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.
My chickens are completely free range, they roost on a pole in the rafters of our stable. I have been told that there is a fox in the village at the moment (I am sure there are always foxes in the village!) so i am just wondering whether the fox will be able to reach them, we have a stable door which the bottom part is always closed and the top part open so they can come and go as they please. We inherited these chickens in a house move and they have always roosted in this stable and have been fine so far?????
Whilst the fox might not be able to reach them, they will dash around underneath them in circles causing the chickens to panic and often fly off the perch (yes there is some truth in the story of the little red hen!)
Ideally the fox shouldn’t be able to get into the barn as you hens could still be at risk. Could you use an electric fence to pull across the opening at night perhaps?
Hi, I live in a rural area, and there are a lot of foxes. I would like to keep chickens, and intend to follow all advice about keeping foxes out. I have two large dogs (and a cat), I am fairly sure I can train the dogs to leave them alone, will the presence of dogs put the foxes off anyway? Is my cat likely to be more of a problem? Wonderful site, so much to learn! thank you
Cats are rarely a problem – but occasionally there are cats that will bother chickens, usually if you are keeping bantam breeds of chickens.
Foxes won’t normally come near dogs – but they will when dogs aren’t in the garden.
Dogs are normally fine if they are socialised to chickens at a young age, if not, they can’t always be trusted with chickens. It is usually dogs with genetics for hunting that are the main problem but others can get become ‘hunters’ if the behaviour is allowed – so a sheep dog has a strong genetic drive to herd and round chickens up but this can then lead to nipping at them, and finally a kill unless you are there to interrupt the behaviour and redirect the behaviour into what you want the dog to do (e.g. sit) for example.
Dogs can understand ‘safe’ and ‘dangerous’ so whilst they may be trained to leave chickens whilst you are there (‘dangerous’) when you are not there to stop them, taking a chicken can become ‘safe’. Each dog is different though but whatever happens, they shouldn’t be left alone with the chickens until you are completely confident that they have no interest in them.
Good luck and do let us all know how you get on…
Hi, I’ve recently had a fox attack my flock and all but one are gone and there are only traceable feathers from my rooster. Is it a posability that my chickens ran away I’ve a low wall in my garden and they are in the bushes of my neighbours garden?
Highly unlikely I’m afraid. They will usually panic and fly if they can but a fox will kill as many as he can usually and then start to take them one by one to bury unless disturbed. Although many people say they kill all of the flock and then only take one, they will over time come back for more if food is scarce.
Hi, as with so many others, I have to say that you advice and help is brilliant – so thank you. My question may be a little random – we have a very healthy stoat population, which is great for controlling the rabbits and squirrels but will they be a risk to bantams. I’m looking at getting a coop in a large fully enclosed full height run (galvanised steel – as I also have a fox population to deal with) and only letting them free range when i’m in the garden. Will they be safe from stoat attack? many thanks
Stoats can certainly be a problem with smaller bantams, I would try to fence your birds securely as a first step. If you want to leave the run uncovered, you can also run an electric fence wire a couple of inches out from the fence so they touch it when running up the fence and can’t get over the top.
We have just had a fox attack and are now 8 chickens down, i am just wondering if there is a specific time for fox’s to return for the left over chicken carcass or indeed a time the will come back to hunt?
Not particularly. I’ve had them come back the next night but it could be a month if they he is spooked or has enough food elsewhere.