Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #480 on: February 23, 2015, 12:02 »
Thanks Springlands. I suppose we have been incredibley lucky that this is the first time anything like this has happened in the 6 years we have had chickens. I was ridiculously upset. I can dispatch sick chickens with no qualms or upset but the thought of that fox getting my healthy girls.......... :( >:( >:( :mad:

Although now that Mr Bee is up and explained what happened and why he went back to bed, I have to admit to there being a grin on my face.

Apparently when he got up at 6.30 and saw the fox with Daisy in his mouth he ran out  in nothing but his  tee shirt and undies and was chasing the fox round the garden to try and get the ****ing fox to drop her.

He was so freezing cold afterwards he felt sick and came back to bed to get warm.

Looking on the bright side, it was fortuitous that he did get up or we would have lost all 11.

The electric fence is definitely not working 'cos I went and grabbed hold of it to test it. Never sure if the little tester gadget really works.
Mr Bee is looking at whether it is the fence or generator that is broken. The girls have the hump at the moment because they are in the smaller eglu enclosure for the time being while we sort this problem.

Oh well, never any chance of there being nothing to do in this house.

And to add insult to injury, the ****ing fox has trashed a patch of my snowdrops and crocus while trying to bury Daisy. Inky was eaten on the spot.

And we have to cover up our pots with garden chairs tipped on their sides to stop them digging them up too.
 

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8doubles

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #481 on: February 23, 2015, 13:42 »
Always got be vigilant with charlie, he does not miss a chance !

Sounds like Epping  could do with a few more lads with rifles and night vision scopes ! ::)

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #482 on: February 23, 2015, 14:19 »
 ::) ::) ::) now there is a thought. :D

New electric energiser will be here in the morning. Until then they are cramped but safe in the inner eglu pen.

Or I hope they are safe in there till the morning.
Irritating thing is we didn't know it was bust until the fox got in.

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joyfull

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #483 on: February 23, 2015, 20:37 »
so sorry, good luck for tonight x
Staffies are softer than you think.

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #484 on: February 23, 2015, 21:04 »
Thanks Joyful. X
We came back from shopping this evening to find 2 of the little******** roaming around the garden together and the front doorstep stinking of fox urine.

We have been out chasing them away 4 times already this evening. I know it won't do any good but we can't help ourselves. 

The girls are safe for tonight we have shut the door of the eglu cube and know that they will safe until the new electric thingy arrives tomorrow. We are getting one with double the volts this time too.

It is the first time in all the years we have had chickens that this has happened so I suppose that is something to be grateful for. And the second thing to be grateful for is we lost 2 but Mr Bee saved 9 even if he nearly got hypothermia doing it. Still don't know why he didn't shout for me to come and help; daft devil.

Things seem to be getting worse here with foxes and there were 10 of them roaming around here in the Summer.  >:(

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #485 on: February 23, 2015, 21:44 »
Oh yes, and despite it all the girls still managed to lay 6 eggs today, bless 'em. :)

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joyfull

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #486 on: February 23, 2015, 22:28 »
after having had a couple of mink attacks in the past I really do feel for you.

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barley

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #487 on: February 24, 2015, 06:10 »
Know it doesn't help but its just nature unfortunately  :(

being a ground living bird it's inevitable it will happen

we prided our selves on a fox safe environment with fences to put any prison to shame only to loose one to a swooping buzzard !!!!!

so sorry anyway xxx

 

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #488 on: February 27, 2015, 00:12 »
Well the electric fence is fixed and up and running thank goodness.

Mr Bee was worried that the layout of the fence needs changing as he is worried that the electric charge is not strong enough.

I watched the pair of foxes prowling towards the hens enclosure and watched in delight as the fox jumped back about 4 foot as it got hold of the fence. :D They went round the enclosure several times and then slung their hooks.

I think the electric charge is strong enough. So glad we got one with a much stronger charge.

Girls are really happy to be out in the run again and rewarded us with 9 eggs.

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joyfull

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #489 on: February 27, 2015, 07:25 »
remember to keep checking it and also keep any grass around it very short  :)

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #490 on: February 27, 2015, 10:15 »
Thanks Joyful. Will do.

We only have a little grass up to the enclosure, so it might be worth cutting out a fire break so to speak.

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nannytroll

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #491 on: April 29, 2015, 10:33 »
Reynard paid me a visit last night, tunnelled under buried wire to get into the coop and killed 6 hens plus their coq. The irony is they free range during the day and should have been safely tucked up. :(. I keep my birds in 2 separate coops, and let 1 group out on alternate days, just in case someting like this happens. The pens are roofed with fishing net to protect from Pine Martens, which are a real problem here. Sometimes poultry keeping, and gardening seem like open warfare!

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #492 on: April 29, 2015, 10:52 »
So sorry Nanny. That is awful for you. I know just how you feel. :(

And you are right about chicken keeping and gardening being like open warfare.  :(

We just have to keep fighting back.

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nannytroll

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #493 on: May 01, 2015, 12:01 »
My Peahen has just started sitting on 6 peggs. She's in a fully -fenced pen, with her mate to protect her, and the whole lot surrounded by 7 strands of leccy tape connected to the mains energiser!! Do you think that's OTT ? :unsure:

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Mrs Bee

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Re: Fox Attacks Warning. It's that time of year again.
« Reply #494 on: May 01, 2015, 19:40 »
Not OTT at all. Most sensible. Perhaps a Brenn gun at the ready too.

Lets hope that keeps your predators away.



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