Our farm is surrounded by hay fields and protected woods, with a very large fox population. It may not be immediately obvious what is taking your chickens, but if you know what to look for, you may find evidence of what predator is to blame.
#Foxes attacking chickens how to#
How To Tell if a Fox Is To Blame For Missing Chickensįox are known as stealthy hunters leaving little evidence behind. While foxes can be a chicken keepers worst nightmar, I would like to note that foxes are an important part of the ecosystem and their presence should be respected. They are also active both during the day and at night.īoth red and grey foxes may be attracted to backyard chicken flocks as a food source and may attack the birds if given the opportunity. They have strong, hooked claws that enable them to climb trees. The gray fox is the only member of the dog family who will climb trees to search for prey, sleep, or escape from predators.
They are also opportunistic hunters, preying on small mammals, birds, and insects. The gray fox is less common in Upstate New York and typically lives in wooded or hilly areas. They are active both during the day and at night and are known to hunt in backyards which can lead to conflicts with backyard chicken flocks. Red foxes are opportunistic hunters, preying on small mammals such as rabbits, rodents, birds, and insects. The red fox is the most common and can be found in various habitats, including forests, farmland, and suburban areas. Both are members of the canine family, and both are highly successful predators capable of killing healthy adult chickens. Upstate New York is home to two main species of foxes: the red fox and the gray fox. Once they’ve tasted chicken, they’ll be back, often daily, to pick off a bird until none are left.
They will learn your daily schedule and take advantage of any opportunity to grab an easy meal. Before we get into how to protect your flock let’s take a minute to get to know the enemy: the fox.įoxes are clever, and they’ll strike when your guard is down.
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