foxes taking newborn lambs

Joscia

I've recently taken over my late uncle's sheep farm
Although I'm not a complete novice to it I'm finding it difficult to keep what I suspect is a fox taking lambs. The rams broke out early so as a result I had a blast of early lambs. I was the only farm around that had early lambs but from the start they were being taken as quick as they were coming. I've lost about 10 out of around 35 so far. I've put on Stockholm tar but as set of twins were taken with it on last weekend. I don't want to put down poison. I have asked a couple of guys that hunt to watch out but to no avail
Can anyone help a novice farmer?

Kovu

Whereabout in the country are you Joscia? May help as we get a few hunters checking in periodically for areas to shoot in.

Don't have sheep myself but I've seen lads here swear on the tar keeping the fox from taking them. Strange that they're taking yours, are you putting a good spread of it on the back of the neck?

Superdaddy

Poison is illegal. Buy some snares and learn how to set them on line. Contact local gun club and ask them to lamp the foxes for you. You could also try a fox cage trap. Could it be a neighbours dog or even your own?

Green farmer

Most probably a fox. Find another sheep farmer in your area and chances is they know someone to shoot for you.

arctictree

When you say newborn, are they lambing outside unmonitored? Or do you mean after they are turned out and a few days old?

Joscia

arctictree wrote: »

When you say newborn, are they lambing outside unmonitored? Or do you mean after they are turned out and a few days old?

My uncle always left them lamb outside and I'm not in a position to change that this season, a neighbour is stated lambing and does not seem to have lost any to a fox.
I'm in the waterford area near clonmel, I don't believe it's dogs as there's no sign of a skin or carcass.

AnFeirmeoir

I would make some sort of change. - Move them to a different field permanently or lock them in a small field overnight. / put a flashing light in the field overnight.

Birdnuts

Given that your neighbour is not having problems, another possibility is that they could have been stolen - A lot of livestock of all descriptions has been stolen in the past year or 2 around the country. I would move them to a field where they can be more easily monitored.

PS: If you want a fox sorted there is a hunting forum on boards with loads of lads from around the country - I'm sure if you posted there seeking help you would get plenty of offers

AnFeirmeoir

Birdnuts wrote: »

Given that your neighbour is not having problems, another possibility is that they could have been stolen - A lot of livestock of all descriptions has been stolen in the past year or 2 around the country. I would move them to a field where they can be more easily monitored.

PS: If you want a fox sorted there is a hunting forum on boards with loads of lads from around the country - I'm sure if you posted there seeking help you would get plenty of offers

Ah the auld two legged Fox eh ..

White Clover

Birdnuts wrote: »

Given that your neighbour is not having problems, another possibility is that they could have been stolen - A lot of livestock of all descriptions has been stolen in the past year or 2 around the country. I would move them to a field where they can be more easily monitored.

PS: If you want a fox sorted there is a hunting forum on boards with loads of lads from around the country - I'm sure if you posted there seeking help you would get plenty of offers

I'd agree with you birdnuts. A fox will never get both twins. Usually the first born is taken while the ewe is having the second.

arctictree

Pet lambs are the easiest to sell on as most of the time they are sold without tags. If I was that way inclined they would be an easy target. Some good money being made on done deal for them.

Connemara Farmer

I'd be suspicious of the two legged fox in this case, I've seen both twins killed, but not with the bodies removed - where you'd have a headless body left and the other lamb got bitten and died but not taken. Having both lambs out of a couple gone completely would set alarm bells ringing for me. Some unscrupulous types will steal another farmers lambs at night to adopt onto ewes of their own who have lost lambs of their own for some reason.

I'd also be suspicious of tarred lambs being taken. I know another farmer on here said one of theirs with tar was taken, my experience has been foxes do not like the tar and shy away from taking them. Though I stop short of saying it doesn't happen, just that it hasn't happened to me - in fox filled areas (cos I'm not shooting).

I'd agree with the suggestions to get a competent, insured rifleman in. The Hunting forum is a good place to start, I would suggest researching into a posters past history on here to get an idea of what they're like, as you don't want just anyone wandering around.

dodderangler

Pm sent

solerina

pm sent

dodderangler

solerina wrote: »

pm sent

I'm assuming since the op only has 10 posts he/she cannot accept pm just yet

greysides

dodderangler wrote: »

I'm assuming since the op only has 10 posts he/she cannot accept pm just yet

I don't see where that is a necessity.. at least by reading the FAQ.

dodderangler

greysides wrote: »

I don't see where that is a necessity.. at least by reading the FAQ.

Does the poster not need to have 50 posts before accepting or sending pm's?