Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ~ Washington, D. C. " 4 on ” \ SILVER-FOX FARMING By FRANK G. ASHBROOK, Assistant Biologist Division of Economic Investigations Bureau of Birlogical Survey June 20, 1923 Pee ie : CONTENTS ss Page Page 1 | Essentials of breeding. . - - .- 2.2 22s LEP EI 5 & ratte e a sere eeess + 2 Essentials offeeding .... . eis vs sey - 3 _ History offoxfarming. .......-..-. 3 | Generalmanagement .....- is Sere 45 a --- eri epee ‘whee MAO acd egw, oa. 5 ge Re te ere 52 Recommendations to beginners .-....-- - iS Rea oan feo ara ace ee Re 55 oes pein «ee p a so a 6 Diseases pe el en Shy a wm eae tele to 55 ahs i ee eee 9 Graig ee a. was antic e: atc Oceano ate 56 ~ Pens” a Se ee 11 Preventive measures » - +++ +++ 22s 56 oie =. ag Re 22 Treatmentof disease .. - «+ +2 se ee 57 Watchtower, orlookout .... . = = PA MOCGIRGD Nc Web's oa. a" rata coe al, od ata eee 58 I ta wig ss de «ca «oe 30 | Fox shewi «eee ce se aoe Ce ae 59 | “& EE RT SS | WASHINGTON . GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1923 \ PLATE I. Bul. 1151, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture ‘sosvyd [[@ UL OFT S Jod OT) JOATIS yrep IVX9 *Y {(ADATIS J99 Jod Cz woesia = qre1 oyg Jodi oy, *(aoATIs ou) xoF yoryq ‘8 {(aoATIS YUOD 9 :(ADATIS 199 Od YE) JOATIS ‘G S(AOATIS JU09 od G/) IATIS ~ JOATIS Yaep “(SAdINA SNNAH) XO4 GAY AHL AO SASVHd YO1OD oped ‘fF fsoxoy ssord fe pure Z% fxOJ por “Tt Washington, D. C. June 20, 1923 SILVER-FOX FARMING. By FRANK G. ASHBROOK, Assistant Biologist, Division of Economic Investigations, Bureau of Biological Survey- CONTENTS. Page Page. UO SUL 6 a Tis ae ee eae Se eee oe 1 | Essentials of breeding___________ z 32 b Wraeis 2. Silver fox 72. | 2 | Essentials of feeding_____________ 39 3 History of fox farming ______ 3 | General management_______ AD ex oTowine areas 2 2 4 (iia oo on be en 52 Recommendations to beginners_ 6 Se ETE ETE 711 2 Se Ree ee eae oie nena a5 Selecting a ranch site iu. _=- + 6 Pisses Fee ee fe 5D tee OPTI ZATION = 9 PARAS 3 ee a ee 56 \ epee fs et es 11 Preventive measures__________ 56 Ripe areokernnele 5 fie ot a Treatment of disease_________ 57 Watch tower, or lookout______ vals ten, tel SCE ST TW , © tee Set wae oe ne Se 58 ‘ SS aon aeeeeet SUE iT hc ee ee ee See ie eee 59 INTRODUCTION. _ Silver-fox farming has attracted wide attention, chiefly because _ of the enormous profits derived from the sale of pelts and breeding stock. As a fur animal propagated in captivity the silver fox has no rival, and both live foxes and their pelts are in demand. Prob- ably no other live-stock enterprise pays larger returns for the money - invested, although erroneous statements regarding this industry _ have been made that have misled the public as to its real status. In -a majority of instances lack of authentic information concerning the _ feeding, breeding, and management of silver foxes has led to mis- statements, although many people have been misled purposely by _ unscrupulous ranchers and organized companies. That such ranch- _ ers and companies would use the silver fox as a medium to extract - money from persons unfamiliar with the business was only to have . _ been expected, as such a condition is found in every enterprise; and 1JIn preparing the section on breeding the writer was assisted by E. W. Sheets, Acting _ Chief, and Dr. Sewall Wright, of the Division of Animal Husbandry, Bureau of Animal Industry ; and by Dr. G. M. Rommel, formerly chief of that division. In preparing the section on diseases and parasites he was assisted by Dr. M. C. Hall, of the Bureau of _ Animal Industry: and by Dr. K. B. Hanson and Dr. H. L. VanVolkenberg, of the Bureau of Biological Survey. Notre.—This bulletin supersedes Farmers’ Bulletin 795, The Domesticated Silver Fox, 31825°—23———-_1 2 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. it has been quite common in the silver-fox industry, chiefly because the business is new and profitable. The production of silver foxes has proved to be most profitable when conscientiously and intelligently managed. A silver-fox pelt of high quality, taken in the wild, has always been and still is a very ‘rare article. A number of raw-fur buvers claim that pelts produced on ranches are not popular with the fur trade because they are un- _prime and lack the quality and finish of wild fur. That this is un- true is shown by the fact that approximately 90 per cent of the silver-fox pelts sold on the fur market to-day are from ranch-bred foxes. During February, 1922, 2,375 silver-fox pelts from ranches all over the United States and Canada were sold in London, and the pelt which brought the top price of the market, $631.68, was from a ranch-raised fox from the United States. Raising silver foxes in captivity, unlike other live-stock enter- prises, is an industry of too recent development to be supported by extensive study and research. It is possible, however, to assist beginners, as well as established ranchers, with information on some of the various phases of the business, such as organizing the ranch, feeding, breeding, management, pelting, sanitation, and the control of diseases and parasites. Information in the following pages is based on a study of methods and practices which have been found to give the greatest satisfaction on ranches in the United States and Canada, supplemented by observations and investigations on the Biological Survey’s experimental fur farm at Keeseville, N. Y. For other foxes raised on farms, such as the red, cross, and blue foxes, the general principles of ranch construction and management here set forth will be found applicable generally. WHAT IS A SILVER FOX? The name silver fox, as commonly used by furriers, includes the dark phases of the ordinary red fox, variously called silver, silver- gray, silver-black, or black (Pl. I). The color of the red fox of the Northeastern States and of its allies of the colder parts of North America varies from red to black, and these extremes, with the gradations between them, form four more or less distinct phases, known, respectively, as red, cross or patch, silver, and black. The silver fox, therefore, is a color phase of the red fox. It is dark all over, with silver hairs intermixed, but no red, and the tip of the tail is generally, but not always, white.. The guard hairs which give the silver appearance to the pelage are not entirely white, but are black with a white band, and some guard hairs are entirely black. Variation in guard hairs is shown in Figure 1. In the red phase the coat is entirely rich fulvous; that is, tawny or dull yellow with a mixture of gray and brown, excepting re- stricted black markings on the feet and ears, a white area at the end of the tail, and certain white-banded hairs on the back and rump. From this phase to the next the black increases in extent until in the typical cross fox the black predominates on the feet, legs, and underparts, while fulvous overlying black covers most of the head, shoulders, and back. A gradual increase of the black and elimination of the fulvous or its replacement by white brings the next phase, the silver fox, in which no fulvous appears, the entire E ; SILVER-FOX FARMING. 3 _pelage being dark at the base and heavily or lightly overlaid with the banded guard hairs previously described. Silver foxes vary from almost entirely silver to those which are entirely black except for a few white-banded guard hairs on the back and rump. Finally, jn the black fox the white is absent from all parts except the tip of the tail, which, as in all phases, is usually white. In general, the cross fox is fairly common, the silver very scarce, -and the pure black exceedingly rare. The prices usually paid for _the different skins vary according to the relative scarcity of the animals and the market demand. Red-fox skins command only a -moderate price; cross foxes bring somewhat more; and silver foxes several times as much. Black foxes are not so popular at present, for the reason that dyers can so closely imitate them with a dyed red _foxithat the average person can not tell the natural black fox from -a dyed skin. po 4 ‘ 3 se SSS YNOER FUR ; (33) ‘ e | Fic. 1—White bands on guard hairs of the silver fox. The extent of the band and _ distance from the end is indicated, as well as the relative lengths of the guard hairs ’ and the under fur. HISTORY OF FOX FARMING. The early history of fox farming is fraught with frenzied finance, . yreeding stock selling as high as $34,000 a pair and individual pelts at $2.700. It reads like a romance. The operations of the breeders were cloaked with secrecy, and the public was first skepticai, then gullible. __ Before the industry started silver foxes were caught occasionally _by trappers in the far North and their furs shipped to London, _where, because