Attacks

From Urbanchicken

Foxes tend to attack more at night but are opportunistic killers. You may find paw prints, droppings or areas where a fox has tried to dig its way into your garden. In the day, supervising your chickens if they freerange is the best option to protect your chickens, although some city foxes are almost fearless and will approach humans and visit gardens in daylight. I've read one story of a person being attacked by a fox, which only released its bite when dogs were set on it, ignoring being sprayed with a hosepipe! Some councils deal with persistant problem foxes in an urban area. Foxes certainly shouldn't be underestimated, they are well known for their taste for chickens. Fox attacks can be cruel, foxes for some reason can "go crazy" in henhouses and kill a whole flock leaving the majority of carcusses behind. Be warned there are many stories of foxes taking chickens the "one time" the chicken owner has forgotten to close the door, or "just popped inside," so be vigilant, make sure your hens are always safe in a foxproof henhouse and you should have no problems. We have included several sections on fox deterrents to help you protect your chickens.