[chickenlicken]

Hi all,
Am in total shock, we got up this morning and let the chooks out at 7 as we do every morning and while sitting at the table eating breakfast with the children I heard a lot of squawking and then saw what I thought was a cat in the chicken area, my husband ran out to find 3 of our 6 dead, and 2 injured - one was caged as she was broody so unharmed.  This was broad daylight and less than 110 yards from where we were.

I know it happens but until it happens to you you don't really realise what a possibility it is, our girls free ranged in the own part of the garden and were only in their run and house at night, locked in.  We have high fences around the garden and are surrounded by houses and people moving about going to work - am just gobsmacked.

Anyway sorry for the ramble, the 2 that survived are in bad shock, just back from vets and one has had to be stitched but the other has just minor grazes amazingly.  Can anyone offer any tips to try and nurse them through?  I have them in a cage in the garage and have been given hibiscrub by the vet to bathe the wounds.  I am planning to leave them quietly with water and corn and see how they go.

We now have one very lonely girl locked in the run and am completely terrified of the fox coming back.  Does anyone have any tips for detterents other than peeing around the run which my husband does every night and clearly doesn't work!

Thanks Tracey

[brick22]

Hi Tracey
I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear what has happened to your girls this morning, I really hope your injured 2 make a full recovery. My girls free roam in a very similiar environment so I would be really keen to hear more experienced peoples advice as well. So sorry I have no advice to give.
Sending you all my love..x

[bantam novice]

Hello Tracey,

So sorry to hear about your hens

it may help if people can see a picture of your setup   
I am not an expert and I'm sure that more experienced people will be along to help.  I would be inclined not to leave lonely only on her own for too long but either bring her in with the other girls or put the other girls back with her.

In the meantime good luck and keep us posted

[chickenlicken]

Thanks for your support - I know it is a worry leaving one on her own, she was bottom of the pecking order too, I am hoping to put one back in tomorrow but will have to see how they go later.
We have had chickens for just over 2 years and never had a problem with a fox, will try and put some pics on later.  At least I have a bit of good news for the children as they went off to school thinking we would only have 1 chicken left.
The vet suggested a sonar type deterrent?

[joyfull]

if you can get some rescue remedy this may help them recover.
If they aren't eating properly then look out for critical care formula - this is an instant food that can be syringed into the birds beak to help them recover.

[joyfull]

this is what your vet would have been on about:-

http://www.conceptresearch.co.uk/fox.htm

[chickenlicken]

ok, thanks Joyful for both, any idea whether Foxwatch really works?  And could you suggest anywhere for the instant feed?

[joyfull]

Critical care is made by these people:-
http://www.vetark.co.uk/pages/Ornamental-fowl--poultry.aspx

I use their avipro plus as a probiotic if my hens have to be given antibiotics (it helps restore their good gut bacteria that can be wiped out by the antibiotics).
If you call vetark they may be able to put you in touch with a local stockists.

As for the sonic fox repellants I have no idea if they work or not sorry.

[OpiumEater]

I'm sorry to hear about your chickens, it's exactly what happened to us two weeks ago. He'd been going past for weeks without any issue, so I assumed my fence was too high for him and let the girls have time in the compound before breakfast. Big mistake 

Alice was on antibiotics, and I'd mix this in layers porridge which she loved (for three days anyway) and I've just been sitting with them lots, as they aren't left in the compound without a person until the OH finishes fox proofing duties. Luckily the run has been secure (so far) but it's not massive and they do moan.

All the best x

[Kate and her Ducks]

HI.

Sorry to hear about your attack, I had a similar thing a couple of years ago and it is a battle getting over. I kept my injured birds inside to keep an eye on them, keep them calm, warm and dry to give them the best chance of recovering and to try and minimise stress. The worst injured I had to feed with a pipette and initially honey water and them watery "porridge" made from pellets. In addition to antibiotics mine also required painkillers. You can give ducks calpol but I don't know about chickens so might be best checking with the vet if they seem in pain. They can also prescribe something like metacam which is excellent.

[shetan]

i just wanted to say sorry for your loss. hope your other chookies get well soon.

[chickenlicken]

Thank you all for your advice and comments, purchased rescue remedy and dosed myself too!
My two poorly ladies are showing a very slight improvement in that they have both had a small drink and a few pecks of corn so am hopeful.
I have attached a few photos of our set up, won't be leaving them to roam about unsupervised any more.

[evie2]

Sorry to hear about your fox attack having lost our hens I can understand how you feel. 
We were visited at 4am the other morning, luckily Tinkers alarm call woke me up before any damage was done.  I've not seen any foxes around here in the middle of the day but we did when we were in Ireland a couple of years ago, that fox had no fear of humans and sat in the garden and at the door.

We have however had a badger in the garden during the day before

Hope your invalids are feeling better soon

[chickenlicken]

Thank you, it is amazing now brazen the fox is, I am really nervous now and am upset that the hens can't free range now as they have for 2 years without any problem 
The two girls who are injured are still with us, one had stitches and is not able to walk yet, she is just lying in a cage and eating very little although she does drink.  The other one is back in the run but quite wobbly on her legs and seems very depressed and uninterested in food.

I am assuming they are both still very shocked and uncomfortable and that is why they are not eating?  I have tried porridge/corn/and their usual favourite treats and they have only eaten tiny amounts - was going to buy a small tin of fishy cat food today and try that.  Have put rescue remedy in their water too - any other suggestions would be useful.

Thanks again to all who have commented, thank goodness for this board!

Tracey

[ycholmes]

hi Tracey,
I am so sorry to hear about your attack.  I too thought we had a large cat in the garden chasing our girls yesterday - didn't have my glasses on!  Needless to say it was a fox.  Fortunately I managed to scare it off before any casualties.  But like you I am on tenterhooks knowing it is around somewhere.  I do hope your girl recovers well.