Fox!!!!

[Penny]

There’s a fox after my chickens! He just got a mouthful of feathers last night but he will likely be back! My chooks free range during the day and just after supper, my son saw it out the kitchen window. Next thing you know, I see Alvin on the run with fox in persuit! Hubby went out and shot at him, but thinks he didn't get him, just scared him off. Poor Alvin doesn’t even have any spurs yet, but he did his best to protect his girls!! He did NOT want to go back down to the coop after through....I had to carry him back to the coop and give him lots of mealworm treats for being such a good boy. I have a live trap coming tonight, and the girls are on lockdown!!

[Happy]

Nice job Alvin!
I've learned the hard way that predators will show up anytime of day or night and once they find free, easy food they won't let up. Mine only get out of pen with the dogs outside and that still doesn't guarantee anything. I've lost 3 to coyotes over 6 years. All mid-day attacks. I had one narrowly escape two years ago by doing the butt tuck and roll manoever and all the coyote got was feathers. That was within 10 feet of my beagle who was on a rope lead at the time.

[Penny]

Photo of the young hero himself!

[Killerbunny]

Way to go Alvin!

[Ontario Chick]

Good catch, he will indeed be back, around here Sunday afternoon seems to be the favorite time for fox attack.
With all our fencing the last one made it over two four foot fences without any trouble.
It's the time of year when they look for food for the young, so unfortunately your coop looks like a well stocked supermarket.
Wish they would go after the chipmunks, I seem to be tripping over them all over the place.

[baronrenfrew]

chickens are used to dogs. they don’t see the difference with coyotes and foxes.

hot lead and/or a big and capable dog are the only things that sometimes work.

[Killerbunny]

We had no chipmunk trouble at all when we had our "not a bobcat" did a great job. Ministry seem to be admitting they're around now though.
I agree with Baron.

[KimChick]

Go Alvin!!! What a nice looking rooster!
When our hens are loose, we are outside. However, maybe we'll be extra cautious for a while.

[Ontario Chick]

Foxes are pretty brazen, the last attack we had, the backyard was full of people and dogs and the fox wasn't more then 300 feet from us.
They are opportunists and if it looks like they can get away with it they will try.