Storms and chickens

[HennyPenny]

Just started the half-term morning telly watching and was horrified to see someone rescuing and hand-rearing baby foxes - ahh, cute and then releasing them into the countryside -arrggh, horrifying!

 

Since we've had chickens and ducks I really can't stand foxes and I certainly don't like the idea of people rescuing them! Am I being mean? Is it rational to feel so antagonistic towards one species? I love stories about rescuing other wildlife and would have been touched if they'd been hedgehogs!

[Ziggy]

I personally find that foxes, as living beings with their own instincts and so on, should be equal to other species in any rescue efforts... many animal species prey on other animals, being hunters and carnivorous, and that's just the way life is. Obviously we get sensitive about this when the animal in question preys on our dear pets, and are as stubborn and efficient as some foxes can be, but that's still only their nature and instinct, not an 'evil' thing.... I'm sure more chooks get killed and eaten by people than by foxes... fair enough, foxes steal our chickens rather than breed and consume their own, but then that's the only thing they can do...

There have been a few discussions about this in the past, with people very divided about the issue...

[Guest]

I have been pondering how to answer this but Ziggy has summed up my feelings perfectly so I'll just say, hear hear!

[Paola]

I must say that I do agree with Ziggy, well said

[Olly]

yes, well said Ziggy!

[Tessa the Duchess]

Yep, have to agree with Ziggy. Actually I rather like foxes

 

Tessa

[HennyPenny]

Oh no....just me with the irrational feelings towards foxes then

[Ziggy]

I'm sure it's not just you...

I remember my dad hating cats for ages because he kept birds... and well cats do tend to prey on birds.... he tended to be rough and somewhat cruel to any cat stepping into our garden, and that used to upset me... then somehow he ended with four cats of his own, and suddenly his thoughts about what is acceptable to do to cats changed immensely... though he was irrational enough to say to me 'my cats don't chase birds'

 

I understand how protective one can feel of one's pets, especially against a predator that can appear so destructive and so ruthless in it's killings... I would be terribly upset to lose my chooks to our foxy visitors... but I can't ever stop remembering that foxes act on instinct, not on reason and deliberate lack of compassion... we need to not see them with a human side, but just for what they are, a wild specie who needs feeding too.

 

 

Other people have expressed angry unkind feelings towards foxes before you, don't worry

[Lesley]

I agree that they should be accorded the same level of care as any other animal - I love to see foxes in the wild.

 

What upset me was that they enticed them out of the holding cage by using what looked like day old chicks

[hillfamily]

mmmmm a very tricky subject.............

 

I have always loved foxes and I always hate seeing one lying dead in the road. Many Foxes have had their habitats invaded by humans and the ever increasing amount of houses being built in areas that were once semi rural and this is having an effect on their behaviour and what they are having to resort to, to survive.

 

Having said that if the fox that visits my neighbours ever attacked my girls, my feelings for it would not be same :?

 

I think it is perfectly understandable that if your chooks, your pets, that are loved and cared for, are attacked or are under threat you will not welcome with open arms the predator.............In the same way that I love cats (having 3 of my own) but don't like one particular cat in the neighbourhood who has for 4 years waged a bullying campaign against my Jack Cat.

[clucky1]

I used to work with the 'rescuer' about six years ago. She was a civilian member of staff in the police. I can remember her 'many a time' having done a night shift and then going off out to rescue something without getting any sleep. Although I am not entirely sure about the 'foxy' bit - She will rescue anything. In fact my cat came from her - it was found as a kitten in a cardboard box under a bush in collier-row. (I have deviated a bit) Anyway just wanted to say it.

[Egluntyne]

I love to see them in the wild, but not in my garden.

 

I think it is fair enough to rescue and release cubs in the same way that badgers and hedgehogs or any other wild creature would be treated.

 

What I do object to are these idiots who leave Tesco value chicken breasts on their patio to entice them into their garden.

 

To me a wild animal should be just that...wild.

 

If it can't feed itself and its family, then nature will take its course.

 

The only exception in my book, would be wild birds.

