Its game time.......Me vs. Fox

[lockhaven]

us a shotgun so your aim does not have to be so goog:laughing:

 

[NorTracNY]

I've lost 31 chickens this year to some foxes. They don't seem to like the rabbits that are all around our place.

 

[Western]

I've lost 31 chickens this year to some foxes. They don't seem to like the rabbits that are all around our place.

Chickens are allot easier to catch !!

 

[tungularafishcamp]

I've lost 31 chickens this year to some foxes. They don't seem to like the rabbits that are all around our place.

First year we tried chickens out here I lost all 20 the first night. I only buried the wire of their coop down 1.5' into the gravel and a fox dug under and chewed the head off everyone but only took one bird. I put wire on the bottom tied to the side wires the next year and then when they would dig under they would be trapped under the bottom wire and the rooster would have a heyday.

We switched to barred rocks who seemed a little more savvy and got a new lab who protected those chickens almost as much as she protected my kids. We would only close them up at night and let them free range during the day or lock them up if we were gonna be gone all day with the dog and hardly ever lost any after that and it was usually to eagles when we did lose one.

 

[atgreene]

Bought four goats and a llama, now I'm looking at chickens. "Supposedly" the llama will keep the fox at bay and protect the chickens...... we shall see.

 

[NorTracNY]

First year we tried chickens out here I lost all 20 the first night. I only buried the wire of their coop down 1.5' into the gravel and a fox dug under and chewed the head off everyone but only took one bird. I put wire on the bottom tied to the side wires the next year and then when they would dig under they would be trapped under the bottom wire and the rooster would have a heyday.

We switched to barred rocks who seemed a little more savvy and got a new lab who protected those chickens almost as much as she protected my kids. We would only close them up at night and let them free range during the day or lock them up if we were gonna be gone all day with the dog and hardly ever lost any after that and it was usually to eagles when we did lose one.

I have had chickens for several years and always would loose some (2-4)during the year since they were free range most of the time. I think most were lost to hawks. I closed them up at night and had never lost one at night until this year. 26 (1month olds) gone in one night. I had also never lost one in the enclosure they were in either. I think the biggest difference is that my dogs are getting old. They don't seem to have the energy to chase things like they use to.

 

[Western]

Bought four goats and a llama, now I'm looking at chickens. "Supposedly" the llama will keep the fox at bay and protect the chickens...... we shall see.

If the Llama doesn't work, wonder if they're good eating

They don't seem to have the energy to chase things like they use to.

Sounds like me and half the guys I know:laughing:

Ever try a game camera to find out exactly what/who is the culprit? If I get chickens again, that's what I'll do, just to "know" what I'm up against.

 

[Mace Canute]

If the Llama doesn't work, wonder if they're good eating

Apparently they taste a lot like sheep but even stronger, more gamy...or so they say.

 

[DeeDubya]

We have a friendly fox too, but not becaus she has rabies... she has kits. It's severely hot and dry here and she's having difficulty feeding the family. I'm helping out some with cheap weiners and chicken thighs. Every morning she's waiting at the back door. We enjoy having her around. Very intelligent little critters indeed.

The Kits are grown now. She still shows up every morning around 6:00. And, I still feed her (turkey weiners now) every morning. The kits lurk off in the darkness but sometime come close enough to see. She gathers up several weiners and delivers them to her offspring. While I used to hunt them, it's only now that I appreciate their stealth and cunning. Awesome little critters just trying to make a living.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

DW, Nice pics, are the coats there always so thin or is it the heat wave/drout? Even in summer ours look 2x the size but it is only fur.

I sure like your town, my sister has lived there since the late 70's, it was always fun to visit midwinter and be able to swim in the San Marcos river!

Rick