sandyhas3chucks Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 This is going to be a strange, controversial, and I am guessing pointless post , but I will request this "just in-case". please please lets not get into one of those heated exchanges, I am aware we ALL have different views. But.. A local Wildlife rescue (offered to post herself in-case I get a load of abuse) has asked that IF/SHOULD anybody actually have a fox attack, AND have it recorded on CCTV,(she knows it would be hard and sad ask, but if the chooks that are left (dead ones naturally)(not any survivors!!)left behind could possibly be left, and the recording carried on. They would be extremely grateful. They are NOT prepared to set this up as it would be incredibly cruel, and horrible, but if someone is in that position and feels that they could...... Apparently just like Owls (cannot recall if Barn or Tawny or all Owls) In opposition to the commonly held belief, that they kill all just for the hell of it and leave what they don't want.... they DO in fact return to collect the dead ones. Mods, if this gets horrid please just delete the post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Can't help with a recording but of the three chooks that were taken two years ago one was found buried in a neighbour's asparagus patch and the other in their grandchildrens' sandpit. So I would take that as evidence that the fox, if undisturbed would come back for the others it had killed. I've always felt that all chickens killed would eventually be cached. You can hardly expect the fox to kill one take it away then come back to kill another ad infinitum. It makes sense to kill all it can then to hide them away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I don't think anyone think foxes kill for the fun of it, I think people find it upsetting that they kill ALL of the hens and don't have a chance to take any of them. I think (speaking from experience) I would be happier if a fox killed one hen and took it away to eat, not kill 10 or so and not eat any. I know if we don't interfeer then they would eat them all but I think, again, people find it upsetting that all their hens are killed and not one of them will be 'benefited' from if you what I mean? It's a good idea but I don't think it's necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 they want the video for evidence to show those... lets say, not as "enlightened "or pragmatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 O sorry I see what you mean now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 am i being thick??? what you asking?? i haven't got proof but on Christmas eve just gone we caught a fox in the act and it killed all my ducks........... (4 to be picky) we didnt leave the bodies out for the fox to come back, they were not buried either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I can see where the researcher is coming from, but I think the problem is that people act emotionally when a fox strikes and probably are unlikely to think of doing this. It would be good to have actual evidence of what happens though I agree. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 i can tell you what happens, the foxes go for their necks, goes for one, decapitates that one then off for the others, I found all my ducks with their heads ripped off and scattered!! sorry to sound harsh but that's what happens! and thats how i found mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 In the wild if a fox comes across say, ten mice but can only eat five, he will still kill all that he can and stash the others away for when he is next hungry. It's common fox sense. Lots of other animals do this. It's the same as those same mice hiding stores away for winter. The same as the bird table visiting squirrel burying peanuts in your lawn. The only reason we find NO fox amid a coop full of chickens is that it has been disturbed before it has managed to hide them all for later. He's not killing for killing's sake. I can't understand why anybody would want video proof of this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Actually I think the issue is with those who hate foxes regardless, and there are plenty of them. I doubt that any reasoned argument, with or without video evidence, would change the opinions of the diehard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 In the wild if a fox comes across say, ten mice but can only eat five, he will still kill all that he can and stash the others away for when he is next hungry. It's common fox sense. Lots of other animals do this. It's the same as those same mice hiding stores away for winter. The same as the bird table visiting squirrel burying peanuts in your lawn. The only reason we find NO fox amid a coop full of chickens is that it has been disturbed before it has managed to hide them all for later. He's not killing for killing's sake. I can't understand why anybody would want video proof of this i agree, we disturbed the fox who got my ducks hence the way we found them! to the point the Fox was hiding behind the hutch and nearly had a shovel to its head!!! im glad i am not a cruel person as i let the dam thing go!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blodri Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Without wishing to fan the flames too much I think it would be a fairly pointless exercise to do such a recording. As some other posters have mentioned the fox will usually return for the other chickens if he is not disturbed. However it would be impossible to know whether the fox had been disturbed elsewhere (dog/human etc?) and thus been put off returning. Perhaps he intended to return the next day and then was shot. Maybe he gets sick or maybe he finds easier food nearer to home. How would people know from the film? They couldn't possibly know. How long would they want to film - whether he returns quickly or not might depend on how many cubs the fox is feeding. It would be impossible to have a controlled environment within someone's garden. Ola Flavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Actually I think the issue is with those who hate foxes regardless, and there are plenty of them. I doubt that any reasoned argument, with or without video evidence, would change the opinions of the diehard. You got it Jules It would be horrible to do and our instinct would be to clear them away, myself included. The wildlife rescue are