Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Poultry FAQs and other Information => Topic started by: Kate and her Ducks on September 18, 2009, 22:09

Title: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on September 18, 2009, 22:09
Well it is getting to the time of year when the nights start closing in and the world starts getting ready for winter.

Unfortunately for us that seems to mean a really abrupt increase in fox attacks on our hens and ducks. There was a really dramatic increase this time last year and I was one of them and the pattern seems to be repeating itself this year.

It seems to be a combination of the early nights catching people out, many more foxes around as this years cubs mature and are not yet thinned out by the winter and the dropping levels of food making them all more bold.

It is a truely heartbreaking sight to come out to the carnage left by a fox so it is the time to take extra care locking up your birds.

Be vigilent!!!

This might help:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=25998.0
  
 
  
 
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: chickenlady on September 18, 2009, 22:18
went to grannies yesterday and got back after dark! the muscovies were in their house but it was still wide open and bob and vi were asleep outside the growers run as the runners were shut in their run. i was fretting all the way home. in future if i think there is a chance i wont be home before dark they will all get chased to bed before i go out!

Debbie
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on September 18, 2009, 22:27
Me too after last year.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: 8doubles on September 18, 2009, 22:36
I think this one could do with red highlights and being made a sticky for a month.
Could save a few tears.


Doh !  it already is .
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: chickenlady on September 19, 2009, 20:48
I think this one could do with red highlights and being made a sticky for a month.
Could save a few tears.


Doh !  it already is .

 :lol:
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: lightyears on September 21, 2009, 12:31
just to raise this again, my allotment neighbour has lost 90 chickens in the last months. as the fox gets in, in ever cunning ways. mine have been alright so far, but i am preparing myself for the inevitable.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Shedenvy on September 28, 2009, 22:41
very sensible advice mind you having them locked up wont stop Mr Foxy from visiting just on the off chance that all is not secure, I shot out of bed at 3.am last week as i thought I could hear our Runners quacking I went out to check but all was quiet unfortunatly the next morning I spotted one of next doors  chucks which had been left in the road by the departing fox  I can only assume he legged it when he heard me crashing round the garden  :( might have been the sight of me in my dressing gown that put him off
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Foxy on September 30, 2009, 09:18
Good point, a good time of year to be checking for any loose boards, gaps in fencing, bolts, fixings etc.
This is the time of year that cubs are dispersing and looking for new territories, particulary in rural settings as the fox will travel far.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Rubellite on October 02, 2009, 20:06
Spoke to my local gamekeeper this week (they have a shoot in the fields behind mine) and he told me that the fox man had dispatched four over the last few weeks  :ohmy:
Did I mind if he came into my field? Hell no, just make sure he gets the fox and not my chickens by accident!! :blink:
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: compostqueen on October 03, 2009, 16:18
timely advice

Mine have been attacked but fortunately have lived to tell the tale but that's very rare :(
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Vember on October 10, 2009, 21:19
Just 10 mins late putting away, 2 ducks down & one with a hole in it's side  :mad:  :mad:  :mad:
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Caralou on October 10, 2009, 21:24
Oh Sarah, I'm so sorry  :( Will the one with the hole make it? Big hugs xxx
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Vember on October 10, 2009, 21:26
I think so,  Not 100% sure I was going to stitch it but I think open is best for now so I can keep an eye for infection  ???  :unsure:

He's up here with me now so I'll be keeping a close eye on him :)

Sarah :)
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: poultrygeist on October 10, 2009, 21:43
So sorry to hear. :(

Hope he can make it. That's really upsetting.

