FOXES
The fox is the quintessential chicken killer. Sly, smart and savvy, foxes will assess an area before striking and will do so only after they know the coast is clear of humans and other guardians (such as guard dogs). Foxes prefer to make their moves in the early morning hours or evening, but they’ve been known to attack during the day as well.
There are four types of foxes found in North America: the red, gray, arctic and kit — with the red fox being most common. The four types vary slightly in appearance, locale and behavior. What they all have in common is their cunning: Foxes are incredibly bright and learn quickly; they pick up on patterns, such as when you’re at home and when you’re not. This makes them challenging adversaries.
Luckily for most backyard chicken keepers, foxes rarely visit urban and suburban neighborhoods. Of course, there are always exceptions. If your home is situated near dense forest, sprawling land or if you have a large amount of property, it’s possible that a vixen will make her den nearby and discover your flock for what they are: easy pickings. Foxes are rather territorial, too, so if you’ve confirmed that there are any residing nearby, they’ll likely be there for a while.
With red foxes populating every state except Florida, it’s better to be prepared for an attack rather than caught off guard. Foxes can climb, but they prefer to dig under fences or attack birds while they’re ranging. They will bide their time, stalk the birds and strike when the hens are far from safety. Red foxes can also swim, run up to 30 miles per hour, and they’re also excellent jumpers, capable of pouncing up to 15 feet in the air.
CALLING CARD
Foxes have partially retractable claws that allow them to quietly sneak up to prey and reveal their talons for a quick and efficient capture. Though this predator is part of the canine family, the fox’s hunting style is more akin to that of a cat. She stalks prey, makes her move by running quickly or pouncing, and then uses her sharp claws to pin down prey. If a fox attacks a flock of chickens while they are free-ranging, she’ll likely grab only one, maybe two, at a time. If she gains access to a henhouse, the fox will kill and carry out as many as she can. Suspect the fox if you see some of the following clues: One or two missing chickens. Chickens disappearing while freeranging. Little or no blood. Missing bird(s) with no evidence other than a few clumps of feathers. Missing bird(s) with no evidence at all. Attack occurs in the early morning or evening hours. If the attack occurred in the coop, several birds missing and others injured. Injured survivors likely to have deep neck or back puncture wounds.
YOUR FLOCK’S DEFENSES
Mow grass regularly and keep brush cut back to reduce the cover that foxes use while hunting. If your birds pasture some distance from your home or any other regularly occupied human dwelling, make use of tall fencing with a buried perimeter or enlist a guardian, such as a livestock guard dog, to protect your flock. Electric fencing does little to deter foxes; they’ll either slip between the lines or jump over it.
If foxes frequent your area or you know there’s a den nearby, pull out all the stops. Bury hardware cloth perimeters around the coop and lock up your birds each night. Let your birds free-range with company only. Leave a chicken-friendly dog outside or be outside to watch them. Remember, foxes are clever, and they’ll strike when your guard is down. Once they’ve had a taste of chicken, they’ll be back for more, again and again.