Stoat killed hens asleep in the Eglu

[Lisa]

I didn't know where to post this but need assistance urgently.

 

My sister has 3 lovely bluebelles and has been looking after our mums four bluebelles while our parents are away . She went over this afternoon to find that someone has been in their garden and turned over a few flower pots, thrown pegs around the garden and had opened the chicken run . It was probably kids who might have thought they were helping the chickens have more space and they left the door pinned open with a dustbin. Unfortunately when my sister arrived there were feathers on the ground . Our parents live in the country and have had a young fox often in the garden trying to get the chickens so that is probably where they have gone. The good news was that when my sister called them one terrified, starving chicken came running to her - she called for ages as there didn't seem to be enough feather for three chickens but no others came .

 

She couldn't leave the lucky chicken on its own and has taken it home but has nowhere to separate this chicken from hers, who free range all the time. Does anyone live anywhere near Wincanton, Somerset and could lend her anything to keep the lucky chicken in until our parents return in a weeks time, as it would undoubtably be attacked by her chickens.

 

People are always so generous on this website and I am sure if anyone can help they will.

 

Thank you

 

Lisa

[Egluntyne]

Gosh...sorry to hear about this. I hope you can find someone to help you out.

 

Please let the police know about this act of vandalism.

[Guest]

How awful! I am so sorry. I'm also sorry that I can't offer any help. I hope someone does soon before it gets too dark!

[chelsea]

Typical, I've got my eglu in use as otherwise she could have borrowed it.

[Lisa]

The Police have been informed.

 

My sister is going to see how they react together once they are roosting - but she is going to supervise this for a couple of hours - I have told her that chances are it probably won't work but alternatively she can keep 'Lucky' in a box at night and put her in the eglu in the day whilst the others free range. She is hoping that if she can get them all to bond so she can rehome all of them together at mum and dads when they return, as they have enough room for 4 and she feels she doesn't have enough room in the eglu for four even though they free range all day - then in the spring she will another 3.

 

I have given her the local animal sanctuary number to see if they can lend her anything.

 

She will ring me later and I'll let you know how things are going!!

 

Fingers crossed.

[redhotchick]

Lisa, how awful

I hope you get Lucky sorted.

[KAZAROO]

What about a dog crate or something- Why do people have to inter*blinkin* fere!!!!!!

[Lesley]

How did it go Lisa? - she may find that it works well enough and will settle down in a few days.

[ubereglu]

Poor thing. I live fairly near to Wincanton and even have a spare coop, but unfortunately it's not really an option to look after her due to our four other hens, as they'd be wandering around and would probably pick on her. Could you try and introduce her to the others? Pop her in the eglu at night-there should be room-then take her out in the morning and put her in a secure run?

[Lisa]

Update:As of last night:

 

My sister did exactly what you mentioned, Ubereglu.

 

Lucky has been in the with the others at night and in the eglu run on her own while the others free range in the day. Tomorrow Lucky is going to be introduced to the most accepting chicken outside free ranging under supervision whilst the other two stay in the eglu run and if this is successful she will try to introduce one more chicken at a time - Tikka, the only chicken to even try and peck Lucky so far, will be last.

 

If they accept each other then all 4 bluebeles will be rehomed to mum and dads together and my sister will get another 3 chickens in the Spring.

 

I will let you know how it goes. so far so good.

 

thanks for your support

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like a good plan.

 

Fingers crossed.

 

Have the police found the culprits yet?

[Lisa]

No culprits have been found but torch lights were seen in their garden again last night and the police were informed. They don't seem to have done anything this time.

 

Lucky is doing well She is being tolerated on the fringes of the other three and is allowed to free range with them. Next Sunday after our parents return we are going to confuse them all by relocating them to their coop and hopefully this will allow them to gel as a new little flock. We have our fingers crossed

 

Thanks for the concern. I will let you know if there are any more developments.

[ubereglu]

I'm glad you've had a good outcome and things seem to be working.

[TAJ]

I have heard (never tried it) that if when they roost you introduce them, but give all chcikens a mist spray of water & vinegar they all smell the same and they are more likely to accepte the chicken as being one of them by morning.

 

Tracy

[Lisa]

Latest Update:

 

My parents haev returned and their remaining chicken and my sisters' three are all relocated to my parents house. Everything seems to be going well.

 

Thanks for all your good wishes.

 

I am so pleased at the successful outcome.

[Nuggywoo]

Just seen this! I'm about 10 miles from Wincanton

Not that I could've offered anything but I would've said to buy a cheap wooden rabbit hutch - I have, to put an 8wk (HUGE baby ) cockerel in for a few weeks.

 

I've got an arc but it's quite big...

 

So pleased everything turned out ok in the end though so sorry for the loss of the 3.