Just found all seven of my lovely girls dead. Feathers everywhere

[BulletProofMum]

Absouktely gutted, kids will be devastated in the morning. Kicking myself for not going out earlier to lock them in, they were still warm :(

Oh no I'm so sorry. We had this happen last year, it's devastating.

Oh you poor thing, I don't know what to suggest other than do not blame yourself if it wasn't tonight the law of averages says it would be another night soon.

It is my biggest fear for my girls and Roger (the girl we now know to be a boy)
as we have had them for nearly 2 years and they free range from 7am until 9.30pm and so far apart from a visit that left claw marks on the outside of one of the coops, we have been lucky.

I was surprised how attached we all were to them. The fox took two only. It wouldn't feel so bad if you thought at least it had a purpose

So sorry. Do you think it was a fox? this is such a worry with keeping hens. wish I could think of something more comforting to say but just wanted to let you know how sorry I am x

We thought the runways fox proof, the walls were aboutn6 ft, it had knocked the top,panel off.

I can relate to the being attached to them, they are family pets. I went downstairs to the playroom last Sunday to find DC1 and DC2 cuddling 2 out of a total of 22 of them whilst watching TV and feeding them brioche

What are you going to tell the children?

Oh no. I'm so scared we will find our girls like this one morning, the DC would be devastated.

The truth, what else can I say?

Nature can be cruel

I know it won't help to change the situation but a Fox, if that's what it was, will be very determined and aside from standing guard permanently I don't believe anything is truly fox proof.

I would imagine your girls had a good life with you.

Razor wire, electric fence, fully covered. Will need to fortify my defences.

Nature is an absolute git at times. I keep my head by reasoning that I would prefer my girls and Roger to have 2 or 3 years of free ranging all day every day as opposed to 4 or 5 years cooped up before a fox gets them.

I am really sorry they get under your skin, despite the amount of poo they produce.

Bloody hell you have all that you have been so desperately unlucky. What about a male dog who likes to pee around the coops that is meant to help as well? We have a dog and I do think that helps

Bullet I also found one of mine dead today too. Not as bad as you but still shocked me. I've experienced a natural death before and although sad was okay. It's all the feathers everywhere.

Yellow I'm going to send my DSes around the garden to pee. They have their uses.

Will try that next time. Will really secure the run before restocking.mhavent been able to look at the scene in the cold light of day. Ds2 5 was in tears for half an hour. Ds1, 7 who helps me look after them and has always been the one playing with them, doesn't seem too bothered. Dd 2 keeps saying 'naughty fox'.

Hope today is not too difficult.

Lemon, my boys are allowed to pee round the coops, which they obviously think is great.

Personally I would restock as soon as you feel able to.

oh and get a gun for Mr Fox

Fox's are very clever, they can sometimes master an apparently fox proof coop. I grew up on a farm and one night he had 25 of them out of one coop, didn't take one for supper though. Just the way it is. If you have chickens, you will have the fox sniffing about. If he's determined, there is little you can do, so don't blame yourself:( It's so upsetting though.

I'm now left with just one so need to get her a couple of friends. If anyone knows of any chickens in the Scottish Borders let me know.

:( so sorry.

Don't assume it was a fox.We have lost more to badgers than foxes and if there is damage to the coop,as it seems in your case,that is nearly always badger.

Thanks.

Any advice as to the best way to fox, badger proof (I haven't the wire, electrics referred to earlier, that was suggestion as to next step). The run is approx 10x20 foot so difficult to cover over.

I once lost most of mine - chickens and ducks - at 11am in the morning due to a fox aftack. There were a few survivors huddled together on the terrace near the house :(

I now have a totally enclosed run - built like an aviary, with the eglu attached to the end of it. I only let them out in the garden when I'm out there too. I've tried to make it as interesting as possible for them, it's got an old picnic table in there which they can sunbathe on or hide under - one end is coverd so they have shelter the other is open. There's an old ladder propped up to climb and perch on etc. rounding them up to put them back in after an hour or so is a bit like watching a slapstick comedy - easier with help.

I find 'our' fox in the garden all the time, just looking at me when I come across her - my neighbours who keep chickens have also got totally enclosed runs too.