Coexistence

This morning, while we were counting chickens (and coming up short), Jordan surprised a fox heading across our driveway into our woods.
So, now we know: it's a fox who has taken our birds. The death toll is four: Sparkle,
Buffy, Squeak, and Copper. Copper was killed in the twenty or so minutes between when Jordan opened the coop this morning and when I woke up at seven am. She was a good layer of green eggs and a personable hen.
As I fell asleep last night, I felt a little sad about the two old ladies, but they were very old, after all. It wasn't until I saw Darkle, Sparkle's sister and lifelong companion, standing off by herself and calling (they make a sound that is very much like, "yoo, hoo!") that the sadness hit me. Poor old Darkle! and then a head count came up short of Squeak and Copper. After that it was a weepy morning.
As it turns out, foxes will often kill more than they need immediately, and store the rest by burying. We probably only found the bodies of two hens because something startled the fox away before s/he could carry them off. This fox has apparently been lying in wait for the coop to open in the morning and the old ladies to start their commute--which, I hasten to point out, they have safely done for at least 4 years.
In the past, we would take the dogs out early in the morning, at the same time we open the coop and feed the chickens; but lately, our doggies are feeling their years and enjoy a little extra snooze in the early morning (and afternoon, and evening). Another reason this fox feels safe marauding our flock.
We've experienced a rash of predation before, usually in the spring, and usually only for a few weeks. It's worse if the weather is very dry. It's baby time: cubs and kits and chicks, and all hungry. Our plan to preserve the rest of the Sweetgum flock is to delay opening the coop until it's good and light out, and the fox has retreated to her den. And of course there are the five new babies I couldn't resist bringing home this year.
We won't, unless things get much worse, try to trap and relocate the fox. It might have pups who wouldn't survive minus a parent. And while I might consider shooting into the air to scare it, we won't be shooting it. The wildlife was here first.