of their rarity and attractiveness, they brought excep- tionally high prices—in fact, more than any other furs on the market. _ Realizing the scarcity of silver foxes and the possibility of their extermination, Charles Dalton, a trapper and fur trader of Prince Edward Island, began in 1887 to experiment with the breeding of red foxes, with the thought that he might be able to obtain crosses or silvers through “throwbacks.” About this time he heard of a trapper in the Province who had two pairs of silver foxes in cap- tivity, and, purchasing these animals, he abandoned the raising of the red foxes. Building a special farm at his home in Tignish, he installed his purchases and devoted his entire time to his study. - Meantime, unknown to Dalton, a like experiment was being carried on by Robert Oulton, who was more fortunate, in that he obtained eens of silver foxes at the start and devoted his time to these. en Dalton heard of the new experiment he paid Oulton a visit, 4 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, and the meeting of these men resulted in the formation of a partner- ship. Their first wire pen was built on Savage Island, where Oulton owned a ranch. Dalton had definite ideas concerning the problems involved and the most promising lines to follow in developing the industry, but Oulton, the practical farmer and stockman, made suc- cess possible because of his experience and natural ability in han- dling live stock. In the course of a few years stories concerning the wealth to be obtained from the silver-fox business leaked out, and as the results of these first experiments became known a fox-farming boom started. Three sisters cleared $25,000 a year out of their venture. A small party of clerks organized a company and made $40,000 in four years. A pup was sold for $9,000. A consignment of 25 choice skins sent to London brought $34,175, an average of $1,367 per skin, the top prices for the choicest pelts being $2,700, $2,650, and $2,500. Prior to 1910 people were working to establish an industry, but when knowledge of Dalton’s great success became public the real boom started. Expansion went ahead at a rapid pace, and the boom lasted from 1910 to 1914. The demand for breeding stock brought about the virtual suspension of pelt production for the time being. No skins were placed on the market in-1911, excepting from foxes too poor to be sold for breeding stock. The demand for stock was so great that foxes were imported into Prince Edward Island from nearly every Province in Canada. These were a mixture of every variety of silver and cross fox, and, as their breeding was not known, their offspring were nondescript. Nevertheless, they were used for breeders and sold for fabulous prices. Illicit buying and selling of foreign stock misrepresented by producers engaged in this practice was very harmful to the industry, and the brown color now cropping out on many ranches among supposedly pure silvers is undoubtedly due to foxes of unknown breeding. During the boom period ranches were started in New England and in New York and the industry rapidly spread to other parts of the country. With the beginning of the World War in 1914 and the general conditions resulting from the war the boom was killed and more serious thinking began among the breeders engaged in the industry. With the depression of the fur market in England in 1915 and the sudden development of the fur trade in the United States, Canadian ranchers” turned to this country for the marketing of their pelts. The rapid rise and fall of the fur market caused ranchers to take a different view of the business, and it has now come to be realized that pelt value is the only safe basis on which to establish the in- dustry. FOX-GROWING AREAS OF NORTH AMERICA. The natural habitat of the silver fox includes the greater part of northern North America from the central United States northward to and including the border of the treeless tundras. (Fig. 2.) The red fox inhabits nearly all of this region, but animals of the silver phase, although found in most parts of it, are very irregularly dis- 2The terms “rancher,” “ caretaker,” “attendant,” “breeder,” and ‘“ feeder” as used in this bulletin refer to one and the same person, : SILVER-FOX FARMING, yY rare occur- oe ol rence for one to be trapped in the wild, although they have been in is an exceed In general, the silver fox is more common in northern To-day it localities than in southern. tributed. , BI0g7M JO Tnos Isnl Ss -u00 DIOYM “OU0Z > . vIn ofood UT URIPBUBY) OF oTgr. IOAV J SULMOYS av ‘soy Suortpaos HS popray q ou} Ur ofq ‘TNPSSoONsS Wood OSTR Sey oTYM JO Szavd ul ‘ouozZ UOTIsuBAy, 94) OF SL SULULIBS XOJ YOM U SUIMAIR, XOJ Soum0zZ OSoTT] puu ‘jue[[eoxe oun [ SeuUOZ ojlt Jo dvyy SMOUIp GS YA ne! an und ‘ < and between Quebec taken in Newfoundland, in the height of 1 la of Labrador, and along the up} il Alaska. c u Territory, and in the eastern adjacent’ region of cent yer Yukon, in Yukon the peninsu 6 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Among fur buyers it is well known that the pelts produced in northern tocalities are the more valuable, and while their experience | teaches that certain areas are not too far south to produce valuable furs, their conclusions are only general. The average person can not judge whether his own locality is suitable for fox farming, especially if the wild fur animals have been exterminated there. It is neces- sary, therefore, to ascertain definitely the areas within which foxes are known to produce superior fur. In general it may be said that silver foxes are being grown suc- cessfully in practically every one of the northern tier of States from | New England westward to Washington and Oregon, and in the cooler parts of California, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Ili- | nois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Judging from figures that are as correct a representation as it is possible to obtain under existing conditions in the United States, it is estimated that in 1922 there were 500 ranchers raising silver foxes; that there were between 12,000 and 15,000 foxes in captivity; and that the value of the investment was about $8,000,000. This information is based on replies to an official questionnaire sent out annually to all known fur farmers in the United States. There may be isolated ranches in contiguous territory, but owing to their failure to reply to the questionnaire the Biological Survey has no record of them. RECOMMENDATIONS TO BEGINNERS IN THE INDUSTRY. It is not wise for anyone unfamiliar with fox raising to start with a large number of animals. Many troubles and obstacles arise, the remedies for which can not yet be found in books, but must for the present be learned through experience. A number of people who started in this business on too large a scale, or who expanded too rapidly, have made a failure of it. The better method is to start with a few pairs of foxes and gradually increase the number as one’s knowledge of care and management enlarges. Quality, not quantity, is the factor that counts in breeding silver foxes. On a small ranch the character, disposition, and breeding of individual foxes can be studied intelligently, but this is difficult, if not impossible, on a large ranch. Stock should generally be obtained during the fall in order*that the animals may become thoroughly accustomed to their new sur- roundings before the breeding season. The weather is sufficiently cool by the end of September to permit the shipment of foxes with safety. | SELECTING A RANCH SITE. CLIMATE AND SHADE. The production of a fine quality of fur is closely related to climate. — A long, cold winter with a fair amount of rainfall, particularly in spring, is conducive to the production of good fur. Hot summers — are not detrimental if short and followed by a season of frosty — weather, during which time the animals can renew their coats. t It has been stated that excessive sunshine causes fox pelts to fade. When the pelt of a fox is being shed the food supply to the fur is . SILVER-FOX FARMING, 7 cut off; hence it is a natural condition for the hairs to die and be shed, and sometimes dead hairs turn various shades of brown and chocolate. During the season when the fox’s pelt is becoming prime there will sometimes be found a chocolate tinge, commonly known as rust. This, however, is not caused by sun bleaching, but is due rather to inferior breeding stock, which has a tendency to throw -rust-colored pelts instead of pelts of clear black in the underfur and _ in that part of the guard hairs which is supposed to be raven black, _ A happy medium of shade and sunshine is necessary for the com- _ fort of the foxes as well as for the maintenance of their health. _ Every animal likes to lie in