ROb
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: joyfull on October 10, 2009, 21:56
so sorry to hear that  :(, hope your little one makes it, hugs xx
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Rubellite on October 10, 2009, 22:34
Aw Sarah, so sorry, just read this post  :(
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Aunt Sally on October 10, 2009, 22:38
Your duck stands the best chance with you vember ! :)
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: joyfull on October 11, 2009, 08:00
How is he this morning Sarah? xx
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Vember on October 11, 2009, 09:18
He's ok :)
I'll start another thread in CC, really only mentioned it so people would be aware that a slight variation to the normal routine and the fox is watching and waiting  :mad:

Best not clog up this thread  ;)


Sarah :D
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: too many girls on October 11, 2009, 19:42
aw Sarah, i'm so sorry, it's heartbreaking when the fox attacks, i'm paranoid over mine taking themselves off to the lake (i have been known to drive my car over to supervise ::)) hope your poorly one gets better.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Tania on April 11, 2010, 21:29
I was caught really off guard over the weekend when we spotted a fox parading through the village at 08.00! Luckily, it didn't pay us a visit and thankfully our chooks were secure.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: TeaPots on April 30, 2010, 22:43
 :( I thought mine were safe. WRONG! enclosed run, wire buried, roofed, so the fox kicked in the side panel to get in. Took all my precious Polands. At least there were no bodies left for me to have to deal with.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: rspencer5855 on May 16, 2010, 11:11
Hi  I am new here to this site , but last weekend Mr Fox got 7 of my beauties, despite what I thought was great protection. so I can sympathise with you.

I am going to start again, but I have a question. Is it possible to succesfful co-habit bantams and large birds together or it is best to stick with the same. I can see a potential problem with bullying but I would like to hear other people's experiences.

Thanks
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: joyfull on May 16, 2010, 11:27
I have both silkie crosses and large fowl together without any problems but my sablepoots who ae really tiny have suffered a little bit recently so am moving them into a large covered aviary style run to help protect them a little and also this means that in bad weather they will be protected from the elements.
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: mad chicken on May 27, 2010, 12:34
I have had problems with the fox :(
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Caralou on May 27, 2010, 13:07
I caught Mr Fox sniffing around on Wednesday night. I had the window open and the ducks started making an almighty noise so I rushed out (3am!) and the fox climbed back over the 6ft fencing  :unsure: :ohmy: The duck house is about as safe as it can be. It has two locking points on each door - a bolt and a clasp - and is strongly built. I can't wait until the roof is on the run and I know they are even safer. The chicken house needed a little extra securing (in my jimjams at 3am this was a fun task) but they too should be safe at night. I'm careful to lock up before dusk after the last attack.

This also shows how quickly a new fox will move into territory and work out what is good to eat! The fox that attacked last time was caught by another poultry keeper with his ducks and he despatched it and it had a mate that it was hunting with and (s)he was run over on the railway line two days later so this fox is a new arrival. So, as has been said on here many times, shooting/disposing of the fox just leads to another taking up the territory within a matter of months  :( The only way to be fox/predator safe is good security, making sure they are locked up tight at dusk and it would also seem sleeping with the window open so you can run out in your pj's to chase off the little *****  :blink: ;)
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: dizzylizzie on May 27, 2010, 13:21
at least you sleep in PJ's :D
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Caralou on May 27, 2010, 15:56
well.... lets just say it was a good job it was after the hot weather broke or the neighbours would have had a scare  ;) :lol:
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: compostqueen on August 16, 2010, 08:42
I spotted a large fox last night strolling over the main road in front of me.  I hurried quickly home as I'd put my hens away in their covered run but had not locked their door. 

My hens were attacked by a fox last September, and after seeing one last night, it's a timely reminder to check defences  :(
Title: Re: Fox Attack Warning.
Post by: Springlands on August 16, 2010, 17:04
I had just shut the greenhouse door last night and was walking towards the hen run when I noticed a fox in the garden - as soon as it saw me it ran behind the hen run and towards the fields next to our garden. The hens were not happy. OH decided to encourage the hens to to into their house (normally they go in themselves and are not happy if you try to put them away early) but they were so scared that they practically ran in themselves. We are now keeping a close eye out for Mr Fox.