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Original poster

bloody fox

10 replies

pantaloons · 07/05/2011 20:14

Title says it all really.

6 months ago we had 26 hens, Mr Fox paid a visit and we were down to 6. Went out to put them away half an hour ago and we now have 1. Poor thing.

There are feathers and headless chickens everywhere. Bloody nasty animal, why can't he just take one. I could sort of understand that, everyone has to eat. It's just the senseless waste that really naffs me off.

Sorry, carry on, rant over.

OP posts:
dobby2001 · 07/05/2011 23:35

Oh Pantaloons I am so sorry Sad We had a fox attack last year and to this day my DD frets about our hens due to what she witnessed. they are in fort knox compared to the set up we had then but she still worries as the carnage was so great Sad

Do you know how the fox is getting in? Have you a solution to fix it?
More importently right now, how is the surviving hen? It is likely to be in shock and might benefit from being brought in for the night and placed with a warm hot water bottle in a blanket - this will simulate being with its pals and have a calming effect - it was what they used at the vets for our surviving hen as she went into deep shock and TBH looked as if she was going to not last the night - much more settled the next day.

hope your one is OK

Shallishanti · 07/05/2011 23:43

oh no that's awful Sad
as to why foxes do that, the explanation I was given (can't remember where)
is that they have an instinct to kill and will carry on as long as there are things flapping around them to kill. In the wild (or if chickens were not confined, one would be caught and killed and the others would escape to safety...but in a run or coop, they can't escape, so they all get killed
(I know what it's like, happened to us too)

beachyhead · 07/05/2011 23:59

I'm so sorry - I don't think you can completely foxproof anything.

I dread the morning I go out and find my ladies gone....

Original poster
pantaloons · 08/05/2011 14:14

Hi,

Thanks for all your kind words.

They (did) roam free in about an acre of land, but it is fenced round with sheep net. So it is impossible to be 100% fox proof. I suppose we have been lucky up until the last few months. I think the problem this time was that dh let them ou on his way to work at 5.30. Although it was light at that time it's still very quiet isn't it and Mr Fox must still have been on the prowl.

The remaining hen seems ok today and is wandering around quite happily. I think we are going to take her round to a friends who also has lots of hens. The funny thing is we are in the process of moving and only yesterday we were debating what to do with the girls until we were settled. That's that problem sorted!

Oh well, it's just nature I suppose, but it doesn't make it any less of a git, and do you know how much free range eggs cost in Tesco!?!?!?

OP posts:
cruelladepoppins · 08/05/2011 20:40

I'm sorry too.

We have our chooks in a run (because of dog carnage previously). I heard a huge noise and a flap the other morning, and I looked out to see a fox running back and forth up and down the outside of the run. Must have been just after 6. I was telling our neighbours about it the same day and they said they had lost a goose the night before. Sad

I really hate not having them free range any more.

mummymeister · 10/05/2011 15:01

Some old tips we use to try and keep them safe - leave a radio on near the coop (talking sort not music if poss radio 4 is good). also male dog wee or human male wee does seem to deter them. son aged 8 found doing this in a bucket v amusing. we pour it on the ground around the fenced in coop bit. It is natures way but doesnt make it any less upsetting.

bacon · 12/05/2011 21:13

Agree, I would not leave them out over night unless you have a professional fox proof fence.

Get a man in or a few lampers, I send a text to my man and he comes over at about 9pm and usually has a good shot! Loads of hunters out there wont cost you a penny.

Original poster
pantaloons · 13/05/2011 11:19

They weren't out over night, just probably too early in the morning. Even though it was light I think it was probably a bit quiet.

A friend comes fairly regularly with his trusty gun, but although he sees them they always seem to be on the wrong side with housees behind!

We are going to wait until we have moved then maybe just get 2 or 3 to potter around the garden. I'm really missing the egss though!

OP posts:
bacon · 13/05/2011 12:43

Yes, I'm gutted today we are down to two chickens! Our eggs are fab. I cant stand waste like this, we try so hard to give these chickens free run and they are so healthy but over the last few days its been a disaster. We are fed up with spending around £20 on these chickens and letting them have free run in the day. Hubby isnt happy with this anymore and will have to make a pen. I have read that Ginea fowl as great to have as they roust and make a right racket when the fox is around.

Original poster
pantaloons · 15/05/2011 09:50

Sorry you are struggling with the bloody fox. DH is going to get a trap this week to try and get rid of ours, but I suppose it's a bad time of year for them.

You can really tell the difference between free "free range" and free range in a 10ft square pen can't you? But if it's that or be eaten then there's obviously only one choice sadly. Maybe later in the year you might be a bit safer to let them out. I'm not very up on it I'm afraid, we've been here for nearly 7 years and only really had big problems in the last couple of months.

No more bright yellow sponge cakes in this house for a while sadly.

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