the shade during extremely hot weather . to escape the direct rays of the sun. Sunshine, on the other hand, is the best natural disinfectant for keeping the dens, pens, and _ grounds clean and sanitary. When the fox industry was in its infancy most fox raisers thought _ that dense shade on their ranches was absolutely necessary. At first this was produced mainly by evergreens; later, a mixture of ever- _ greens and hardwoods was employed. Fox ranchers are now learn- _ ing the advantages of sunlight in keeping the pens sanitary and are _ cutting out the evergreens and allowing only the hardwoods to stand. - Pine needles are objectionable because they fall into the feed and _ are consumed by foxes; they sometimes injure the intestines of pups ; and cause their death. An advantage in favor of hardwood trees is the fact that in winter, after they have shed their leaves, they allow the sun to shine into the pens. SOIL. “gan?” Fas A = Silver foxes can be successfully raised on any type of soil that is _ well drained and capable of producing reasonable shade, provided - it is located in a section where there is a long, cold winter and a fair amount of rainfall. ; _ Successful ranches are to be found on rich heavy soil, clay soil, _ light sandy soil, and on sandy soil where the main part of the surface consists of outcroppings of rock and gravel. Any one of these, if well drained, is adapted to fox ranching. It has not been definitely determined that certain types of soil are more favorable than others to the propagation of fox parasites. Soils possessing an undue amount of moisture, however, and densely shaded situations are favorable to the development of parasites. The elements contained in the soil have no bearing on the kind and quality of foxes produced. It has been stated that soil devoid _ of lime is more favorable because it does not burn the pelt when the fox burrows, but there is no foundation for this belief, as there is no evidence that soil which will support vegetation contains enough lime to burn fur. LOCATION OF THE RANCH. The latitude and climate having been determined, the next im- portant consideration is the proper location for the ranch. It is possible closely to approximate the conditions under which wild foxes live, but this is by no means essential. In fact, it is somewhat doubtful whether to-day this is even desirable. 3 BULLETIN 1151, U. 8S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Fox ranchers are now established in every conceivable place. Some are to be found many miles from civilization, tucked away in the woods, while others have established ranches in small towns or near the larger cities. Some are found in dense forests, in apple orchards, in wood lots (Fig. 3), in open fields, on gravelly slopes B21674 Fig. 3.—Fox ranch in woodlot about 100 yards off the main road. (Fig. 4), on steep sloping hills (Fig. 5), on islands, and on sandy deserts. In any situation there are always ways of avoiding the disturbances which might be caused by too many visitors, by ‘dogs, or by undue noises during the breeding and whelping periods. B21650 Fig. 4.—Fox ranch on a gravelly slope. The ideal location probably is a reasonably level, well-drained piece of land with a gentle slope to the south. “It is not intended to convey the impression that foxes should be ranched only on such land, for they are being raised successfully on rolling ground and on hillsides. The productiveness of the soil is of little direct im- ee ee eee 3 | SILVER-FOX FARMING, i) Z portance. If the area does not include a few trees, however, they oud be planted to provide shade in summer and to encourage a feeling of seclusion and security in the animals. Construction will be facilitated if there is a hardpan subsoil, as the walls of the pen _ would not then need to extend below this to prevent the animals - from burrowing under and escaping. / In exaggerated advertising or publicity matter the fox farm is usually described as occupying a lonely island or a vast inclosure of wild land, and too often beginners are led to believe that such places are essential. Islands have some advantages and apparently are suited to the requirements of the silver fox, but their inaccessibility makes it difficult to secure feed and supplies. While good roads - facilitate the hauling of feed and supplies, they are of little im- _ portance in the matter of marketing the pelts, for foxes differ in this BISO7M Fic. 5.—Fox ranch on a hillside. respect from other classes of live stock. It is an advantage to locate in a fox-raising community, in order to profit by the experiences of others. RANCH ORGANIZATION. PLAN OF THE RANCH. When the location of the land on which the ranch is to be con- structed has been decided upon the area should be cleared of under- brush. This is desirable, no matter on what type of soil the pens are to be built. It is well, also, before the pens are staked out to remove all stumps and sticks in order to eliminate the danger of pups or older foxes running against or falling over such obstructions and thus injuring themselves. The branches of the trees should be trimmed from the trunks to a height above that of the fence line so that the foxes can not crawl up and jump over the fence. -Trunk shields should be nailed to the tree trunks at a height of 10 feet from 31825°—23-——_2 10 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. - the ground. The shields — can be made of wire or tin. Trimming branches from the trees 10 to 12 feet up the trunk wiil facilitate construction and also the free movement of air through the ranch, and the branches will not hamper the rancher in his daily work. Ranches vary in size from 2 up to 100 or more pens in a single layout. It is advisable to have a space of 2 feet between the pens, for serious in- juries will result if foxes are separated by only a single partition of wire netting. Foxes climbing Fic. 6.—Square plan of ranch, showing location of the wire have had feet, Watch tower and the alferbate arrangement of Jes, and tails torn off by the occupant of the neigh- boring pen. Such accidents can be avoided only if the walls are separated. “Another advantage of such construction is that it will lessen the chances of dis- ease spreading through an entire ranch. The space between rows of pens should be at least 15 feet, in order to permit a horse and wagon to be driven through to haul neces- sary materials. The advantages derived from this arrangement more than offset the additional cost. The idea of enlarging or adding to the ranch should be kept in mind when making the original layout. There are various methods of laying out pens, such as are shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8. When arranged as nearly as pos- sible in the form of a square the expense of inclosing by a guard fence is less than when the pens are arranged in long rows. It is false economy to build too many pens on a small piece of land. Pens of ample size are those con- taining from 800 to 1,500 square feet. Fic. 7.—Rectangular plan of ranch, SUH UU UHL JUUUUOUUUE SILVER-FOX FARMING. ‘a CONSTRUCTION OF PENS. i is \ = SIZE AND SHAPE. _ There are almost as many styles of pens as there are fox ranches. They range from very large ones to those so small as to endanger the health of the foxes, both in the matter of sanitation and through Jack of space for exercise. _ The usual procedure has been to construct a pen the inside area of which has been inclosed by one roll of wire of 150 linear feet. od . Ss LOOKOUT HOUSE “GF x ASP 8 4 il ie TREES 3 Fic. 8,— Circular plan of ranch. This has been done primarily for convenience, as it obviates the necessity of cutting the rolls of wire and lacing the pieces together. __. Conditions of topography may make it necessary to build pens long and narrow instead of square, but the number of square feet inclosed depends upon the shape of the pen. A 150-foot roll of wire will inclose an area 50 by 25 feet (1,250 square feet), or one 30 by 45 feet (1,350 square feet), or one 37 by 37 feet (1,369 square feet). The more nearly uniform are the lengths of the sides, or the more nearly a pen approaches a circle, the more square feet can be inclosed by a given length of wire. A circular pen, however, is very difficult 12 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. to construct. The nearest practicable approach to it is one having eight sides, a type now being used by some ranchers. The additional | area inclosed in this type of pen is not its only advantage. The principal advantage les in its widened corners, as this feature minimizes the danger that foxes will crawl up the wire. Many ranchers have built pens 50 by 25 feet with a partition fence midway, making double pens 25 by 25. The advantage claimed for this is that the adults can be separated during the period of pregnancy and while the pups are very young. When the parents and young are kept together, the pups can be fed in one pen and the old foxes in the other. CHUTES. Small chutes constructed between pens permit the foxes to be transferred from one to the other. “These should be not less than 10 inches high and 9 inches wide to jl allow the fox to crawl through with- Hout rubbing the pelt and injuring or ! r i Rey ee pulling out the guard hairs. It is not advisable to allow the chute to remain open, especially during the season when the foxes are growing their new ew ae pl} coats, as constant running and jump- ing through the chute wears the pelt. Chutes can be closed by the use of a slot and sliding door (Fig. 9). If the distance between pen walis is not — great, one sliding door can be con- structed in the middle of the chute. A double pen construction assists in - keeping the pens clean and sanitary, ES . (3) for after the foxes have occupied one for some time, say four months, they I'ic. 9.