Foxes are the number one predator of our chickens in the U.K (unless of course you live on the Isle of Man where there are no foxes!)
Foxes usually rip the heads off chickens and will kill as many birds as they can in a frenzy if they manage to get into a run or coop. Foxes usually get into a run by digging and squeezing under a fence or by going over the top of a fence. Fences need to be buried at least 8 inches deep with the wire then curled flat outwards by another 8 inches. They can clear a 5 foot fence with ease. Remember foxes are more like cats than dogs and can jump!
Foxes can also tear rabbit wire fences with their teeth – it is best to keep fences taught and ideally use the I inch rectangular wire as this is thicker, stronger and they can’t get their teeth into it.
They will squeeze through the smallest of gaps… but don’t take my word for it, this short clip shows him in action!
Foxes usually work alone but towards the end of summer, sometimes the Vixen will hunt with her cubs to teach them.
When are your chickens at risk?
Foxes are generally nocturnal creatures, hunting under the cover of darkness; however when there is a large population of foxes or a shortage of food as is often found in the urban environment, they can start to become a pest during the daytime. Young cubs that are just finding their own food often stay out until mid morning, I frequently see them playing on the bales of hay in the fields near my home in late June and July and from time to time they will come into my garden.
The winter is obviously a dangerous time for chickens when food is short, however the time when most of us get caught out is June to August. Cubs are learning to hunt on their own, will often come early evening or morning when it is light and don’t have the fear to stay away from us.
If your chickens free range, a fox may make a dash, grab a chicken and run off. During these risky times, you may need a small secure run to house them when you are out but there are other options. Electrified poultry netting works wonders at keeping them safe in a large area and you may be able to speak to your local game keeper if you have a problem fox that is very determined.
Do you have any advice on Foxes? Please leave a comment below if you do.
Hello, today 23rd Feb we arrived home to find our three chickens happily scratching in their large enclosed run but just inside their smaller dry run we found the head of a chicken. Would a fox do this without attacking our three hens? Any answers would be appreciated.
Yes, I’m afraid so. Foxes normally take the heads off.
A confident fox will normally kill all birds in a house or run then try to burry the bodies to save for later but if it was disturbed or nervous, they can make a quick dash in to take a bird and run off.
Foxes ALWAYS come back though… it might be a month or two or tommorrow but either way, to save your other birds, you need to make your run fox proof or remove the fox in a humane way.
I have been given some chickens this week and I was looking about how to keep them I have a sturdy coop and was just going to fence of the bottom of the garden for the chickens to run around. If I keep the hens locked up in the coop every night do I need to be worried about foxes getting in as I was just going to fence off with a little wooded fence.
Foxes can and do get into runs during the daytime I’m afraid. My neighbours were fine for 4 years and then lost all of their birds to a fox. To be completely safe, you need to build a fox proof fence / run.
Excellent information for novices and “old hands “. I was brought up on a farm in Bicton Heath , Shrewsbury, in the late forty’s fifties and early sixties, when I left home and went my own way. I am now retired and starting to keep a few chickens, but have forgotten everything I new about them. I seem to remember pouring creosote around the outside of the chicken run , to keep foxes and badgers away, would this be correct ? I cannot recall having any problems with foxes
I’ve not heard of Creosote keeping predators away – but the old fashioned Creosote does stop red mite (the new creosote substitute doesn’t work very well). I guess fresh Creosote has a pretty strong smell so it could well work with foxes and badgers.
Hi, sadly we lost one of our girls yesterday when the fox jumped into their run just after they’d been let out. He took Lacey – we later found her in our neighbour’s garden and removed her – and was about to take Cagney when we saw him and chased him off.
Today, Cagney is very subdued, limping slightly and not particularly interested in sweetcorn or grapes (her favourite treats). I’ve kept her inside her Eglu so she’s safe but is it likely that she’s mourning for Lacey? Should we think about getting her another companion bird (perhaps an ex-battery)?
We will “fox-proof” the run somehow – can’t go through this trauma again.
Ann
Sorry to hear of your loss. Mr fox will be back…. no question.
Yes, first, fox proof run, second, a companion. 3 is a good number of hens to keep as they are flock animals. 1 hen on her own isn’t kind. 2 is bare minimum.
Just to let you know we picked up two new girls a couple of days ago, Bella and Minnie. All three are now settled into a fox proof run and after a few handbag moments seem to be getting on just fine. Our original, Cagney, is definitely top hen and seems to be enjoying her new companions. So, three happy and safe hens…just waiting to be deluged with eggs now!
Great, I hope they settle soon and you see some eggs 🙂
Hi. I let my two chickens out at 7am yesterday & by 7.30am there was just two piles of feathers. Would you say this was a fox or a cat? The chickens were quite large birds having free run of the garden for the past 3 months with no problem.
Love the site, cheers
I’m afraid this is typical of a fox. They usually take the head off and take a few with them, often burrying them nearby for future use.