The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, Its range has increased alongside human expansion,
Foxes are careful, fastidious hunters, and there isn’t normally much evidence of a visit. If birds are out in a large run or field during the day, a small patch of feathers is normally all you will find. They do, of course, need an entry and exit point, and if the area is fenced, this is normally a small hole under a gate or fence. There will usually be no entry signs if they have managed to get over the top of a fence.
If a fox gets into a small run or chicken house and there are many birds in there, they can get into a killing ‘frenzy’ and kill 30 or more birds, usually taking only one bird with them. Typically, they will bite the heads off the birds. Sometimes, they will bury the bodies if there is enough loose soil.
People are way too complacent when it comes to keeping their chickens safe and wrongly presume that just because they have a chicken coop that this is all they need to do.If you are going to keep chickens, be it in an urban garden or a country field, then you need to accept that foxes are a common problem that all chicken owners face.
