4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[HasSumAmi]

Two o'clock in the afternoon... The girls were free ranging near the house. Suddenly my youngest daughter (she's six) shouted "FOX! FOX!"

 

A fox had Ginger in its mouth and was running off down the garden. I ran out, screaming "Get off her! Get off her!" like a mad woman. My son grabbed a stick and joined in the chase. The fox dropped her - thank God!!!

 

Both girls let us pick them up and hold them. I think they were really glad of the safety of us. We brought them into the house to check them over.

Ginger's fine - the fox didn't break the skin or anything, although feathers were everywhere.

 

I sprayed Rescue Remedy on to some sesame seeds and gave it to both of them. We gave them some raisins too.

 

We have them back in the run and I gave them some corn on the cob - which they've eaten.

 

They seem OK, but any tips on anything else I can do would be welcome.

 

I just thank God my youngest spotted the fox. If she hadn't Ginger would be dead!

[Leicester_H]

Glad she's OK- What a shock.

 

Just proves that in some areas (mine included) you just can't klet them free range unattended even for a minute.

 

Well done in preventing any real damage.

 

H

[HENthusiastic]

Oh MY GOODNESS!

How scary for you and your girls. Good on your daughter, and son. I hope they are both getting their favourite teas tonight!

I'm so pleased ginger is okay. I can't offer any tips I'm afraid as I've only had my girls for four weeks. But I'm sure somebody will be along soon with some good advice. It sounds like you've done a good job so far. It sure is scary all this fox business. Didn't your girls make a noise? I have always felt reassured by keeping a window open and assuming that I'll hear them squarking if theres any trouble. Hope they are settling back into their afternoon okay. Id guess its a good sign that she's eaten.

[LJ's Chooks]

Lucky escape HasSumAmi

 

Sounds like Ginger is ok, but thank goodness the fox was spotted. Maybe you should change Ginger's name to LUCKY!!

[Keanie Bean]

That chicken definately needs a name change to lucky. I bet you are pleased you got out there in time.

 

Sarah.x

[ajm200]

How scarey. Just keep an eye on them and give them lots of TLC.

 

I hope you're all ok and not too shaken by the experience. It sounds like your daughter is a real hero and deserves a big hug

[Egluntyne]

Oh heck...that was close.

 

I'm afraid that you will have to be extra vigilant now, and stay with them when they are free ranging, as the fox will remember and be back.

 

Get a man to "water" the grass around the garden as the scent is supposed to put foxes off.

 

Maybe you could invest in a **Foxwatch**.

 

I have one and think they are effective, although I would never rely on it totally.

 

Good luck...I hope Ginger is not too badly shaken.

[MariaB]

Oh my goodness. What an awful thing to have to deal with. We are getting our chickens at the end of the month and was planning to free range them but we are quite rural so now thinking maybe not. Some one said that human hair is a fox deterant. Maybe go and get a bag from your hairdresser and tie it in as many places around the garden. Do you have any dogs? Would they put off a fox from entering the garden. Only thinking this as we have a dog and hoping she would scare a fox off so I can free range my girls.

[Janepie33]

I'm so glad your story had a happy ending. The same thing happened to me a few weeks ago.

Luckily I was in the kitchen and heard an odd noise at 9am. I looked out to see a fox with Bocket in it's mouth. Like you, I rushed down the garden, yelling and the fox dropped the chicken and jumped over the garden wall. I waded through the pile of feathers and got the girls into the Eglu. After coaxing Bocket out to check her over, I noticed the fox, still sitting in next door's garden about 3 feet away from me, looking rather cross to loose it's dinner.

Bocket had a tear about the size of a 50p piece in the skin on her back, so I took her to the vet's to be sewn up. She was completly unfazed by the whole experience and even laid an egg while at the vet.

 

I won't let the girls out now, unless someone is in the garden with them. I now eat my breakfast in the garden with coat, hat, gloves and a blanket. Roll on summer!

 

I have just asked my 17 year old to 'water' the garden for me tonight. He thought it an odd request. I'll just have to have a party and provide lots of beer......!

 

Jane

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

We saw 2 young foxes on the lane outside our house the other night. It shows yu can't take any chances. Your little boy deserves a medal for alertness and quick thinking

[Snowy]

What a lucky escape!

This is the time of year when vixens have cubs to feed, so they do become more daring and I remember this time last year there was an increase in the number of fox attacks.

