Macnab Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Hi all. Am in the process of setting up some chicken and duck areas on the side of a pond. The area will be well fenced with fencing dug 18 inches into the ground and fencing going a few feet out into the water. But there will still be a section open to the water. Does anyone know how willing a fox might be to swim round for a meal? Bearing in mind there are dozens of rabbits and pheasants outside the pen providing far too easy a meal. I have never seen a fox in water and wondered if they have an aversion or if like some of their dog cousins they don't think twice about a quick swim for a fat chicken or duck. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Heard stories from here from the old boys of then being out with sheepdogs and cornering a fox on a point out into a lake, fox went swimming. Also, think it was last year wasn't there a story about a fox swimming out to a nest on a little rock or island to rob it, can't remember if it was true or not. Uder pressure or hungry enough I'd say they'd go for a dip but I've not seen them in water myself besides after getting shot :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 They will swim with no hesitation if there is food available the other side, and your chickens and ducks are an easier meal than rabbits and pheasants. Foxes will not expend energy chasing animals or birds, unless they are wounded or sick, they know that they cannot catch healthy pheasants or rabbits. Dogs and foxes are not a good comparison, dogs chase rabbits for fun not for food. Your open pen is going to be an open invitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 I havent seen any swim before, but can guarentee that they will see that as a perfect opportunity to try and kill your fowl. If not a fox, a mink will do the deed for you. Alex :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 i have seen one swim but it had a load of hounds on its tail :blink: i would say it would swim andd whats to stop your ducks for swimming around the fence to get on the other side making easy fox fodder :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarlair Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 I have never seen one swimming but I remember a story I once heard. If a fox has a lot of fleas they have been known to take a mouthful of grass in their mouth and submerge in water. With the tip of the nose above the surface, the fleas crawl up to the grass. The fox then lets go and comes out of the water. I don't know how true this is but we all know that they can be pretty smart so it is quite possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 They will swim with no hesitation if there is food available the other side, and your chickens and ducks are an easier meal than rabbits and pheasants. Foxes will not expend energy chasing animals or birds, unless they are wounded or sick, they know that they cannot catch healthy pheasants or rabbits. Dogs and foxes are not a good comparison, dogs chase rabbits for fun not for food. Your open pen is going to be an open invitation. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Janaway Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Dont forget that if the pond freeze's over then the fox would simply be able to walk across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 A quick search on google found this http://www.karennutton.co.uk/PermaLink,gui...5cf994b189.aspx the one your thinking of from last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasbeaton Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 when foxs go to gt rid of there fleas the fox gets a lump of wood in nits jaw and goes into the water. the fox then uses the wood as a float and its whole body goes under exsept the wood wich is used to to breath, the snout is only part sicking out with the wood for oxegen. hope this helps. thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted March 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Thanks all. No big surprises but I like the story about the de-fleaing tactic. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 I have a mate who keeps ducks on an island in his lake. The local foxes can swim the 80 odd yards from the shore to the island Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyboots Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 ive saw 1 swim but that was with a lurcher hot on his tail after it was bolted with a terrier it swam about 50yards across a small river to make its escape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretman Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 my dad shot a fox with the 12g swiming across a bit of a pond to a nest so yes i have seen it mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 when foxs go to gt rid of there fleas the fox gets a lump of wood in nits jaw and goes into the water. the fox then uses the wood as a float and its whole body goes under exsept the wood wich is used to to breath, the snout is only part sicking out with the wood for oxegen. hope this helps. thomas This was written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm as one of Grimms Fairy tales, back in the early 1800's, and you believe it? S'truth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 i saw a fox bolt into water and swim like mad, mind you he had 16 1/2 couple hounds up his ar-e at the time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr smith Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 I was out lamping a few weeks ago along by a burn,when i heard a splash and could just make out in the gloom something swimming passed me.Tried to light it up with the lamp but there's a fair bit of vegitation and all i did was illuminate this,just making out a set of eyes.Wondered would a fox likely swim passed or more likely to turn tail and head away from me.There have been mink in the passed in this area and i thought that's what this was,however reading about swimming foxes made me wonder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytim38 Posted May 4, 2008 Report Share Posted May 4, 2008 Hi mate, in answer to your question they can and do swim, I had a text last night from a local farmer who forgot to lock his ducks up, and at 11:30 pm heard a noise outside, when he had a look foxy was swimming in his duck pond chasing and snapping at two of his ducks, foxy will be having the pleasure of my company tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpo_the_bad Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Yes they certainly can and do. I've only seen it once. I was walking down to the duck pond and there were a pair of foxes next to a dyke which ran in a straight line ahead of me. They had a choice of running in to the woods on one side or crossing the dyke via a plank in to woods on the other. Both took to the dyke without a second thought, didn't even waste time crossing at the plank, and I didn't even have time to get a shot in. Foxes 2 - 0 Me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 when foxs go to gt rid of there fleas the fox gets a lump of wood in nits jaw and goes into the water. the fox then uses the wood as a float and its whole body goes under exsept the wood wich is used to to breath, the snout is only part sicking out with the wood for oxegen. hope this helps. thomas This was written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm as one of Grimms Fairy tales, back in the early 1800's, and you believe it? S'truth! Seen it with me own eyes bob a fox backed into a pond with just his nose showing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytim38 Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 That fox wont be swimming any more, went out May 4th with Red Thunder and Botch , charlie showed at 10.30 making his way to the pond, .243 55 grain balistic tip stopped his fun Sorry its a long time posting this one been busy after another well educated charlie shows most days but has eluded me for too long now gonna try using bait and the Warreners last sniff masking scent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 when foxs go to gt rid of there fleas the fox gets a lump of wood in nits jaw and goes into the water. the fox then uses the wood as a float and its whole body goes under exsept the wood wich is used to to breath, the snout is only part sicking out with the wood for oxegen. hope this helps. thomas This was written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm as one of Grimms Fairy tales, back in the early 1800's, and you believe it? S'truth! Seen it with me own eyes bob a fox backed into a pond with just his nose showing I don't disbelieve you, although I can't imagine why a fox would do this, as this would not kill fleas, there is ample air contained in a dog or foxes coat to keep fleas alive. If this worked, all that you would have to do to get rid of fleas on your dog would be to take it for a swim. And if you held it underwater, the dog would drown long before fleas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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