I am so frustrated that I couldn't sleep last night and ended up crying this morning.... maybe it's hormones, but most likely it's that damn fox!
He's been around a lot over the past month sneaking off with the odd hen. Well I thought it was only one or two hens until I actually took count down by the hen house and we appear to be missing a lot of hens. Then a few weeks ago our favourite rooster, Cockzilla, went missing one evening. We searched and searched, but I knew when he wasn't on his roost by 6:30pm that he was a gonner.
Last night Donald, our drake Khaki Campbell duck, went missing. The three remaining duck hens were wandering around aimlessly without him leading them. Donald NEVER leaves his girls so I know that fox got him as well.
I like fox, but this has to stop, as I can't continue losing my livestock. Son and Husband are prepared to shoot him if they see him on the property. Until then I have to keep all the poultry locked up (no free ranging) which I hate to do.
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6 comments:
I remember the video you posted of that fox many months ago. I'm so sorry to hear about your flocks. I can't believe Cockzilla has gone missing. He's been such a survivorm, what with the other rooster and all.
I hope you get that fox soon! He's got a taste for domestic animals and that's not OK.
Sometimes we have to commit ourselves to actions which we're not comfortable with.
I guess doing away with the fox, in favour being able to provide for your family, is not even negotiable.
As Jody says - a fox with domestic / easy animal tastes is definitely not what you need around your neck of the woods.
I left the coop door open last night -- thought for sure the fox would have easy pickin'. He didn't make the round, but I know he's there! Sorry to here about the chickens and ducks -- I hope you get him soon.
Dear Dani, Jody and Dr. Momi; thanks so much for the support and understanding. I wasn't sure how it would go over with me writing about wanting to kill a fox. I'm glad there are people that understand my concerns and frustrations. I don't think this is something that I could talk about with my friends and coworkers as they just wouldn't understand. So, thanks again for the support!
Really sorry to hear about losing all the livestock, especially Cockzilla. Hope you get the fox soon.
Foxes are the bane of my existence at the moment! We've lost all 20+ of our chickens, plus 3 of our 4 ducks. There goes the breeding program I'd been working on for the past 18 months!
I'd love to know a reliable way to keep foxes away. Even shooting them isn't much help, since the spot that one occupied in the food chain will be replaced quickly by another fox.
I'm all in favour of shooting them, mind you - they're a feral pest here in Australia and they hammer the native wildlife.
I'm trying a combination of more fortified pens and a new dog - hopefully that helps.
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