to want to cry at my own incompetence

[Barrelofloves]

Got some ducklings and dc overjoyed to have a pet to look after.

Could not afford the £100s needed for a proper poultry house and run but got a poultry arc with run built in secondhand which I then reinforced with some DIY.

Dc excitedly went to feed and water ducklings this morning only to find a wooden panel
chewed and broken into, blood and feathers, no ducklings.

They went to school so upset.

Do I give up on the idea or is there a fox proof alternative which does not cost the earth?

I grew up with farm animals and so want my dc to experience a bit of it.

I'm so my DIY wasn't better. Dh is not practical and have no one else to ask.

((hugs))

I'm a single parent and rubbish at DIY (I even managed to put up a dado rail in my kitchen and hallway the wrong way round ) DCs must be very disppointed but at least you tried! I'd love to keep chickens but can't afford it at this moment either. There's a keeping chicken thread on mumsnet. I'm sure they'll have a few ideas on how to put a poultry house together there.

Poor you and the kids

No, foxes are wily bastards who will get at their tea any way they can. I have an eglu which was brilliant at keeping foxes out.

I wouldn't try again til you can afford an eglu or electric bloody fence - there's an article by Clarkson where he had to go to fairly extreme lengths to keep his chooks safe.