Fox in Garden.

[kandm]

Over the past week we have recently inheriated (sp) a fox in our garden. . But we have three chickens which have always has the freedom to run around the whole garden. We've never had a fox in the garden, since we had our dog, but sadly he past away (R.I.P) back in the summer. But back to the fox, he has been in the garden twice where the chickens have been out, but luckily we have disturbed him and he ran. But everynight he/she comes at 9pm consistantly, and because of this our chickens have had to stay in their coup - which we hate doing. We have chicken wire which goes though all the hedges etc, but that hasn't been checked for a year or so, so we will be redoing that soon. ANYWAYS back onto subject, how do we get rid of said Fox? Do we shoot it, therefore killing it? Or do we shoot it with some salt?? - is that right? We've heard it hurts the fox, stings like b*ggery, but as it is salt it heals the wound, but as it hurts the fox wont come back?? (Dad has a gun license).

Sorry for the long essay , but we just want to get rid of it.

Thanks in advance .

Kiri x

 

[k9h]

Salt will not stop it!

It knows you are there which is why it returns every night! You either have to put up with cooping chick or 'get rid' of charlie!

 

[Nickijem]

Could you put electric fencing around your chicken coup? The trouble is, once a fox knows the chickens are there, it won't leave you alone - shooting it is an option but only with a rifle - not a shotgun.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

get dad to shoot it before it has your chooks!speaking from unfortunate experience it will get them in the end- better dead than injured, don't know about this salt thing, i do know that foxes can die horribly if injured hence i support the suggestion of a rifle rather than a shotgun.

 

[samsonsoup]

Your Fox has most likely got young somewhere so it's a tad extreme to shoot it, everything has to eat! Couldn't you just improve the fencing around a small area so the hens could still free range, but offer some barrier between them and your Fox. As the Cubs get older and start to establish their own territory you may find you'll get more and more visits even during the day. Hens are easy prey for a Fox and if it's there on a plate then why not. We have a Fox that has made a home for itself in our yard and happily sleeps approx 20 metres away from our Hounds and Chicken coup. It's one of last years cubs and moved in around January and promptly set about killing a hen a day sometimes two until we moved the coup next to the hounds and kept them closed in when we know we're not going to be around much. Now we tend to let them out late afternoon and they'll be going in to roost about 9-20ish and so far it seems to be working, even though there is evidence that a Fox is killing hens from other places and bringing them through our paddocks.

Even if you did shoot this one, which I hope you dont decide to do, chances are you'll end up with another.

 

[jendie]

Get another dog!!

Foxes are awful killers. I wouldn't mind so much if they just took what they needed but they tend towards wholesale massacre, often leaving many of the poor chooks maimed but alive.

 

[Chumsmum]

Choose a dog carefully, our Springer carried on happily playing with her ball in the garden as a fox tried to steal one of our chickens early evening..

Luckily OH heard the commotion and managed to scare off the fox, chook was shook up but is okay.

Fox returned later that evening and OH shot it - not sure if he used his shotgun or rifle but it's dead!

 

[kandm]

Thank you everyone for all your responses .
We should be getting a dog at the end of the summer - going away in a few weeks. ATM we are having a big coupe made for them for the meantime.

Once we are back from our holiday we will be seriously considering another dog. Dad has the gun ready for the fox tonight, so we will be looking out! It came into our garden twice last night.

Thanks again .

Kiri.