Tiggy Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 i was just doing some potting up in my polytunnel so let my girls out into their fenced off area next to the tunnel to have a run around and within minuets heard terrible noises a young fox has killed 3 of them & saffey is lame. I have put her in my cat carrier & brought her inside I'm not sure she will survive. I'm seriously considering taking up my farmer friends offer & letting him shoot the fox. I cannot believe that this has happened again, broad daylight & me nearby, we used the omlet netting to keep the girls out of the bushes & a fox watch &. still it has happened, maybe I should give up on chickens, but I love keeping them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oh no you poor thing. Is Saffey alright? she will probably be rather shocked, so you are doing the right thing keeping her in and nice and warm, rescue remedy may help if you have any? Sending lots of hugs. Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 (edited) Oh how awful for you . Poor Saffey. I hope she survives the attack. Bringing her into the warm house is a good idea. If she's sustained any injuries such as puncture wounds from the fox, she ought to see a vet as fox's teeth are absolutely teeming with bacteria and wounds, no matter how small, can become infected, bless her little heart. Everything crossed for Saffey and I'm so so sorry about your other hens . Edited February 10, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I am so sorry to hear this, what a shock for you. I do hope Saffy will be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 Saffey does not seem to be bleeding any where, poor thing laid an egg just when I picked her up, she is is so bald still, she just looks so frail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 How awful for this to happen to you. I hope Saffey gets through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oh my word...what a shame. I am sorry. I would get the farmer to shoot the fox after this. His place will be taken by another one eventually, but this one is a menace, so bold , in broad daylight with you close by. It might be an old one who can only manage to kill sitting targets. Don't let it put you off keeping chickens. Maybe you could think about having a large walk in run instead of letting them free range, although of course you will want to gather your thoughts before you make any decisions. I hope poor Saffy gets over the shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 sorry to hear your sad news. Egluntine's advice sounds good to me. I hope Saffy pulls through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 So sorry to hear about your girls, fingers crossed for Saffy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 So sorry to hear about your girls, lets hope Saffy recovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 I've managed to get her to drink a little but shes not eaten anything, no poo either, she does not seem to have broken anything she can move her legs but cannot stand on her right one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oh Anne, I am so sorry to hear your news. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Saffey pulls through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oh God how awful.... and with you so close too! Saying a little prayer that Saffy recovers from the shock and her injuries are not serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 we are in a suburban area with farmland not too far away does anyone know if I have to get permission to shoot the fox in my garden? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 that's very sad, you'd think with you being right there AND a fox watch AND it being daylight that they would be safe! So sorry and sad for you I hope Saffy pulls thru, I too will be keeping everything x'd for you xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I am so so sorry to hear your awful news . What a horrible shock for you. It's really scary to think the fox will take hens even if you're right there. I hope Saffy pulls through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I'm so sorry to hear that Probably best to have a word with your farmer friend re shooting the fox. He should know whether it is an area where you can use a gun (proximity to footpaths/houses etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 I'm going to ask my dad to speak to our farmer friend tomorrow, this is the third time in 6 months that I have lost hens, we were not sure it was a fox at first because they just disappeared & my farmer thought it was a buzzard. today the girls were just left lying there I suppose because I was out of the poly tunnel so quickly. This fox is a menace & not frightened of people at all, it was laid out on our drive one night recently when OH got home, it did not even move when he drove up, it got up & wandered off only when he got out of the car. i think that foxes are beautiful creatures & I have watched the cubs play on my lawn a few times in the past. But I thought that they had moved on because I had not seen them for a few years. i cannot believe that i am contemplating shooting one. OH is not keen on a walk in hen run but I'll try & persuade him, we have plenty of room. my friend is a new hen keeper & has had an enclosed run already, her OH is retired & is now more into chickens than she is. I really wanted my ex batt girls to be able to live as natural a life as possible but it does not look as if that will be possible now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I just got the March country file magazine, which included part 3 of their keeping chickens series. In that they talk about foxes and say do not put chickens out in open runs Jan - Mar as this is when food is scarce for the foxes and they have cubs to feed. Even so I cannot believe they did this whilst you were so close - I will be worried to leave them for 5 mins now! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 So sorry to hear about your girls, how sad and shocking for you. Hope Saffey makes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 I feel so sad for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oh Anne, how awful for you. I think we all feel like crying too. Your fox is a menace and if you can get rid of it, I would, horrible though I would feel about it. It is true that another fox will move in, but a 'Pest control' man told me that he kept chickens for years and lost some to foxes. In his opinion some foxes have a killer/hunter instinct and others are really not too bothered - a bit like cats. I'm not suggesting some foxes are safe but that this fox really has a killer instinct. The one that moves in may not be as aggressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 So sorry to hear that Anne. Give it some time and see how you feel. If they give you pleasure, then do consider getting some more. They have had a lovely life out of those horrible cages. C x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Oh Anne I'm so very sorry I do hope Saffy pulls through..........sending ((((hugs)))) to you both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 aww big hugs to you and i hope saffy pulls through. dont feel bad about the fox attack, you obviously did everything you could, that fox was just particularily determined. i think you should keep keeping chickens, especially ex batt ones, even if they only live a shirt time out of those cages it is still a rich and fullfilled life which they never woudve expeirienced if you hadnt rescued them! i can sympathise greatly, ive had a few of mine got by fxes, another very bold one, and i was going to give up at one point but the chickens bring me such happiness, it was worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...