As an update.....................I managed to forgive myself and went out and bought some new girls, eventaully ending up with six - a magpie, a black rock, a nera, a bluebelle, a sussex star and a copper black maran. All went well for several months with me faithfully shutting them up every night...........................and they had free range during the day in the back garden.
I came home from work one wednesday afternoon at 3.30pm to find 5 of the six strewn around the garden and a very traumatised but unhurt bluebelle on the top of the shed roof......the fox had killed and beheaded my gorgeous girls in broad daylight.
I was then completely beside myself and ready to rehome the bluebelle once she had recovered as I just felt absolutely defeated......luckily my husband went out and bought me a skyline to prevent me from giving up, and I now dont let my precious girls out in the garden unless I am home and around -the girls have got very used to me shooing them back in the run when I go out to the shops, they must feel like 'fiddlers elbows' (in and out all the time!)but at least they are safe.
Im now back up to five, with the 6th and 7th arriving in the next few weeks!
I will not be beaten again!