[clucky1]

I entirely agree. I can remember where we used to live the lady next door used to feed 2 foxes eggs 'every morning' as if they were pets.

Although I woudn't want harm inflicted on a fox (still don't like them) I think that this is just cruel and totally against their wild nature.

[Martin B]

I agree with Ziggy. Well said.

[Eyren]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Ziggy as well - I don't discriminate against any wildlife (except minks, which aren't native and should never have been released into the wild by well-meaning but stupid animal rights activists ).

 

Foxes have adapted extremely well to suburban living - if we provide a source of tempting live food so that we can enjoy fresh free-range eggs, we can hardly blame them for having a go as well! Mind you, round here they have so many rabbits to feed on, they don't usually bother to investigate suburban Cambridge (though there are some in the city centre, probably coming in via the railway embankments).

[muzzie]

I also have to agree with Ziggy

 

We have fox here as well and I really enjoy watching them in the wild. We had a family last winter under our garage the kits were the cutest little things and so curious. They would watch me walking around the yard and with little effort I could have touched and fed them. However I feel that they are wild animals and should remain so. They are benificial here as they help to control the rodent population. I have prepared my yard with a 6foot fence to keep my dogs safe we also have coyote and will keep the hens in the run if I am not able to supervise them if a fox should take any this is not the foxes fault but would be my fault due to neglience. All wildlife has a place and a purpose we can't fault them for what is their nature.

[Tessa the Duchess]

The foxes in London are totally fearless of humans. They stroll along the pavements without a care One of the reasons they find living in a big city so easy is the amount of old take-away boxes that just get dropped as litter grrrrrr don't get me started about people that drop litter, still containing old burgers and kebabs, easy pickings for urban foxes. I do everything I can to protect my chickens, but if they do get killed by a fox, it's "Ooops, word censored!"odies fault, just instinctive behaviour.

 

Tessa

[Roxanne]

The only problem with this morning's programme was seeing the released foxes being fed dead chickens before they left their enclosure - talk about giving them a taste for our girls before they leave..........

[jak]

The foxes in London are totally fearless of humans. They stroll along the pavements without a care

Tessa

 

See my new post 'Hello Mr Fox' - s/he just came out of the fog, across the driveway, over the bridge and across the other side of the stream - quite a big fella - paid no attention to the girls in their run - but sure s/he must have clocked them at some point!

[clucky1]

I am just SOooo excited about a 'transatlantic' chat on Mr Fox ! - An American Fox - Great!

[Egluntyne]

This is the time of year most likely to see foxes taking chickens, the cubs are born between Jan and March, when food is at its most scarce.

 

We must all be extra careful.

[jak]

Hope my Eglu run is safer from Mr Fox than it is from Mr Rat!! I'm afraid we have had to dispense with 2 of them over the winter

[Omletina Kyckling]

Hey Muzzie, I love your chickens' names!!

Great to have somebody from across the Big Pond on here!

Back on topic, I have mixed feelings on the fox front - I would never want to see them persecuted as they are beautiful creatures but I'm never sure about the efforts made to keep wild animals alive when Mother Nature would have them die. But then again, I don't want to see them die either. It's a tough one.

[Beauty-Box]

I love foxes! They are beautiful and at the end of the day they are part of nature, and deserve to be helped as much as any other animal. If you don't think they should be helped because they kill chickens, what about cat's, they kill so many birds and small animals. I found my cat torturing a baby sparrow not so long ago . She's also killed a robin, a vole, a greenfinch, mice, a beautiful turtle dove, more sparrows and she has a big bell! It's not like she doesn't have enough food! I do however sympathise with those who have lost chickens to foxes.

[Cazz]

i have to say i dont mind the foxes since it is only nature, but i dont think i could quite tolerate them if they were to get into my chicken coop or my ducks.

 

However, in the 7 months ive had them ive yet to have any proof that a fox has even entered my allotment. the only preditor ive had is some kids who not only broke into the old mens cabins and killed their chickens, but then tore the front off my duck house and shot them. I'd rather the fox or stote had gotten them than that.