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Live with it. Things happen. Actually your post sounds a bit unreal .
Lost a pullet today.
Can't believe it. I let them out to free range when I'm going to be there all the time, and up to now, no problem. Walked down to get the mail about fifty yards away and heard them screaming. Ran up to find a Fox killing one of my best {wouldn't you know it} pullets. I can't believe the fox waited for me to leave in broad day light and came in to do his thing. Brazen! I applied the three S method on the fox but that doesn't help with the loss.
Live with it. Things happen. Actually your post sounds a bit unreal .
It sounds real to me, Fox in the suburbs tend to get used to people. I had just moved to the little 'farmette' in the suburbs and was installing my mailbox 180' from my garage, out of the corrner of my eye I saw something go in the garage and 'lift a leg' on my tire. I thought it was a dog until I saw the tail. I had no stock at that time to attract it. The name of my road-Fox Run!Originally Posted by katschicks
Actually, you only fullfilled two of the S's.
Oh, it could happen.
We've a roving band of five coyotes causing issues right now. They've struck at least three times in broad daylight....right in my backyard. Finally penned up what was left of my birds last night. Until the coyotes are "handled", no more free-ranging. Break's my heart.
Coyotes here are out in broad daylight and have no apparent fear of humans. They have been known to grab a dog when the other end of the leash is being held by the owner. So standing over your loose chickens won't protect them, unless you are standing there holding a gun.
Yes, a fox will watch it's prey and wait for a good opportunity. A chicken makes a very nice meal, so it is worth some effort to hunt it. That fox might have possibly been waiting for days.
I suspect that where you've had one fox, you've got more. Just hope they aren't as bold as the coyotes.
Any place where shooting is not allowed the varmits that can deal with dogs need not fear. The Idiots in my county just put a leash law in effect covering everywhere including farms! Bless their Hearts.
3rd S is shut up! BTW I got rid of my fox without SSS. I acidently run him over with my truck and draped his body over the fence by the road.
No. I won't live with it.
I have a responsibility to protect my birds and I do. Tight housing, and fencing. When the wildlife start coming down in broad daylight and killing my birds, when I'm right there, I don't care if you may have a "live with it attitude" but I'm going to act! My "caught up in the moment" with the three S plan, was nothing less than stupid putting it here on the site. BTW. The mate to the problem won't be killing any more. Darn! I did it again.
I see nothing wrong with posting a warning to other poultry raisers that the fox can be out in broad daylight and kill while the human is close by. So, thank you for that, Gary.
I confess to be slightly puzzled by people who curse the predators yet continue to leave their poultry outside (just live with it). "Lost 3 today, lost 12 last week, hate that raccoon". I don't understand why they can't figure out that the raccoon is going to keep eating their birds until they are all gone if they don't do something to protect their birds. It's hardly the raccoon's fault if he likes an easy meal.
By the time I buy all the expensive food for my ducks, not even considering what I paid fort them to begin with, I've got a bit of money in them. Too much to set them out as an all-you-can-eat buffet for the local wildlife. Mr Coyote can provide his own dinner. I don't intend to feed his family.
In my opinion, when you lose a bird to wildlife, that should be your wake up call to tighten up your security. Or at a minimum, if you insist upon feeding the wildlife, don't complain about it or resent it.
Most of the fox attacks I have had over the years are in broad daylight. When they get hungry enough or have a den of little ones, they will grab whatever they can. If the birds run loose, there is always a change you will lose one.
Fox
Your exactly right Mattl. I've had chickens since the sixties. I've lost them from everything out there. I guess I've been lucky. All my loses were during the night. I have to believe this one was waiting for me to go down to the house or else he just happen to come by at the right moment. I hope I don't sound like I'm crying in my beer, but this broad daylight thing has got me shaking my head.
Another daytime predator in upstate NY (my former home) is the coyote. They are bigger than foxes and less intimidated by people and dogs.
After losing a couple of free-ranging ducks to a pair of big coyotes, I penned the rest near their barn. Before my fencing project was completed, I was sitting on a bench outside the pen, talking to the ducks and smoking a cigarette when they disappeared into the barn. I stood up and turned around to see a coyote about 15 feet behind me. Not having a weapon on me, I was lucky to scare it away. Two other run-ins with these coyotes before the fence was done involved the loss of a big toulouse gander, and watching one laugh at my barking (fenced) German shepherds until a bullet whizzed past him/her. A 5' fence took care of the fox and coyote problem.
Coyotes
We had that problem and all of a sudden, no more coyotes. I'm sure they are still around, but I believe the Sheep Farm up the road pretty much keeps them thinned out with his method of elimination. Upstate N.Y. you gotta love it!
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