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yeah they're nasty pieces of work sometimes as well. They slaughter wildly in chicken coop's. they often kill and eat just the tail and tongue of lambs in sheep

yeah they're nasty pieces of work sometimes as well. They slaughter wildly in chicken coop's. they often kill and eat just the tail and tongue of lambs in sheeping communities. but I can't help but love how sleek and beautiful they are, the noises they make and their playful natures.

Digit-Al 5y ago
Apparently the killing of multiple chickens in a coop is not arbitrary / vicious. Because food is scarce in the wild, if given the opportunity they will kill as many as possible and then bury them in caches so they have food for several days. Unfortunately (for them) when they kill multiple chickens in a coop they get interrupted by the owner so can't return - so it ends up looking like pointless cruelty.
- javajosh 5y ago
  I wonder if it doesn't serve them in another way, namely to deny competitors (especially other foxes) a ready meal. It might also be so that they can eat one chicken in peace and not get poked by the others! But yes, like orcas clearly playing with living, in-pain seals, or any number of other phenomena, nature can be quite cruel.
  - MisterTea 5y ago
    I wonder if its simply a case of "eyes bigger than the stomach". The fox gets over excited with a coop full of chicken and goes overboard as there's so much food. Similar to buying too much food or snacks when shopping hungry.
    - Digit-Al 5y ago
      Looks like that (sort of) plays a part. https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/do-foxes-kill-for-fun https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/do-foxes-k...
nestorD 5y ago
Note that I have seen a chicken coop devasted by a dog in exactly the same way. It was not a pretty sight.
pvaldes 5y ago
That's because most chicken coops are notorious by its bad design. We shouldn't blame the fox for that. In some cases chicken would survive more time if left roost out of the cop. The weak point is the nest. Not much people are grateful for all the rats and mice wiped for free by the foxes in any case. We maybe should start thinking more about it.
Tagbert 5y ago
It’s not like a coop is a natural prey situation. You have a large number of prey captive in a small space from which they can’t escape. Foxes don’t really have a natural behavioral pattern for this. I’m not surprised if they may overreact.

Digit-Al 5y ago

Apparently the killing of multiple chickens in a coop is not arbitrary / vicious. Because food is scarce in the wild, if given the opportunity they will kill as many as possible and then bury them in caches so they have food for several days. Unfortunately (for them) when they kill multiple chickens in a coop they get interrupted by the owner so can't return - so it ends up looking like pointless cruelty.

javajosh 5y ago
I wonder if it doesn't serve them in another way, namely to deny competitors (especially other foxes) a ready meal. It might also be so that they can eat one chicken in peace and not get poked by the others! But yes, like orcas clearly playing with living, in-pain seals, or any number of other phenomena, nature can be quite cruel.
- MisterTea 5y ago
  I wonder if its simply a case of "eyes bigger than the stomach". The fox gets over excited with a coop full of chicken and goes overboard as there's so much food. Similar to buying too much food or snacks when shopping hungry.
  - Digit-Al 5y ago
    Looks like that (sort of) plays a part. https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/do-foxes-kill-for-fun https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/do-foxes-k...

nestorD 5y ago

Note that I have seen a chicken coop devasted by a dog in exactly the same way. It was not a pretty sight.

pvaldes 5y ago

That's because most chicken coops are notorious by its bad design. We shouldn't blame the fox for that. In some cases chicken would survive more time if left roost out of the cop. The weak point is the nest. Not much people are grateful for all the rats and mice wiped for free by the foxes in any case. We maybe should start thinking more about it.

Tagbert 5y ago

It’s not like a coop is a natural prey situation. You have a large number of prey captive in a small space from which they can’t escape. Foxes don’t really have a natural behavioral pattern for this. I’m not surprised if they may overreact.