—Chute with sliding door for ‘ 1 7T ; 1 connecting yards. This can be com be removed to the neighboring closed from’ either end by insert? pen and the old one thoroughly ing door in slot. cleaned c . PEN WALLS. The height of the pen wall may be 8, 9, or 10 feet. This is de- termined largely by the snowfall in the locality. As a rule, in the United States a wall 9 feet high is sufficient, and one 8 feet high will answer very well in some sections unless deep snowdrifts are likely to occur. The walls should be sunk into the ground 2 feet, while at the top 18 inches or 2 feet should be allowed for an inward overhang to prevent the animals from escaping. A strip of carpet wire some- times extends on the surface of the ground inward from the wall 2 or 3 feet to prevent the foxes from digging out, as illustrated in Figure 10. The sunken part may be turned in 1 foot or more and flat stones laid at the end to prevent escape by digging. This arrangement affords sufficient security, for experience has shown that foxes try to escape by digging at the edge of the wire only. Where ; SILVER-FOX FARMING. 18 there is a solid hardpan 1, 2, or 3 feet below the surface the fence may be laid directly on it. If the subsoil is light and open, the pens are not fox-proof unless the fence extends down 3 feet. Some ranchers take the additional precaution of digging a trench and installing a concrete wall 2 feet below the surface with a 1-foot underlay. OVERHANG. An inward overhang 18 inches or 2 feet wide prevents the fox _ from escaping from his pen, but when he has scrambled up to an overhang his only means of “descent is by falling. Some- Beats times valuable animals are seri- x ez : ee : _ ously injured in this way. To _ prevent such accidents inter- mediate overhangs have been _ developed, as well as new types of pens. Intermediate over- hangs are sometimes con- structed 5 feet from the ground. as shown in Figure 11, or a smooth zone is made by nail- ing a strip of galvanized sheet iron to the posts around the entire pen at a height of 4 or 5 feet from the ground. WIRE CARPETING. = On soil which is principally sand, ranchers place an entire carpet of wire a few inches to a foot below the surface. When _ this is done it is not necessary to dig a ditch to plant the posts and underground wire. The _ post holes only should be dug, the posts set in, and stones and earth put in place. The whole pen area should be excavated ee Gepth of approximately 40M ee rine Tain on euitace Fe the one to 6 inches. The wire netting entrance gate, and wire overhang. should be cut and.put in place, then laced together and to the sides of the pen. Hog rings are handy to fasten the carpet wire to the walls. An easy method of lay- ing carpet wire is to prepare a strip of land as wide as the roll of wire to be used by shoveling the earth to one side. When this strip is shoveled clean, 4 inches deep, lay in the wire and shovel the soil back on it. Repeat the operation until the area is completely car- . peted, as shown in Figure 12. METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION. To construct a pen, first stake it out and line it up with a cord. Dig a trench 30 inches deep and wide enough to permit the free use 14 BULLETIN 1151, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. of a shovel. Care should be taken in digging this trench to keep the inside edge square and on the line laid out by the cord. Place — 30-inch, 2-inch mesh, 14-gauge wire in the trench, so that the upper surface comes to the level of the ground. Lay the wire close to the inside of the trench. If desirable, the trench may be dug wider, in order to lace an 18-inch underlay of wire to the 30-inch wire at the— bottom of the trench. Set the posts in the trench so that the outside of the post comes flush or nearly flush with the inside of the trench. This helps to keep — the wire straight - regular. ‘Above the 30- inch roll of wire use a 4- foot width of 13-inch | mesh, 15-gauge wire. Wire of 2-inch mesh should not be used here, because young pups may crawl through it or hang themselves; $-inch mesh or less i is pref- erable. Above this 4-foot — roll use a 5-foot roli — of 2-inch mesh, 16-— gauge wire, which = completes the height of a 9-foot pen wall. Rolls of 6-foot and 3-foot wire could be- used, but it is more difficult to manipu- late wire 6 feet wide in stretching. Two rolls of 4-foot wire een a acne ee ett At are provided on the yard fence, one of which (5 feet cided that 8 feet is Re id atin IRIGRY EeOe cued rence tat a enough for the wa After the ground wire is placed in position stones can be packed ~ closely ar ound the posts and the trench filled with earth. Great care should be exercised to see that the posts are kept in line, especially — when the ground is tamped solidly around them.’ (See Fig. 13.) A band of 1-inch boards 4 to 5 inches in width should be nailed to the posts around the entire pen. The upper edge of the board — should come flush with the top of the posts at the required height, as shown in Figure 13. This serves to stay the posts and furnishes — the support to which the top wire may be stapled, as well as the out- — side of the overhang. It also gives a finished appearance to the pens. — Brace boards should also be nailed to the top of the posts inside to furnish a place upon which a roll of 18-inch, 16-gauge, 2-inch-mesh wire can be placed to form the overhang. 1s na sharaetenaalll Rete Mretrd bee eae SILVER-FOX FARMING, 15 The wall wire should be laced neatly together with lacing wire made for this purpose. Great care should be exercised in stretching the wire before it is permanently stapled to the posts. If it is not stretched tightly enough it will sag, thus making a very shiftless- looking job. B21668 Fic. 12.—Carpet wire laid and laced in position ready for covering with 4 inches of soil, pile of which is in background. DOOR. After the wire is laced, stretched, and stapled and the overhang is in place, a door should be constructed. (Fig. 14.) This may be made by placing a 2 by 4 timber the required distance from one of B21666 Fic. 13.—Pens in course of construction, showing posts lined up and ready for the wire. the posts. One end of this should be placed on the ground and the other should extend to the top of the wall, where it should be nailed to the top board to make it rigid. The rigidity is increased by stapling the wire to it. The door may be made as large as desired, but 2 by 4 feet is gen- erally sufficient, unless dens are to be removed from the fox yards. OO — 16 BULLETIN 1151,.U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. In localities where there is an exceedingly heavy snowfall it may — be well to have the bottom of the door 15 inches above the ground. The board frame should be made of the size required, and the wire cut from the opening may be stapled to the frame to complete the door. Good hinges should be provided and the door hung to a post, which may be made square, if not already so, by nailing a 2 by 4 strip to it. B21675 Fic, 14.—Front of completed pen, showing stretched and laced wire and door construction. BILL OF MATERIAL. The following material is necessary to construct a pen 37 by 37 feet, with a 9-foot wall extending 3 feet into the ground and a 24-inch overhang and underlay: 20 posts, each 13 feet long and from 5 to 8 inches in diameter. 150 linear feet of 11-inch board, 5 inches wide. 150 linear feet of 24-inch wire netting for overhang, 2-inch mesh, No. 16 gauge. 150 linear feet fence wire, 5 feet. wide, 2-inch mesh, No. 16 gauge. 150 linear feet fence wire, 4 feet wide, 14-inch mesh, No. 15 gauge. 150 linear feet ground wire. 23 or 8 feet wide, 2-inch mesh, No. 14 gauge. 