Backyard Poultry Info Centre

Well Ive heard so much about foxes and was considering myself lucky to have not seen one here up until a week ago when one came a sniffing around.I would never have known until later except my rabbit who is in his pen under our window started thumping hard on his cage floor.I woke hubby up and he went dashing outside and sure enough the darn fox was right outside.We have foxed proof all our cages and he would have to chew the wire to get the chookys.He seems to not have time as when bunny gets a whiff he starts going troppo.
Two nights ago he started thumping again.This time I got up and turned on the back light and fox was stalking the cage with my pekins.As I said he cant get in unless he is a wire chewer.I expected him to just run when the light went on considering he was almost on our back step but he stopped and turned his head really slowly and eyeballed me.What a gorgeous looking animal...its a pity they are real killers.Anyways hubby chased him away and I got no sleep as bunny was so nervous he was thumping throughout the night.
Hubby has his bow and arrows ready but Ive enquired about hiring a trap.Could I take him to the rspca to be put down if I manage to catch him?
I know he will continue to come back and he is making me very nervous.

RS will euth free of charge.

- And while others might, I certainly wouldn't think you're silly to do so. I too think they are beautiful and would find it very hard to kill one despite the threat they are to my pets.

Thanks Flogs for replying.I dont want him here and thought it more humane to have him put down quickly.

Can I ask what sort of wire is on the chook pens? Just that I had a fox rip and rip at chicken wire to get what he wanted. Also, what kind of cage is the bunny in as he could be potential dinner too.
One final thing, I don't think a fox roaming around your cages could be doing your chooks anygood - they can get quite sick from fright I believe (I could be wrong) - so the sooner you get rid of the fox the better - I agree though, I couldn't shoot one either - hate them but I'm not a killer!

Hi Henny

Im quite sure if foxy had enough time he would be able to chew through the wire if he was hungry enough.Im also quite sure that my rabbit is annoying him immensely as he gives off a warning straight away and we have our pekin and rabbit cage right outside our bedroom window.We have thick wire underneath the pekin cage as its a movable one so he cant dig under.Our other pens which are not too far away have tin sunk in the ground and concrete sunk in under the doors so he would have to really dig in to get underneath.In this section our fox terrier has his pen and he would go ape and bark like crazy.We are at the moment setting up motion lights around the house so as soon as something comes near the house the lights come on.I know if he really wanted to put in the effort there is not much else I can do except a lock up shed which I already have for my chickens and some of the chooks.As I get more financial I will be able to buy more bags of concrete so I can make it really really hard for him.Till then I have to rely on deputy rabbit and fudge the dog for warnings.
Hopefully the trap will do the trick...as I said Im getting nervous and like you said it cannot be good for the Pekins to know someone is looking at them as a chicken dinner.

Don't ever underestimate the fox.They most certainly will chew through wire to get at your chooks. hopefully you have a heavy gauge wire as this will make it much more difficult but they are smart animals and won't give up easily.I hope you can get rid of him soon.