kitbag Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 (edited) I'm so worried. This morning I went into the kitchen and looked outside, and there was a fox with Hilda in its mouth. Naturally I started screaming and my Mum ran outside to chase away the fox. Luckily, there was no major injuries, but Hilda was in shock. Whilst Mum settled down the other two, I sat with Hilda on my lap. Then I had to go to school and Mum had to go to work so we left Hilda in a warm box in the kitchen. She is ok now, but what if it happens again!? I was so scared and it is all i could think about all day. Thank you for putting up with my rambling!! Any advice for coping with fox attacks and/or stopping it from happening again, i would be very very grateful! Xxxxxxxxxxxx Edited November 17, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 What a horrible shock for you - at least everybody is ok. Obviously you will need to be extra aware of your 'visitor' now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 So sorry to hear of Hilda's attack . Keep an eye on her and lets hope she makes a full recovery. You will have to be extra vigilant now though im afraid as the fox knows..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 do you think that mr fox will attack again!? We are extra prepared now - we have decided to keep the chooks in their run for a bit, just in case. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 I wouldnt let them free range unless you were in the garden watching them. Have you thought about a foxwatch at all? Its not 100 per cent reliable but does help towards steering off the fox. Human hair tied in stockings around the run and getting a willing male member of the family to pee around the run also helps as a deterrent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 it's difficult: you either have to keep them in a secure run all the time, or let them out when someone is in the house and take the risk of fox attack, or let them out for only a very limited time, i.e. when you're in the garden with them. It's hard but you have to balance between their quality of life and length of life; sadly after one fox attack you are likely to be visited again by the fox.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 the other alternative if you can afford it and have the space is an electric fence - we've used this successfully since the spring, when the fox got one. hope Hilda is better and you all are too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smanners Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Oh poor Hilda and poor you! We've got a six foot high fence around the garden and then flexible fencing around the cube for the girls to free range in when I'm around but not necessarily in the garden. Some years ago a fox grabbed our free ranging house rabbit who was outside at the time. Luckily OH saw it happen and the rabbit got away with no injury. Although he spent 3 hours under the bunk bed refusing to come out We have only seen one other fox in the garden over the last few years, but I'm pretty sure though we've seen fox droppings since getting the hens so I think they are lurking about I do worry but accept that the girls would hate to be cooped up in their run 24/7 and therefore remain vigilant when they're out and about. I'm not sure how quick foxes are and like to think I'll get to the hens first if he were to strike I hope Hilda recovers ok . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 What a horrible shock for you all . I'm glad she's OK but you will need to be on the lookout from now on . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted November 18, 2008 Author Share Posted November 18, 2008 I'm just a bit worried that they might go a bit crazy if i keep them in their run for ever, and that it is a bit cruel. I would hate to think they were miserable. There is a garden backing onto ours, and the chooks have free range up to te hedge that seperates the gardens. I think the fox came from there. It was so scary though - i just looked outside, and there was the fox jumping up and grabbing Hilda. I just thought that foxes would never be a problem for us - i know i shoulden't be so stupid and i won't be in future! Thank you for your kindness guys - it has really helped!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx OOOhhhh and Hilda is much better now - just a bit quiet! and she laid a scrambled egg the evening of the attack! Joke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megger Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Hi, First post since taking delivery of our cube & four girls a week ago. All going OK so far...... Sorry to hear of your experience Kitbag. Particularly interested in this post as I got up very early on Sunday morning, switched on the garden lights to check on the cube, only to see the shadowy outline of a fox disappearing over the fence! Yesterday morning, on inspection of the cube, I spy muddy footprints on the roof - bigger than a domestic cats! Well, in a week, this male has become, with our kids, nigh on besotted with the chickens. So worried, not they that will be eaten while inside the cube, but at the the very least frightened with all the fox roof antics, I did the male pee thing around the whole eglu (in private in a jar and then spread around by the way - sorry for detail). This morning no footprints! Not sure if that's the reason, but will continue to mark/protect and keep checking for the roof footprints for now. Will keep you posted Megger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Just a warning re: the wee.... in a nice hot, dry spell in the summer, it will get a bit whiffy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Just a warning re: the wee.... in a nice hot, dry spell in the summer, it will get a bit whiffy! Also doesn't pee attract rats? (According to the producers of 'I'm a celebrity' when Sulu was caught peeing in the jungle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 does anyone kow if ukadex would deter the foxes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistachio Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 never thought of the ukadex being a fox deterrent - interesting thought. Kitbag - I would only let them free range when you are out with them. A fox will keep returning and they don't care much about whether it is day or night if there are no humans watching. It has been known for them to have a go when humans are out but clearly not watching (ie in shed, in veg patch etc with back turned). If you have a decent sized run and give them a good free range every day and put interesting stuff in the run they'll be happy little things. What a close thing! I'm so pleased you caught the fox in the nick of time. I hope poor Hilda is not in too much shock - bless her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 We are now feeding Hilda spaghetti - its the only thing she will eat! So now my Mum is cooking spaghetti every night!! lol as long as she starts eating again! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