150 linear feet of carpet wire, 380 inches wide, 2-inch mesh, No. 14 gauge. Spikes, nails, staples, hinges, hasps, snaps, No. 16 or 18 soft lacing wire, and extra lumber for doors will also be needed. Hog rings, No. 12 gauge wire, are often used in place of lacing wire. Mesh wire, No. 15 gauge, will do very well for the pen valls, but No. 14 gauge, being heavier, makes a more durable wall. Woven wire, galvanized after weaving, 1s recommended because it is stronger at the joints, a @] ‘place where strength is most needed. -It-has the further advantage of lasting longer under ground. CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION. Some pens are constructed ‘with iron posts and the foundation is of concrete.? Although the initial cost.is-much more than in those ’See Concreté Construction on~Live Stock Farms, Farmers’ Bulletin 481. SILVER-FOX FARMING, 7 just described, the pens are more durable. (See Fig. 11.) In some ranches the floors of the pens are of concrete. This makes it much easier to keep them clean and sanitary, but it is yet to be determined whether foxes will do as well living on a concrete as on a dirt floor. Square as well as rectangular pens with wooden posts have been ‘set on concrete foundations, the walls of which are 4 inches wide at the top and set into the ground 3 feet, with an underlay of approxi- mately 1 foot. NEW TYPES OF PENS. B1908M The square pen and the rectangular pen have been in use ever since fox ranching was started. Both these types seem to have been very satis- factory, but a great disadvan- tage has been that it is very difficult to prevent foxes from climbing the wire. Foxes climb wire fences readily, but only when badly frightened. (Fig. 15.) OCTAGONAL PEN. In a pen of the octagonal type the maximum practicable area can be inclosed within a certain length of wire. The top of the pen may be covered with wire if desired, and then the height of the walls need be only 7 feet, a center pole being used to support the roofing. The plan shown in Figure 16 : is suitable for 100 feet of wire ““Giimb” suck corners readily when frightened, for the walls around the pen. ae frequently are badly injured in falling . yack to the ground. A pen of any size can be made in the same manner. A 2 by 4 strip running from post to post is necessary when the pen is covered over the top, to prevent the wire from drawing in the side boards between the posts. A coil-spring wire supports the wire netting, running under it from the wall posts to the center post. PENS WITH SLANTING SIDES. The walls of the pens in some new ranches are built slanting inward, at an angle of about 20°. This is for the purpose of pre- venting foxes from climbing the wire. Some have walls 7, 8, or 9 feet high, with an overhang similar to that recommended for pens with straight walls, while others, as in Figure 17, have walls 7 or 8 feet high and the entire top covered with wire. 31825°—23——_3 18 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. CRATE PENS. A crate pen is easily and cheaply constructed and meets most requirements. One in which to house a pair of foxes is usually 40 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 6 feet high. A frame made of 2 by 4 NO.2 COLL SING HIRE 5PRING WIRE. NO. 2 COL SPRING WIRE LXE" ON SIDE OF POSTS 30° O- —— es a a ZO PLAN EW CENTER £0. 10 C"LONG Cc ¥ FEE — ¥ SSS ee SSS SS SSS ES L'D/ 7. GROUND 9 r ZINE \ ae b SHWE OTA - : - oh SOS UNG WU LU ll Il WII Ul kl US ue kK ~SLINUSSTUS CS TUN SSS USI) SS ys SS SS KG << pA “ip “Ue BA SIDE ELEVATION (63) ig, 16.—Plan of octagonal pen. lumber is entirely covered with No. 16-gauge 14-inch mesh wire. In the front is a door 2 feet wide and 4 feet high, the frame constructed of 2 by 4 lumber. This pen or crate rests on the surface of the ground. It is not usual to cover the netting on the bottom with soil. (See Fig. 18.) ! SILVER-FOX FARMING. 19 HOSPITAL AND TEMPORARY PENS. Although quarters for constant occupancy should be roomy, those for temporary tse, such as are required for male foxes, pups, injured, B21672 Fic. 17.—Pens with slanting sides and wire top built on concrete base. Wall may be sunk into the ground as in other pens if desired, instead of using concrete base. sick, or newly purchased foxes, may be comparatively small. Suit- able pens should be constructed for male foxes, preferably some dis- BI9s8M Fig, 18.—An entire ranch of crate pens. tance from the breeding pens, but within the guard fence. The style and method of construction will depend upon the location and lay 20 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. of the land. (Fig. 19.) A satisfactory arrangement is to build a long, low shed with board partitions dividing it into compartments 7 feet high, 7 feet wide, and 11 feet long. ‘These dimensions can be varied if desired, although it is not advisable to reduce them. The front and back are of wire netting, preferably 14-inch mesh, No. 15 gauge. a 8 LEAR ELEVATION. : Fic. 20.—Details of construction of exercising crate. into the slush and mud that might chill them or even result in their contracting pneumonia. Feed can be placed in it, thus facilitating the feeding of the mother and pups during the lactation period. This crate is easily and cheaply constructed, the floor elevated 9 inches above the ground. The uprights and braces are of 2 by 4 material, and the outside dimensions are 5 feet long, 3 feet wide. and 24 feet high. The floor and roof are of tongue-and-grooyve boards of any convenient width. The door may be either of wire or of wood. The wire surrounding the crate is 24-inch mesh, No. 15 gauge. The den and exercising crate should be connected by a chute 4 feet long, 10 inches high, and 9 inches wide (Fig. 21). Two sliding doors are inserted in the chute, so that the foxes can be shut ‘In or out of the den or exercising crate as desired. 3 4“ Vixen’ is the name given to the female fox; “dog” to the male. 22 BULLETIN 1151, U. S: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. DENS OR KENNELS. Dens or kennels are built mainly for the purpose of sheltering the foxes and furnishing a place for the vixen to whelp her young. They are built some distance off the ground to prevent foxes from digging under them and to furnish shade, and should be so con- structed as to protect the occupants from extremes of heat and cold, to exclude moisture, and to deaden sound. These features are par- ticularly important during the breeding and whelping periods, when foxes are usually nervous and when the pups can not stand exposure. Fresh air should be obtained by ventilation (see Figs. 23, 31, 32, and 33) rather than by providing more cubic feet of air space than is required, but it is extremely important to avoid the creation of drafts. As the dens and nest boxes require frequent cleaning and spraying to keep them free from vermin, the construction should be as simple as possible. The convenience of the caretaker is a matter that is to be kept in mind as well as the comfort of the foxes. i RRM renee erate reocone oO rere! SY ORS Sg OOO erate COS RX XXX] ore", nee OO” X54 S509 Se] SH “arora SS Sey xx] QO OO) ORG Ox OO>D 52525 52529 e529 OOO) "es RSS RSS ROXS KX RNS RX "es es ‘es aD IR eters eteren Pe 2525 "ites oesese Hee R525 ote wearers Sonate SLES Limetereree S | Fig. 21.—Connection between den and exercising crate. The walls, floor, and roof are generally double boarded with build- ing or tarred paper between the boards. All rough edges that a fox — might rub against should be smoothed and sandpapered, to prevent injury to the pelt. The roof of the den is generally covered with tarred paper, shin- gles, or metal. This is not necessary if it is to be double and made of tongue-and-groove boards. It is well, however, to give it two coats of paint or to creosote the boards. Creosoted boards, however, will not take paint.® Chutes through which the foxes enter the den from the yard should be so constructed that they can be hooked to the den and easily removed. They should have a slight rather than a steep grade, so that the pups can crawl back into the den. In every type of den the back and roof should be made on hinges to afford access to the interior without unnecessary noise and to facilitate cleaning. DOUBLE-BOX DEN. The double-box type of den has been found very satisfactory, as it facilitates catching the foxes for inspection and provides a con- venient place for starting the pups on feed. It consists of two 5 See Use of Paint on the Farm. Farmers’ Bulletin 474. SILVER-FOX FARMING. 