[Christian]

Really glad that Ginger is ok.

 

That was a very close shave.

 

I would bring them in tonight and keep them warm. They respond well to heat, so a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel with be nice and comforting for them both.

 

A cardboard box with a lid and airholes, somewhere quiet for the night.

 

I would put the eglu roosting bars in the box, so that it is familiar to them, plus would give them something to 'hold onto'.

 

All the best

[abwsco]

OMG you were so lucky. Hope your chickens are OK after their ordeal.

[Karen & co.]

Gosh what a shock I'm glad Ginger is alright, and weldone to your little girl for raising the alarm

 

Karen x

[Jane 20]

We had s similiar scare earlier in the year - one of our girls was carried off but dropped when OH chased the fox down the garden. Her neck had a 4" tear and was sewed up by the vet, she was a bit shakey for while but started laying again after about 4 weeks (she did lay one egg the next day but I think that was already 'on the way').

So glad Ginger is OK it does make you v nervous about letting them out. The OH did 'water' the grass for a few nights after and we are now building a walk in run for them.

[Sarah B]

How awful!!!!!!! I'm so glad she is ok Must have ben a terrible shock for you all - sending hugs x

[Abbey Road Girl]

Wow, there's a test of the cardio-vascular system for all concerned--an so glad no loss was sustained. Kudos to the chicken guardians!

 

I have tended to avoid sitting in my back garden in recent years due to houses being broken into, but I can see that the chooks will mean a change in life style! I wonder if a personal alarm would be effective against foxes. Does anyone want to hazard a guess?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh my word, what a fright you must have all got . I'm so glad she's OK but you'll have to be so vigilant from now on.

 

A man regularly "watering" the garden and a foxwatch might be in order.

[HasSumAmi]

Thanks for all your replies. It was a really shocking incident and I think the chickens have come to equilibrium faster than I have. I shouted so hard that my throat has been hurting ever since. I don't recall much, it all happened so fast. One minute I was eating lunch, the next minute I was down the other end of the garden.

 

I ran back to Ginger and she had sort of "sucked herself in." Her breast bone was really sticking out. It was if she had shrunk with the shock of it all. (She's puffed herself out now though).

 

The thing was - the girls were actually on the patio right outside the door. The fox must have come a good 70-80 feet down the garden by stealth. There were feathers all over the patio, and my daughter said she saw Ginger jump.

 

The girls didn't make any noise at all - so no alarms from them. The fox must have crept unseen right down the length of the garden.

 

I have been letting them free-range when I am in the kitchen/dining room. We have large windows and patio doors looking out ,and myself and the children are always looking on. I thought that would be sufficient - but obviously not! The girls will be confined to run unless I can be out there, but to be honest, even if I had been out there reading a book as I often too, I don't think I would have heard the fox. But maybe it wouldn't have come if it had seen a human??

 

My six year old - the one who spotted the fox - said that she first thought it was the neighbour's cat (it's an orangey colour too) but then realised it was a fox. I just thank God she had the good sense to scream out, otherwise Ginger wouldn't definitely have been lunch for the fox. She has been designing fox proof fences all afternoon, and is a little stressed by it all.

 

Anyway - we are just so grateful that both Ginger and Omlet are OK. It really could have been a truly awful incident.

[Olly]

What an awful shock, and a lucky escape. I'm afraid this confirms my view that urban foxes are so bold, you cannot take any chances with them.

 

In rural areas they seem to be more scared of humans, but if you live in a built-up area they are already used to them, and in some cases of course they are GIVEN FOOD by humans. I have had a couple of near misses, although not as close as poor Ginger's, and now I won't let the girls out unless I'm in the garden.

 

Invest in a Foxwatch, I am convinced it's made a difference. I still won't leave them out unless I am there to supervise, the fox needs to know you are moving around and active - just being in the house isn't enough unfortunately.

[redhotchick]

HasSumAmi, What a shock! Glad Ginger is unscathed. Like you I have patio doors and large windows. I am often out with them, but not all the time. Very worrying.

[Trixabell]

So glad Ginger is okay, we saw a fox crossing the road when we got back from the vets with gwyn last night, the first thing i did when i got indoors was put gwyn down and run to the back door to make sure the other two were okay safely tucked in their hutch!! its my first thoguht every morning and my last every night!!

[hillfamily]

That was a close one - hope they and you are both OK today and you have all recovered from the shock