just looking for a way to show people. We are all used to seeing the Lions etc catching their kill, and it is NOT for the killing, the killing method is neither here nor there, (apart from our sadness at loosing our precious girls) It is this myth that they kill for trhe sake of killing , not as you folks have sensibly realised I have reqested on the off chance but did say to them that I thought it highly unlikely, as the whole point of having cctv's is to keep an eye on the girls anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I can understand why people misunderstand the foxes' motives when they apparently go on a killing frenzy and kill a whole coop of chooks and then leave them...but when we go to the supermarket we generally think about what we are going to eat over the next few days and not just on that day so its no different. In fact don't get me started on supermarkets the amount of meat that is wasted filling their shelves is nothing short of criminal imo. When I lost my lovely Apricot girl to a fox just before Christmas, I was rather saddened that the fox didn't have the opportunity to take her away to eat....it seemed like a really pointless death and that almost offended more than the act itself..which at the end of the day is only the fox trying to feed him/herself and its family. That I certainly couldn't have left her out for him to take at another time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I think it would be a useful video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Very interesting article here http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions_answers_foxes.html#kill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 An excellent book about foxes, which explains their behaviour very clearly is Urban Foxes by Stephen Harris and Phil Baker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 Very interesting article here http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions_answers_foxes.html#kill yes very interesting have saved it for later finishing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Yes, Sandy I thought you might like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Actually I think the issue is with those who hate foxes regardless, and there are plenty of them. I doubt that any reasoned argument, with or without video evidence, would change the opinions of the diehard. You got it Jules It would be horrible to do and our instinct would be to clear them away, myself included. The wildlife rescue are just looking for a way to show people. We are all used to seeing the Lions etc catching their kill, and it is NOT for the killing, the killing method is neither here nor there, (apart from our sadness at loosing our precious girls) It is this myth that they kill for trhe sake of killing , not as you folks have sensibly realised I have reqested on the off chance but did say to them that I thought it highly unlikely, as the whole point of having cctv's is to keep an eye on the girls anyway. I have managed to stay out of this up until now but As a "Diehard" (always saw myself as a bit of a Bruce Willis ) I don't care if the fox is malicious or kills my girls with tears flooding down his cheeks. If it would harm my girls it is unwelcome. If there were lions around here they would be treated the same - though maybe with a bigger trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 I have managed to stay out of this up until now but As a "Diehard" (always saw myself as a bit of a Bruce Willis ) I don't care if the fox is malicious or kills my girls with tears flooding down his cheeks. If it would harm my girls it is unwelcome. If there were lions around here they would be treated the same - though maybe with a bigger trap. Absolutely. It is up to us to take measures to protect our chooks. Musing on why Mr Fox does what he does is rather academic (though quite interesting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 I have managed to stay out of this up until now but As a "Diehard" (always saw myself as a bit of a Bruce Willis ) I don't care if the fox is malicious or kills my girls with tears flooding down his cheeks. If it would harm my girls it is unwelcome. If there were lions around here they would be treated the same - though maybe with a bigger trap. Absolutely. It is up to us to take measures to protect our chooks. Musing on why Mr Fox does what he does is rather academic (though quite interesting) I couldn't agree more, though I feel the people the video (if sad enough to be caught,) would not be aimed at such an intelligent sensible audiance as participants to this thread clearly are. I must admit to posting the rquest fully expecting virtual hate mail from some. It is such a horrid thing to happen, and seems to even happen to very "fox aware" people sometimes. I would, as others, be devastated. but also furious with myself! fox is most unwelcome here too. I like to her my dog see something off in the middle of the night(just a couple of woofs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I went for my usual jog through the field with the dog this morning and strung up on a gate was the most magnificent dog fox He must have been a metre long, with thick thick fur and in really good nick (not like the scraggy urban foxes I was always used to). I stopped to look and give him a stroke silly me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I dont hate foxes what they do they do to survive but l love my girls like people love any pet.I would always make sure my girls are locked up so there never hurt.My duck molly comes when called and wont let any one but me stroke her so im pretty sure she loves me back .If my pets were killed id feel so numb and would have never wanted it filmed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I went for my usual jog through the field with the dog this morning and strung up on a gate was the most magnificent dog fox He must have been a metre long, with thick thick fur and in really good nick (not like the scraggy urban foxes I was always used to). I stopped to look and give him a stroke silly me. That would upset me too, I hate seeing such beautiful creatures treated that way. I know I'm in the minority among poultry keepers, and yes I've experienced first hand the carnage caused by me not shutting the pophole one night, but that was my fault, not the fox's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
