Luton Chooks Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Stupidly left the run door open one too many times, even though the hen's area is fenced in and paid the price... Woke up this morning to find all three hens dead, scattered around their pen. My first thought was fox but I'm not so sure now as they were pretty much intact except for all three missing their heads. I thought fox kills were supposed to be a lot more messy with more than likely one hen being taken? Apart from the feathers everywhere these seemed much more clean kills. Does anybody have any idea what may have done this? Not that it really matters because the end result is the same.... I'm just gutted. The hens were "my girls" and its amazing how attached you become. I'm going to clean everything up and get another three but it's not going to feel quite the same. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Sorry to hear it. A very hard lesson learned. It does sound like a fox attack I'm afraid. He very likely intended to come back and stash the carcasses for later use. Some-one or something must have disturbed him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Steve, so sorry to hear about your girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 so sorry, it does sound like a fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Steve, what a horrible thing for you to find. So sorry about your girls. I have a friend who keeps chickens, turkeys and ducks on a smallholding - he says the fox always takes the head first and will then come back for the carcass so almost definitely a fox attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Oh I'm so sorry to hear about this... It has not happened to us yet, but I do get nightmares about it at times, checking first thing in the morning that the chooks are fine... Really sorry to hear about your loss, it is very upsetting to lose them like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keanie Bean Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Oh thats just horrid, poor you and poor chooks. I'm really sorry sarah.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I'm sorry to hear that Steve. I've found that the best remedy for lost hens is to go right out and replace them. If it's any consolation, I still cry if one dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 what sad news and horrible for you to find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 oh my goodness how awful for you Steve Druid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 How dreadful for you Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Sorry to hear about your chooks Steve. Foxes are everywhere at the moment. Most wild animals will instinctively bite the heads off prey as it is the fastest way to kill an animal and also least likely to spoil the rest of the carcass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Sorry to hear about your poor girls, Steve. Does sound like a fox attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luton Chooks Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Thanks everybody for the kind words and advice. We're just going to get three more hens asap. So used to having the chooks around and although the rest of the family are gutted, I feel more upset because they really were my hens. They worshipped the ground I walked on to the point it became a running joke that they would here my voice and come legging it up the garden - especially Clarabel who was the original Omlet chook. I hope I get the same rapport with the new ones... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 good luck with your new girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 (edited) Thats very sad news indeed. I'm pleased you already feel you will get some more though. Sending a hug. Edited April 23, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Really sorry to hear about your hens, hope the new hens take some of the pain away. Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Oh no!!!!!! Thats terrible!!!!! Poor you. HUGS honey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylay30 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Heads missing sounds like a stoat to me. I think they are more blood suckers so bite the heads off and drink the blood (Sorry to be so descriptive) Was there much blood around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 So sorry to hear about your girls Steve. I'm sure the new ones will love you just as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 That's awful - there do seem to have been a lot of fox attacks lately, it's the time of year for it. So sorry - I think you are right to get new hens straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ana's flock Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Sorry to hear about your hens - I just thought the fox got one of mine and I was gutted! (she just hid behind some shelving and I couldn't find her). It's lovely when you get the tame ones that follow you and let you hug them. I got a lovely Brahma just like that. I hope your new ones are sweet and friendly too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-xJuliex- Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Dreadful news, I'm so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luton Chooks Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Jerry - interesting you say that re: stoat. That was my dad's guess rather than a fox. There was very little blood around - if any in fact.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...