A question for you fox trappers

[jerseybowhunter]

Been having fox problems getting my chickens off and on for the past year, I've had chickens here my hole life and let them free range and only had the occasional hawk loss. This past year they whipped out over 30 birds including some gen turkeys I had. Long story short, I caught 2 males in 2 weeks back in December and thought I took care of the problem. Well I just had a hen and rooster disappear in 2 days leaving a trail of feathers into the woods. My question is, do they have a den this time of year? I'm thinking if I can find the den I can take care of the other problem fox a lot easier than trying to trap them blindly. I never trapped before and I guess I got lucky on the first 2 I got. Any tips will be appreciated. I'm down to 2 birds which I put in the coop for now but I would like to get rid of the fox problem so I can let them free range

[Buck154]

Yes they are denning up this time of year to have their pups. There is a never ending supply of fox. More you catch the more will come. I have one property that I trap I took 21 reds one year then 26 reds the next year then 22 the next and it's not a big farm land area.

[Swamprat]

Females should be denned up By now. Also don't rule out raccoons. They love fresh chicken. Set a have a heart trap alongside your coop. Set up trail cams. Look for tracks in snow/mud. Big difference between Fox and raccoon tracks. If your neighbors don't mind set up downwind and use some mouth squeaks at dusk. Fox ain't the brightest critter. Choot em.

[Oneday121o]

You are ringing the dinner bell for them. Male and females usually run together or within the same range, so you proabably have two females out there still running around or more depending on how pimp the males were. Usually one male will live in a family with a couple females similar to lions. The females may have also picked up a couple of new males. They are not stupid and live in close proximity to residential areas because food is easy for them there and there is no hunting pressure. They can easily adapt and are extremely inavasive so I would keep setting cable for them if I were you. Watch the snow for tracks that will let you know how many there are. Could just be one out there....they eat a lot.

[Oneday121o]

Coons will eat your chickens but they are not quiet about it and will only attack at night. Do you put them away at night?

[jerseybowhunter]

Funny I posted this then just checked my sets and caught another male this morning. So that's 3 males I got, no females. I just don't get why I never had a fox problem in 20 years of having chickens until this past year. Any pointers on where to look for the den? If there's a female around I would like to get rid of it before it has another litter of pups

[jerseybowhunter]

I had a problem with coons and skunks last summer eating the eggs but I'm almost positive the fox is my problem with the chickens. Everytime one goes missing, there's a ton of feathers all over like it was chasing the chicken then a faint trail of feathers going into the woods. I looked in the area that they headed but didn't find a den. I'm pretty sure they are attracking at daybreak because my chickens roost in a tree 10-15' up at night

[Oneday121o]

Funny I posted this then just checked my sets and caught another male this morning. So that's 3 males I got, no females. I just don't get why I never had a fox problem in 20 years of having chickens until this past year. Any pointers on where to look for the den? If there's a female around I would like to get rid of it before it has another litter of pups

Den could be miles away or in your backyard, fox travel a fairly large range. Not much you can do with the den anyway, as soon as they smell your scent they will split and build a new one. The fox population has exploded over the past couple of years. They made their way into residential areas and took off. Just keep hanging cable...well next year at least

[Bucndoe]

Most females are nursing now. Catching males only isn't going to solve your problem. If they have taken up a residence bordering your land, they are there to stay. If you are looking to protect your chickens my suggestion is the coop and set the area HEAVY. The more traps the better for your problem

[Bucndoe]

You are ringing the dinner bell for them. Male and females usually run together or within the same range, so you proabably have two females out there still running around or more depending on how pimp the males were. Usually one male will live in a family with a couple females similar to lions. The females may have also picked up a couple of new males. They are not stupid and live in close proximity to residential areas because food is easy for them there and there is no hunting pressure. They can easily adapt and are extremely inavasive so I would keep setting cable for them if I were you. Watch the snow for tracks that will let you know how many there are. Could just be one out there....they eat a lot.

There is never only one

[rgw]

if you got 2 that means there is 18 left.