[orchardlady]

I have one very very lucky hen today. I was doing the ironing (groan...) this early afternoon, looking out the window as I went along. I suddenly noticed hens making  huge racket and standing around doing their emergency call. I belted down the garden so I could see into the hens field and found a young fox with one of my hens in it's mouth and the rest of the flock standing around looking totally panicked. I bellowed at the fox who turned, looked at me, casually dropped the hen and sped off through a neighbours garden. I walked over to the still hen and to my absolute surprise she go tup and walked away from me. I managed to catch her and she had lost a great deal of feathers but no puncture marks or rips from the fox. She was happily pecking away at mixed corn that I distributed around as a calming and distraction for all the birds.
What I'm so amazed by is that the fox came today on the longest day, when there must be bountiful game else where.

I've kept hens for donkey's years now and only ever had a few attacks and then only either at night when I've forgotten to close a pop hole or in the depth of winter when the fox must have been desperately hungry.


One lucky girl.......

Orchardlady

[New shoot]

Phew...............1 lucky hen    I have had a young fox in the garden recently in broad daylight Orchardlady.  Think it must be about the time they get chased out of their parent's territory and are short of food.

Ours was passing through and not seem him since so fingers crossed for you 

[JaK]

Very very lucky little lady. Glad they were all ok.

[LittleRedHen]

Oh thank goodness you rescued her.  That is my greatest fear!  I've been getting sloppy letting my hens out alone.     I'm back on the boil now!  Thanks for the timely heads up!

[evie2]

Thank goodness you were around orchardlady