Foxes And Chickens....

[MadMen]

My parents lost two of their chickens on the weekend, to Mr Fox.
They have a large section of the garden, which is fenced off and surrounded with chicken wire, but he somehow managed to get in - in broad daylight!
They came home to discover the rest of the chickens throwing themselves up against the fence and gate (I assume trying to get out), a chicken writhing around on the floor in agony and another one near to the back fence where Mr Fox had obviously got in, headless :-(
My poor Mum was really upset, understandably, and is now really worried he'll return for the others.
They've secured the fence even further and are keeping them in the smaller run for the time being. The remaining chickens are really spooked and won't let my parents go near them - which they need to do as a few of them have wounds.

My question is, would the fox now keep returning until he's 'got them all'?

[woofgang]

yeah but you want to buy cosmetics that are tested on animals as well.....

[MadMen]

Actually, woof, I am very much an animal lover.
I have two foxes in my house. One is hanging in my wardrobe, and the other is on the back of the chair I'm currently sitting in.

Oh, what a terrible human being I am!

[FredPuli43]

Yes,Madmen, now I can see you in the pink, riding out with the Thurlow :) Damned ineffective way of killing the little blighters,though. You can just imagine a rat-catcher saying he wouldn't kill too many,lest there weren't enough left to kill next year, or wouldn't kill when they were breeding, which is exactly what foxhunters think and do. And as for employing perhaps sixty hounds and sixty people on horseback, once or twice a week in the season, to kill one or two occasionally, plus paying for the staff and kennels all year, that's hardly cost-effective.

[MadMen]

Yeah, ok, fair enough. Might have to rethink that one.... :D

[FredPuli43]

Well,don't be too hasty.MM.Just think how many rabbits get to breed like, er, rabbits, to eat the crops, when you don't kill the foxes that live on them. I know which of the two animals we need fewer of on this farm !

[MadMen]

Hmmm. I'm thinking we need to start a petition to cull all the foxes and wabbits, Fred.

[paddywak]

if a fox had killed by chickens and then brazenly walked up my garden path he'd soon find himself being introduced to my friend Mr .410.

[MadMen]

Exactly!!

I told my Dad to kill it if he see's it, but he just said "Charlotte!!"

[chaptazbru]

There was a good quote in an episode of Butterflies recently when the Wendy Craig character was defending foxes against the hunt and someone in the crowd shouted out that foxes kill her chickens, Wendy responded by saying something like 'that's not an argument, we do far worse to chickens!' And how right she is ..... We always expect animals to behave better than us, I wonder why???

[2sp_]

Ahh, MadMen, I was going to suggest shooting it but was afraid I'd get a row!

[chaptazbru]

The usual answer - shoot it - makes me sick !!!!

[MadMen]

Butterflies? As in the sitcom from the 70's? :-/

Is it OK to shoot a fox? They are classed as vermin aren't they?

I'm not condoning cruelty to animals, but you can imagine how distressing it was for my parents to find one of their beloved chickens without a head!

[paddywak]

chaptazbru, I'm pretty much a live and let live sort and I've not shot anything in years and then they were only clays, but I've also remember seeing the results after a fox got into my dads poultry house. You might not be so forgiving if you'd seen the damage a fox can do to a couple of dozen penned up birds.

[2sp_]

Chap, foxes are vermin. I'm all for doing as much as you can to deter them from killing livestock, but sometimes you have to sacrifice the one animal to safe many.

[MadMen]

Agreed. I didn't see it myself, but My Mum said there were feathers all over the place and, as I said above, several of the birds are now sporting nasty looking wounds where they were either attacked, or tried to escape. They also had to put a spade down on the neck of the other one, who was wriggling around on the floor in agony. Now tell me if that was you and your 'pets', you wouldn't want to kill the damn fox too.

I wouldn't have any trouble doing it.

[Barmaid]

Yes, Mr Fox will keep coming back. I'd go with the electric fencing. If you don't fancy that, you will need a sturdy wire roof AND bury the wire a good foot into the ground. Foxes can climb, and dig.

[1ndex]

pity any fox that crosses this builder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xBiSp6rQM0

[MadMen]

Thanks BM. I was going to go round there and keep an eye on them (the chickens, not my parents) but I can't seem to get hold of them. Hope nothing's happened today.
I'll definitely suggest the electric fencing. I did have a quick look on B&Q's website, but couldn't find anything.

I'm glad you've posted actually, as I was trying to send you an email this morning but having trouble with my hotmail. Just wanted to let you know I've had a letter regarding the hearing. End of May. Eekk!

[Baldric]

Could put somthing like this on the fence, If you think he's walking
along it to get in.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001S80U26

[MadMen]

I did suggest something like that Baldric. Well, I actually suggested my Dad put some upturned nails and shards of glass on the fence, but he didn't seem keen.
Besides, I think they'd worry he'd just find another way to get in. Their garden is completely secure, but I think from what my Mum said, he could be getting in via their neighbours garden and coming through that way, along the fence.