Depending upon where you live, your chickens and other poultry birds and animals are always at a risk from predators like foxes, wild dogs, raccoons, coyotes, hawks and bears. The best thing you can do in order to protect your flock is use a sturdy chicken coop and run.
You can also invest in a chicken wire or a poultry fence to keep your flock confined to an area and the predators away from them. Chicken wire fences can be electric or non-electric based on the gravity of the situation.
Sometimes though, you have to take the extreme step and trap the predators that are eating your hens or their eggs, night after night. You can easily do so using a fox trap. Fox traps are of two types: humane and killing traps.
Most backyard farmers prefer the humane traps which have a catch-and-release facility. Since many State Laws prohibit trapping and killing of animals, it is best to use catch-and-release type traps. If you plan on using snares and killing traps, always check with local town office and zoning regulations about the legality of their use.
In this guide, we will discuss some of the best fox traps you can invest in for the safety of your flock. Before we do so, let us also discuss a few other methods of protecting your backyard chickens from predators like foxes.
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Best ways to protect your chickens from predators like foxes
Keep your birds indoors at night
Most predators are nocturnal in nature and hunt at night. So, it makes sense to keep your birds indoors and secure the coop properly at night.
Use a strong mesh fence or hardware cloth
Strong predators can easily rip through thin chicken wire. A hardware cloth is a lot stronger than thin chicken wire and it also has smaller openings. Therefore, it does a better job in protecting the birds from wild animals.
Use padlocked latches
Many predators such as wild cats are extremely clever and they can easily open simple coop latches. Using a padlock can help prevent this from happening. A gate-with-a-sturdy-lock and a nightly coop-locking schedule can prevent many predator attacks.
Get a dog!
A trained guard dog is an excellent solution against predator attacks. Sometimes, simply the presence of a dog on your property can keep raccoons and foxes away.
Hang shiny objects
Many backyard chicken keepers swear by this age-old remedy. Hanging shiny objects around the coop (think unused/broken CDs) can prevent predators from entering it.
Deter aerial attacks
Your birds are at a danger not only from terrestrial predators but also from aerial ones. Cover your chicken run with sturdy wire mesh to prevent hawks and eagles from swooping down upon your flock.
Clean up
Messy chicken coops and runs, debris and food in the backyard, open trash cans around the property, half-eaten pet-food on the porch, etc can all attract predators. So, avoid leaving these items around. Even small predators like mice and rats can cause a great deal of headache for you.
Set traps
A great way to keep predators from harming your flock is through the use of traps. Set traps to capture coons, foxes, feral cats, wild dogs, possums, and armadillos. You can relocate the trapped animals far away from your property.
Let us now discuss some of the best fox traps available in the market.
The Best Fox Traps to Buy
1. LifeSupply USA Catch and Release Heavy Duty Cage for Foxes and Other Chicken Predators
LIfeSupply heavy duty cages are available in different sizes. They are ideal for trapping wild animals and nuisance predators that harm your poultry animals.
Pros
- Comes with a gravity action door to prevent escape
- Has a handle to prevent contact when transporting the trapped animal
- Iron-wire mesh, coated galvanized protection, and steel reinforcements ensure that the cage lasts long without rusting.
- Easy to use and clean
- Value for money
Cons
- Smaller predators could easily go in, eat the bait/food, and get out before the door closed.
- Instructions for assembly are lacking
- Door can be easily broken by larger predators.
2. Havahart 1-Door Humane Animal Trap
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Havahart one-door trap is made with smooth internal edges to prevent hurting animals. This humane trap works for small predators that may be a nuisance to chickens and other poultry animals. The cage comes fully-assembled and ready to use. It is proudly made in the US.
Pros
- Made in the US
- Easy to use as it is completely assembled
- Durable traps made to last
- Safe for humans and animals.
- Thousands of positive reviews and 5-star ratings on top retail sites.
Cons
- Unit’s trapdoor needs a string or handle to open as you tend to come very close to a potentially dangerous trapped animal
3. Duke Traps 6 Pack Coil Spring Traps for Foxes
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This is a set of 6 traps that have a coil-spring mechanism. They are easy to use, work well, and are nearly impossible for the trapped animal to escape. Duke traps are strong and sturdy and promise to protect your chickens from predators like coons and foxes.
Pros
- Durable and sturdy
- These traps offer value for money
- Easy to use and set up.
- Can be used underwater as well.
Cons
- Duke traps tend to rust and to prevent that you need to lubricate them using paraffin wax or cooking oil.
- They do not come with stakes; you need to buy stakes separately if you need them.
- The trap may be too small to catch larger animals.
4. RedNeck Convent Versatile Fox and Coyote Trap
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Redneck Convent traps have a US based seller so you can be assured of quick customer service and warranty on the trap, should you need it. These traps conform to legal regulations regarding animal trapping. They also contain a ‘floating’ stop should you wish to free the trapped animal.
Pros
- The RedNeck trap comes with a ‘snare’ operation that reliably comes down quickly as soon as an animal comes in contact with it.
- It has a loaded-trap mechanism and that extra tension makes it close quickly when needed.
- Each order comes with 12 traps that are reusable and versatile enough to trap different animals.
- Trapped animals do not get injured and can be relocated.
- Very high-quality, well-made snare traps that work on foxes, coyotes, and other predators that lurk around your chicken coop
- Excellent material and sturdy construction offer value for money.
Cons
- Loop does not stay in place
- For some users, the traps did not work or stopped working after using once.
5. Neocraft 2 Piece Animal Trap
With Neocraft traps, you get two traps in medium and large sizes. Both traps are humane and for catch and release purpose. They are constructed with sturdy, rust-proof material and also come pre-assembled and ready-to-use.
Pros
- These easy-to-use, preassembled cages can easily and humanely trap cats, raccoons, squirrels, and possums.
- They are super-sturdy and total value for money.
- Sizes are 32” and 24” perfect for small and medium sized animals.
Cons
- Armadillo can easily escape from this cage
6. TrapPro Large Collapsible Humane Animal Trap for Catch and Release
TrapPro makes one of the few fox traps that save space as they are collapsible. They also humanely trap animals and come with catch-and-release functionality without hurting the trapped animals.
TrapPro cage is also escape-proof and comes with smoothed internal edges to prevent injury to animals.
Pros
- Fast acting trap; sensitive trigger ensures quick trapping action
- Safe for humans to handle as well as for the trapped animals
- Available in three different sizes
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Easy to assemble, use, and clean.
- Value for money.
Cons
- Latch or safety catch tends to freeze sometimes; this can render the trap useless
- Some traps were easily broken by animals
7. Redneck Convent Duke Dog-Proof Animal Leg Trap for Foxes/Raccoons/Minks
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No products found.
Redneck Convent Duke traps features powerful springs, sensitive pull-type triggers, and a straight space stalking system. Pet owners love this trap as it is safe for use around dogs and cats.
Pros
- Versatile traps that can foot-hold or leg-trap a variety of animals
- Durable and all-steel construction
- Efficient and safe traps that can be used around pets
- Works very well by using dog or cat food bait
Cons
- Spring is susceptible to breaking
Conclusion
Before you invest in the best fox trap to protect your backyard chickens, it is very important that you educate yourself. There are very heavy fines and strict laws involved in the capture of certain predators, and that includes foxes and raccoons. So, get your facts first.