With red foxes populating every state but Florida, it’s better for the majority of us to be prepared for an attack rather than caught off guard. It’s important to know that foxes are rather territorial, so if you’ve confirmed that there are any residing nearby, they’ll likely be there awhile. However, there are always exceptions: If your home is situated near dense forest or you have a large amount of property, it’s possible that a vixen will make her den nearby and consider your flock easy pickings to feed to her young. Luckily for chicken keepers, foxes will most likely be lower on your list of common predators. What they all have in common is their cunningness: Foxes are incredibly bright and learn quickly, making them challenging adversaries to outwit when they’re set on having your chickens for dinner. Although the four types vary slightly in appearance, habitat and behavior, they’re collectively considered the smallest wild dog on the continent of North America. Of the four types of fox found in North America-the red, grey, arctic and kit-the red fox is the most common and the most likely to pay a visit to your coop. When a fox makes its move, it does so when it’s certain that the coast is clear of humans and other guardians, and preferably in the early morning hours or the evening, though they’ve been known to attack during the day just as well. Foxes learn your schedule, too: They watch to learn when you’re home, when you leave, when the livestock guardians are off duty, when you let out your chickens, and when they spend time in the pasture or backyard. Part of what is so cunning about a fox is that it is assessing your home, coop, run and free-ranging areas for some time before it actually attacks. Unlike other predators, foxes leave little evidence of an attack, but they will just as cleanly pick off your chickens as any other predator. It is smart, sly and savvy, and it strikes when your guard is down. The fox is the most feared chicken-killer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |