{"id":3170,"date":"2015-11-18T08:17:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-18T08:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/2015\/11\/18\/protect-your-chickens-from-foxes-3\/"},"modified":"2020-11-03T02:26:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T07:26:22","slug":"protect-your-chickens-from-foxes-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/protect-your-chickens-from-foxes-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect Your Chickens From Foxes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The fox is the most feared chicken-killer. It is smart, sly and savvy, and it strikes when your guard is down. Unlike other predators, foxes leave little evidence of an attack, but they will just as cleanly pick off your chickens as any other predator.<\/p>\n

Part of what is so cunning about a fox is that it is assessing your home, coop, run and free-ranging areas for some time before it actually attacks. Foxes learn your schedule, too: They watch to learn when you\u2019re home, when you leave, when the livestock guardians are off duty, when you let out your chickens, and when they spend time in the pasture or backyard. When a fox makes its move, it does so when it\u2019s certain that the coast is clear of humans and other guardians, and preferably in the early morning hours or the evening, though they\u2019ve been known to attack during the day just as well.<\/p>\n

Of the four types of fox found in North America\u2014the red, grey, arctic and kit\u2014the red fox is the most common and the most likely to pay a visit to your coop. Although the four types vary slightly in appearance, habitat and behavior, they\u2019re collectively considered the smallest wild dog on the continent of North America. What they all have in common is their cunningness: Foxes are incredibly bright and learn quickly, making them challenging adversaries to outwit when they\u2019re set on having your chickens for dinner.<\/p>\n

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Peter Dean\/Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Luckily for chicken keepers, foxes will most likely be lower on your list of common predators<\/a>. However, there are always exceptions: If your home is situated near dense forest or you have a large amount of property, it\u2019s possible that a vixen will make her den nearby and consider your flock easy pickings to feed to her young. It\u2019s important to know that foxes are rather territorial, so if you\u2019ve confirmed that there are any residing nearby, they\u2019ll likely be there awhile.<\/p>\n

With red foxes populating every state but Florida, it\u2019s better for the majority of us to be prepared for an attack rather than caught off guard. Foxes can climb, but they prefer to dig under fences. Red foxes can also swim, run up to 30 miles per hour and jump up to 15 feet in the air. More likely than these scenarios, however, is an attack conducted when your flock is pasturing unguarded. Foxes bide their time, stalk their prey and strike when they notice a single bird\u2014or a few isolated birds\u2014far from safety.<\/p>\n

Foxes Leave Calling Cards <\/span><\/h2>\n

Foxes have partially retractable claws that allow them to quietly sneak up on prey. Once within striking distance, those claws reveal sharp talons for a quick and efficient capture. Although this predator is actually part of the canine family, the fox\u2019s hunting style is more akin to that of a cat: It stalks prey, makes its move by running quickly or pouncing, and then uses its sharp claws to pin down prey. If a fox attacks a flock of chickens while they\u2019re free-ranging<\/a>, it\u2019ll likely grab just one bird at a time. If it gains access to a henhouse, the fox will kill and carry out as many birds as it can manage. Suspect that a fox is your culprit if you see some of the following clues:<\/p>\n