93 boxes, with hinged sloping tops, set about 18 inches apart and on legs 18 inches high, as shown in Figure 22. The two are connected by a chute 9 inches wide and 10 inches high, the entrance from the ground being into the smaller box through a sloping chute 4 or 5 feet long. Each chute is fitted with a slot and sliding door, and both should be so constructed as to be easily hooked in place or taken off when the dens are to be moved or cleaned. When it is desired to look at a fox in the larger den, the caretaker closes the door in the connecting chute and then lifts the hinged roof. By closing both doors inspection may be similarly made in the smaller box, which is used chiefly as a feeding place for the young and as a place in which to separate them from the parents. The walls of both dens are double and lined with building paper. The outside base measurements of the larger should be 4 or 5 feet by 24 or 3 feet, and of the smaller 3 by 15 feet. The front of the larger should be 2 feet high and the back 14 feet, while in the smaller these heights should be 14 feet and 14 inches, respectively. The larger den is partitioned so that a room is made in the far end for -anest chamber for the use of the vixen and her young at whelp- ing time. The nest box is of dressed lumber, 18 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 15 inches high, and is also provided with a hinged lid. A chamfered strip is Fie. 22.—Double-box den. fitted against the floor and sides to prevent the pups from rolling too far away from the mother, and is an aid also in cleaning the nest box. The spaces be- - tween the wall of the nest box and the main wall of the large den are filled with dry sawdust, oat hulls, ground cork, or other suitable material. DEN WITH REMOVABLE NEST BOX. A most convenient den from the standpoint of the caretaker, and one very simple to construct, is made with a removable nest box. This box is fastened in temporarily in the front part of the den by a board fitted in slots in the sides, in order to prevent the foxes from moving it about, thus causing accidents to the vixen or to the pups. The detailed construction is shown in Figure 23. The outside base measurements are 4 by 14 feet, the front is 24 feet high, and the rear 2 feet. It is double walled and lined with building paper. A chute, _ 9 by 10 inches, that can be hooked to the den and removed whenever necessary, leads from the entrance to the ground, as shown in Figure 22. DOUBLE-COMPARTMENT DEN. A very simple and useful den is constructed in two compartments and entered from the outside by separate chutes, as in Figure 24. It is 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet high (oatside measurements), double walled, with building or tarred paper between the walls. 24 . BULLETIN 1151, U..S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Each compartment or nest box is 20 inches square, the inside con- | struction being of the same general character as that described for the double-box den. The chutes are 9 by 10 inches by 4 feet, and the opening into the chute is on one side, to prevent direct drafts. The top or roof of the kennel is hinged. In Figure 25 is illustrated a double-compartment den with one chute entrance. BARREL DEN. The barrel den shown in Figures 26 to 29 is still in common use, more as a shelter for the foxes, however, than as a whelping nest. In ranches where there are two dens, or kennels, in a single fox pen be. —_¢'/»____ ______ TOP FLAN LILY == : cassesaasasrwrwrresrrere reese, . 2 Nd Z Z | a hos i ) N : ; Nj N NJ N : N N S/DE ELEVATION HORIZONTAL SECTIONAL WIEW Fig. 23.—Practical den with removable nest box. one is generally of this construction, It is made of a clean barrel placed inside a protecting box, the space between the two being filled with oat hulls or other materials, the best material to be used depend- ing largely on what is most easily obtainable. An entrance hole, 9 by 10 inches, is made in one end of the barrel, and a similar open- ing in the upper side for inspection, cleaning, and ventilation. The barrel should have a smooth interior. 1 pint. Meat: 48 tsp. t 8 ounces..... 12 ounces... 12 ounces ‘BISCHILSS. =e Soe 1d OUNCES. F2)..o Fo eee one aoe oo GS POLI Gen a eee E : ounces. ?. : 3 ounces. 1 MGS: ee So Beha ce ee a 1 Dry weight. When the pups are about 4 weeks old the vixen begins to carry meat to them, and it is therefore advisable to eliminate meat from the ration at this time, feeding only cereals, vegetables, and milk. SILVER-FOX FARMING, 45 - Rations composed of such feed make the feces very bulky, and to counteract this cod-liver oil and eggs may be added. Breeders differ in opinion as to whether pups should be sepa- rated from the mother at a certain age or be allowed to wean them- | selves. After the young reach the age of 8 weeks both they and their mother can be handled to better advantage if fed separately. Size and development determine the weaning age. The pups’ feed should be varied as much as possible; that is, it should not be restricted to one cereal or one kind of meat. Beef should form a large part of the ration, as this in itself is a fairly well balanced feed. Bone meal, fish meal, and edible tankage should be added to insure a supply of lime. Limewater is of no value to offset a deficiency of lime in the ration, but in counteracting acidity of the stomach is an aid to digestion. Freshly formed clabber is a good feed for young pups once or twice a week. The rations shown in Table 4 have been used successfully on the Canadian Experimental Fox Ranch at Hull, Quebec, as reported by Mr. Smith, the pups raised on this feed showing no sign of rickets and maintaining uniform growth and developing good fur. Taste 4.—Suggested rations for pups up to the age of 5 months. Amount per pup, at the age of— Kind of feed. 2 24 3 4 5 months. | months. | months. | months... months. 10 ae pint 2 4 3 z | 4 Cereals, | cooked !.ounces 1 13 13 Adal 2 Bread —.- =.=: do... 1 1 | Pee esaascr Beoenose Meat, ground.do... 1 At ee ee ON bri Bn eae WDE" Re Re CS oa eae ee 4 6 8 Fat or oil..... Os ral Sees es ean eee see 4 1 1 Be --/a-~5 2-0. 1 2 2 4 | 2 3 1 Dry weight. VIXENS EATING THEIR YOUNG. aes Cannibalism among foxes is not natural, and the vixen’s desire -to destroy her young may result from any of a number of causes. If constipated, she becomes feverish and develops an abnormal appe- tite, and in this condition may eat her pups. ‘To prevent this, laxa- tive feeds, as cod-liver oil, eggs, liver, oil meal, and biscuits, should -be fed during pregnancy. Undue excitement or injury during preg- nancy may also influence destruction of the young. Some breeders have advocated the feeding of salt pork and salt fish to eliminate this tendency, but this is not always successful. It is not advisable to ‘destroy a valuable vixen because she eats her first litter, but in. case she continues. the practice with subsequent litters her pelt should _be taken during the prime season. | GENERAL MANAGEMENT. Successful fox farming requires good management in the organiza- - tion of the ranch, selection of stock, feeding, and breeding, combined 46 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. with an intimate knowledge of the characteristics and behavior of the fox in captivity. THE RANCHER. Many of the failures in fox ranching may be attributed directly to carelessness and negligence on the part of the rancher. Foxes will not do well under shiftless management, and a caretaker who has no interest in the welfare of his foxes need not expect success. The rancher should handle his breeding foxes in a manner to insure the highest percentage of increase and should be willing to sit up — part of the night watching their actions. One who walks through the ranch without the keen perception to detect a sick fox is by no means the right type of caretaker, and one who sees the sick fox but does not care for it at once is even worse. A rancher who likes © to be away from his foxes as much as possible has not the thrift and B21647 Fig. 40.—Foxes appreciate kindness and respond to good treatment on the part of the keeper. welfare of the ranch at heart, and a caretaker who is not disturbed over the loss of a pup should no longer have charge of a ranch. One who is not careful to avoid feeding moldy or spoiled feed of any kind is not a true rancher. He must not share the opinion of some men that foxes need little or no water, but must supply them with fresh, pure water every day, for foxes require water just as much as any other animal. If he allows them to drink old, stagnant water, he runs the risk of having them infested with all sorts of parasites. If a rancher fits foxes and goes into the show ring simply to be there among other ranchers and is not possessed of a strong desire to win the best prizes offered, he had better stay at home and save time and money. : A good faithful rancher looks to every detail of his work and has his mind and heart with his foxes at all times. He leaves noth- ing undone to promote the thrift and welfare of each individual fox. He likes to talk with successful ranchers about foxes, and tries to learn about improved methods of handling and manage-— “a i d } 0 tp Satoh me es een sake ee oe hee (eit tien eases pal went 2 Diae SS oe aad seers ed ater ale ee tae (Reon Wet A oeereeh tee itt SILVER-FOX FARMING, AY ment. (Fig. 40.) The readiness with which his foxes accommo- date themselves to a life of captivity depends greatly upon his atti- tude toward them. BEHAVIOR OF FOXES IN CAPTIVITY. Before one can intelligently handle foxes he must know something concerning their behavior. He must study them at every oppor- tunity, whether performing his duties on the ranch or observing foxes from the watch tower. As previously stated, the instant a fox becomes aware that it is observed it changes its behavior entirely. I’oxes are naturally active at night but quiet during the day, re- maining in the den, curled up on top of the den, or in some shady, secluded spot. ‘They are inquisitive, and their desire to see every- thing that is going on around them leads them to select advan- tageous positions for the purpose. (Fig. 41.) Moving objects inter- Fig. 41.