Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: Ice on January 23, 2014, 18:04
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My first ever fox attack has taken place and I have lost my girls. :( This was a safe area, fox free for years, but they know about it now. All I could do is to warn my neighbours as they have lots of hens, oh, and give them my spare hen food.
They are only following their instincts, but I can't help hating them with a passion. :(
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:( I'm sorry Ice :(
Not the fox's fault but a nasty shock for you >:(
Are you going to get some more hens ?
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How awful! How did you foxproof - did an electric fence fail or something like that?
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very tragic and upsetting :(
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Awww Ice, so sorry to hear about your girls.
Like you say the Fox is only doing what comes naturally, but very upsetting for you :( :(
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Really sorry to hear your news Ice :(
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Thanks for the replies. I had only minimal foxproofing because my next door neighbour has had free range hens in their garden for over 25 years without any problem. If I get some more they will live in the hen equivalent of Fort Knox, and my neighbours now have to rethink their security too.
Right now, I can't imagine getting any more as I still have to clear away the aftermath of last night. But, knowing me, it wont be too long before I start building Chickenopolis mark 2. :) :( :)
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Good on'yer, Ice :D
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I feel for you, Ice.
Our local chicken club's birds, having been flooded out, were then destroyed by a fox / foxes.
Hope you can get up and going again soon -- you must miss them dreadfully :( :(
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I keep looking out the window expecting to see them and in the supermarket I went to buy them some cabbage, then remembered. :(
Going to dismantle and burn the old hen house at the weekend weather permitting. It might take a while but I will get some more.
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Sorry to hear about your loss, i had to rehome mine because of moving house and was suprised how many times a day you think chickeny thoughts when they are gone.
Like you a new flock will be got as soon as possible. :)
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Sad new Ice Sorry
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Oh sorry to hear about the visit from the fox,I lost just 1 to a fox & I was so upset & angry,there'd been a misunderstanding between hubby & me about whether the flap had been shut. Hope you get some more when you are ready.
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Sorry to hear what has happened - very shocking and upsetting.
Hannah
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That is really horrible Ice - my OH actually saw a fox climbing the fence into our run one day - it grabbed one hen and was away before OH could do anything. The run now resembles Colditz.
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The run now resembles Colditz.
mine too springlands - seen it happen to often to friends chooks to know the fox will do anything to get a meal
I have only been unlucky and lost one to a buzzard , I was even out there with them and he swooped down from know where - I suppose we must remember predators need to eat , but personally wish it was a wild bunny and not our pets :(
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The run now resembles Colditz.
mine too springlands - seen it happen to often to friends chooks to know the fox will do anything to get a meal
I have only been unlucky and lost one to a buzzard , I was even out there with them and he swooped down from know where - I suppose we must remember predators need to eat , but personally wish it was a wild bunny and not our pets :(
I would also be happy if it was the bunnies - my garden is overrun with them - will have to rabbit proof the veggie patches this year.
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Sorry to hear about your chooks, Ice :(
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I will get some more, but not right now as it's too soon. The next run will resemble Fort Knox and Colditz rolled into one, even I will have to wear ID to get in. Just hope it hasn't noticed my neighbours hens next door.
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so sorry Ice, having lost quite a lot of mine to two mink attacks 3 years ago I understand only too well how you feel (I am lucky because the local farmers came along our beck to try and find the mink as they have chickens and pheasants - guess they found it or them because there has been no sightings since).
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sorry to hear about your girls Ice, it's just so shocking when it happens and takes a while to recover :(
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I know EXACTLY how you feel, now my run is fox proof, I hate them with a passion, BUT I have their brushes hanging up just to show what happens to any that visit me in the future
My neighbours dont like it that I kill them, they feed them, As far as I am concerned they are vermin, lets favce it, you dont feed rats (willingly)
I have even told the council as they cant keep numbers down, if they visit my garden and hens, I will
They dont seem to have a problem or object to that ;)
I had foxes wipe me out twice (once when I was away) the other time when I just started out
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Thanks for all the kind words. I'm not sure right now that I will get any more hens. :(
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Aw, that's awful, Ice. Sorry your girls were first on the list. With so much housing going up, foxes have to forage in new areas and finally caught up with yours.
I'm sure Cluckingham Palace #2 will be a secure home for new girls. Don't let those foxes get you down.