorate the fox in all manner of different patterns and colours without falling foul of humane laws. Perhaps once the fox has been painted it would be less likely to return.

[plumseverywhere]

I was wondering how effective a paint ball gun would be? You could decorate the fox in all manner of different patterns and colours without falling foul of humane laws. Perhaps once the fox has been painted it would be less likely to return.

  love this idea!!!!!!!!!  but would the fox have to wear those full face helmets to comply with health and safety laws?

[Victorian Farmer]

You need to go to war on these foxes 2.2 bullit 2 miles kill SK week them and kill them.