—On the lookout. Under proper Management foxes soon display a lively interest in their surroundings. est them keenly, and birds or mammals entering their pens fall quick prey to their alertness. Asa rule they live peaceably together, but their treacherous disposition becomes apparent when they can take a mate or a neighbor at a disadvantage. The natural instinct of foxes to burrow in the soil seems to be ex- aggerated in some individuals, and when suddenly frightened they try to escape in this way or by climbing the walls of the pen. Excitability is one of the most troublesome traits of foxes, al- though it is believed that too much stress has been placed on this. It is not intended to convey the idea that they do not need quiet or that unnecessary causes of excitement should not be avoided; on the contrary, the breeder should take advantage of every occasion to allay their suspicions and gain their confidence. As a rule foxes are suspicious of strangers and on the approach of a newcomer frequently sound a warning call and run to cover. On some ranches this is not the case, and it is believed that lack of fear is due largely to the method of handling and feeding. It is an established fact 48 BULLETIN 1151, U. §. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. that the number of pups whelped and raised to maturity on ranches where the policy is followed of leaving the foxes to themselves as much as possible is far less than the number raised by ranchers who handle the foxes with the same good judgment used in man- aging domestic stock. | Foxes, like other animals, possess a variety of dispositions and temperaments. No two pairs are exactly alike, and each pair should receive individual consideration. To study their 'traits and pecu- liarities should be one of the primary objects of the caretaker, and his success is determined largely by the use of his wisdom against the gunning of the foxes. THE BREEDING SEASON. Before the foxes have been selected for mating and placed in their respective pens, the yards should be thoroughly cleaned, the dens scrubbed with hot water and soap,and sprayed with disinfectant or burned out with a blow torch, and the nest boxes cleaned and put in place. Foxes usually prefer no bedding material, but on some ranches have become accustomed to straw. As the breeding season approaches, the foxes should be kept as_ quiet as possible and, as a rule, strangers should not be allowed to enter the ranch, although this ‘precaution may be left to the judgment of the caretaker. : ; A shy fox may never appear at feeding time, hence the mate will gobble up all the feed. Where this occurs feed for the shy fox should | be placed inside the den. When one is a bully and drives the other away. from the feed, it will be necessary to separate th€ containers as widely as possible. It is well for the keeper to jhhaWe ‘d call and to talk to the foxes at feeding time, so that. they will become accus- tomed to him. All matings observed.should be recorded, and it is © desirable that the rancher spend a large portion of his time in the watch tower getting this information. : After the foxes have been seen to breed the dog should be sepa- | ~rated as soon as possible and placed in the quarters built for the purpose. While a dog may be as devoted to the pups as is the vixen, © the care he may give the young is more. than counterbalanced by the harm he may do to his mate. Dogs have a tendency to injure the pups by carrying them in and out of the dens, and often kill them by fighting. The separation of the dog and vixen eliminates — the possibility of loss from these causes. PREGNANCY. Special care and attention should be given the vixen during the .period of pregnancy. Undue excitement on the ranch during the advanced stages may cause abortion (premature birth), especially among the very nervous and excitable vixens. It may be well to mention again that the feed should be of a soft nature and should — contain nothing constipating. In the case of a shy vixen that will not leave the den to eat, the feed should be placed in the outside chamber of the den. This will enable her to eat before the feed freezes and will also accustom her to the presence of the caretaker every day. The caretaker, however, should make sure that the vixen SILVER-FOX FARMING. 49 is really shy and is not lying in the den because she is overfed and too sluggish to come out. If the latter is the case, feed should not be iven until she appears hungry. If vixens are properly handled ‘and fed during this period there should be no trouble during | whelping. WHELPING. -~ On account of the many disadvantages connected with the prac- tice, it is rare indeed that a vixen is permitted to follow her natural instinct to whelp her litter in a hole which she digs in the ground. Aside from the fact that this fosters a wild trait which it is one of the objects of domestication to modify, it frequently endangers the lives of the pups, for if the soil is not well drained a heavy rain may result in drowning them. Another disadvantage is the difficulty of digging out the vixen and pups if for any reason it be- comes necessary to treat them. Success with this method of whelping is the result of good luck, not good management. During the entire whelping period the vixen should be un- disturbed. The pen should be entered only to give her feed and water or for some other absolutely Fic, 42.—The cat may be used as a foster mother in emer- necessary reason. gencies, but she must be free from parasites. BI994M . LACTATION. After the pups are whelped the feed should be increased gradually. Methods have been fully described under “ Feeding.” The use of the double-box den simplifies matters considerably at this time. The feed can be placed in the outer box, and when the caretaker hears the vixen leave the den to feed he can lift the cover of the other box to examine the litter and remove any dead pups. No bad results will occur if the keeper is careful. Vixens, especially young ones, sometimes fail to produce enough milk to nourish the pups. If such is the case, or if the vixen dies, a cat may be used as foster mother, but this practice should be followed only in an emergency. (Fig. 42.) The rancher should be sure that the cat is free from parasites before she is so used. WEANING. When the pups are about 8 weeks old they should be taken from the mother and placed in new, clean quarters. There has been a pron drain on the mother’s system during lactation, and this gives _ her a chance to recuperate. Another reason for this separation is 50 BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. to prevent a tendency on the part of the pups to become wild, caused by a nervous excitable vixen, for at the least provocation such a mother sounds a warning call and the pups scamper into the den, sometimes injuring themselves in their haste. Separation from the mother also facilitates the proper feeding of the young. Twice a day is often enough to feed them. In the case of backward pups a little cow’s milk can be given as a noon feed. Those showing a disinclination to eat and failing to grow should be removed to another pen and placed under observation to determine the cause. Careful feeding is very essential to the satisfactory de- velopment of the pups. More pups can be raised to maturity if weaned and fed separately than if permitted to remain with the mother (see Fig. 39, p. 42). HANDLING. It is believed by many ranchers that the only time foxes should be handled is when they appear to be injured or diseased. As a matter of fact, they should be handled much more frequently. Final judgment on a mating shouid not be based on superficial observa- tion. The foxes should be handled and examined closely to deter- mine their general make- up and the quality of their fur. As many points as — practicable should be ob- served during one exami- nation. For instance, the ears should be inspected for mange mites, and the — Fic, 43.—Diagram showing operations of fox tongs. back of the ears and fore and hind flanks, which are ~ tender portions of the fox’s body, for parasites. It is usually neces- sary to handle the foxes frequently late in summer and early in fall for the purpose of exhibiting to prospective buyers the quality of the animals on the ranch as well as the color and quality of fur. There was a time when foxes could be sold without close examination, but the buyer of to-day is able to exercise more discrimination and insists upon knowing what he is purchasing. | Although few expert ranchers use gloves when handling foxes, it is well for the beginner to do so. He should also use tongs in cap- turing the animals, such as those illustrated in Figure 43. When the caretaker enters the pen for the purpose of catching a fox, the animals invariably run into the den. He then lowers the slide of the chute, thus shutting them in, and slightly raises the cover of the den to permit the insertion of the tongs. The fox is grasped around the neck, and then, the tongs being held with one — hand and the hind legs and tail of the fox with the other, the exami-- nation can be made. When it is desired to transfer a fox from one pen to another, or to remove it temporarily for treatment, a small handling box, such as shown in Figure 44, may be used. This is ‘made of 1-inch material 32 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 9 inches high. The top board is - hinged and fine-mesh wire nailed to the box under the cover to per- : SILVER-FOX FARMING. 51 mit examination. At one end is a slide door and at the other a hinged wire door provided with a hook-and-eye fastening. The top cover may be held down by a bolt and lock or by a snap and hinge, _as illustrated in the figure. A strap handle is attached to the cover - _ for convenience in carrying. TRANSPORTING. Foxes in good condition can be shipped almost any distance, but if the journey is long or the shipment large it will be well to have -an attendant go along to feed and care for them. Foxes can go with- out feed for two or three days with no apparent ill effects. In transit they have a tendency to lose their appetites, and should be fed care- fully, although fresh water should always be supplied. Small pieces of meat, preferably liver or beef, and fox biscuit may be given. _ It is not advisable to place more than one fox in a compartment of a shipping crate. A crate containing two compartments, each B21653 | ; Fic. 44.—Convenient transfer box for handling foxes; it is made of 1-inch boards and may be 32 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 9 inches high. _ 2 feet high and having a floor space of approximately 2 by 3 feet, _is large enough to carry a pair of foxes. It should be made of wood, with the exception of the door, which should be of wire. Some ranchers entirely cover the crate with wire to prevent escape of the animals. In the front of each compartment dishes for feed and water should be fastened where they can be filled from the — outside. _ CULLING. Every fall before the breeding season begins the old foxes as well as the pups should be carefully culled and the best ones retained to improve the stock. This is necessary to maintain the quality of the _ foxes on the ranch, old, unserviceable animals being replaced by 2 young, vigorous stock. The following classes should be culled: Yixens that have not proved to be profitable producers, old foxes _ that have served their term of usefulness, samson foxes (see p. 33), _ and foxes carrying pelts that are tinged or otherwise inferior. ee ee 52 ‘BULLETIN 1151, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The final judgment of the caretaker as to which foxes are to. retained should be based on the records kept of the performance of individual animals. A ranch owner who inspects the foxes only at intervals is apt to judge the animals on the basis of appearance rather than performance, and for this reason selection of the foxes to be retained should be left entirely to the resident caretaker, who has had opportunity to study the indiv iduals and to become familiar with the characteristics of each. The foxes to be disposed of should be separated and fed sufficiently to maintain good health. The pelts of fat foxes, however, lack sheen. and finish because of the tendency of the animals to lie around and not take sufficient exercise. In order to improve the quality of the fur it is a good plan to shut the foxes out of their pens on cold days” in winter, not, however, during wet or inclement weather. PELTING. The business of fox raising is based on pelt value. Many of the most successful ranch owners follow the practice of killing some foxes every year and marketing the pelts. These are naturally the culls—that is, the old foxes that have served their period of use- fulness, nonproducers, and those that have been injured through | accident. - It is not a good practice to pelt pups, as their skins lack finish in the fur as well as in the leather. Genaonalls a pup skin of excep- tional development sells for a good price, but this is not the rule. It is better for the rancher to carry the young over until they are a year and a half old or older and the pelt has developed into a more marketable skin. PRIMENESS. Pelts of foxes become prime in November, December, January, and February, depending upon the season, climate, and feeding. In the United States the majority of pelts become prime in December and January, with a few in February, the exact time varying with the individual. Primeness is the highest quality of perfection i in a pelt; when the pelt shows quality “and finish, determined by its texture and sheen, it is said to be prime. Ability to judge primeness comes only through experience. When the fur is coming prime it does so rapidly, and after it reaches the peak of perfection it soon becomes overprime,. losing its sheen and finish. It therefore behooves the rancher to watch “closely day by day each individual set aside for pelting. It is better to take the pelt just before it is prime than to take the chance of delaying until it is overprime. This is one of the periods when frequent handling i 1s necessary. . KILLING. - In killing a fox the method generally pursued is as follows: The eehal 3 is caught with the tongs, taken to the killing shed, and laid on its side. The caretaker then places his foot on its chest and crushes out the life. This practice his been followed because it does not injure the pelt. Striking the fox on the back of the head with a club leaves a blood clot on the pelt and sometimes cuts it. | [TOM ATpenbo “ysnaq pure sdoy oy} suTAap osodand oy} 0Ar0S pus od01d OUO Ul OpeUL Ajysnoaoyy Jo poyjour aodoad oyy suryeaysnqy[y] Q1@ SOUIRAJ OULOS OSPOM O[PpluL JO pvRoySuyT "AWVYU4 ONIAYG NO SLISd—3 ‘DIS ‘SLTdd ONIAYG YOs AWVYS—"| “DIS wotoza evgiza Lu ke 8 15 = Eee eee C. W. PUGSLEY. Hirector of -Sctentific- Werk. 3222 HH, D. Bass. Director of Regulatory Work_——. = _. ————_. Wetther Burret] eee ee eae CHARLES F, MaRvIn, Chief. Bureau of Agricultural Economics________. Henry C. TAytor, Chief. Bureau of Animal lndtsirg. = = JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief. Bureau of Plant Indisiry > 2s WILLIAM A. TAyLor, Chief. Forest Service_.2 > = ee eee W. B. GREELEY, Chief. Bureos of: Chenistry_ eee ee WALTER G. CAMPBELL, Acting Chie Butesy Of SOs. 3 Ss ee Ae eee MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. Buretaof Fintomowgys. = ss ee L. O. Howarp, Chief. Burcau of Biological Survey__--.-_______-- E. W. NEtson, Chief. Bureou-of: Public: Roads. 2a eee THOMAS H. MACDONALD, Chief. — Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory___.__. F. G. Corrrety, Director. Division of Accounts and Dishursements___. A. ZAPPoNE, Chief. Division of -Publications._< 2. > =) EDWIN C. PoWELL, Acting Chief. TACT ORR es ee a eS CLARIBEL R. BARNETT, Librarian. Siates Relaitons Service. — = = A. C. TRUE, Director. Federal Horticultural Boards 2 _-~- =~ C. L. Mariatr, Chairman. Insecticide and Fungicide Board__________. J. K. Haywoop, Chairman. Packers and Stockyards Administration____- eae Morri.1, Assistant to th Grain Future Trading Act Administration___ Secretary. ; Onice uy the -Soucstor = = oan Ae R. W. WrriaMs, Solicitor. This bulletin is a contribution from Bureau of Biological Survey_____--~~-- E. W. NEtson, Biologist and Chief. Division of Economic Investigations. A. K. FISHER, in Charge. 60 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D. C. AT 15 CENTS PER COPY PURCHASER AGREES NOT TO RESELL OR DISTRIBUTE THIS COPY FOR PROFIT.—PUB. RES. 57, APPROVED MAY 11, 1922 V