sandyhas3chucks Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I just bought a roll of 19gauge weld mesh from Hills of Devon it is 4ft tall they do 3ft. by I think it's 30m for £65 (think or sometjing like it.) they recomend this for fox proofing, also you need to stop them getting under & i think you will now need to have "fort chiken".Now it's had a taste it will keep coming back, how about trying to get some rescue place to catch it & relocate it? unless you can find someone to shoot it! poor you, what a worry. How are they now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Poor you! I've had a brush with a fox and our girls, but forunately a very shy one. I can't see why people think it's a good idea to feed them: most people would be very wary of large, aggressive stray dogs after all. The problem with catching and relocating them to rural areas is that the urban ones are much better at rummaging through dustbins than they are at hunting and winning territory from pre-existing rural foxes, so they generally die when released into rural areas. Also, they're just as unwelcome in rural areas! Activities like that always strike me as being well-meaning but daft. IMO, much better if animal charities use resources for other animal rescues, like unwanted cats/dogs/etc which tend to be more succesful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Poor you! I've had a brush with a fox and our girls, but forunately a very shy one. I can't see why people think it's a good idea to feed them: most people would be very wary of large, aggressive stray dogs after all. The problem with catching and relocating them to rural areas is that the urban ones are much better at rummaging through dustbins than they are at hunting and winning territory from pre-existing rural foxes, so they generally die when released into rural areas. Also, they're just as unwelcome in rural areas! Activities like that always strike me as being well-meaning but daft. IMO, much better if animal charities use resources for other animal rescues, like unwanted cats/dogs/etc which tend to be more succesful. Another issues with urban foxes is their sheer density of numbers. In their natural habitat there territories would only cross at the very, very extremes, and the areas would be much, much larger due to them having to find, hunt and then kill their own food. Whereas urban foxes tend to be more of a scavenger and because food is available much more freely, higher numbers can be supported in a smaller area. Therefore if you remove one fox, by whatever means, another one will very quickly move into the vacated area. The best response from you is to make your chickens and garden as Fox proof as possible, and if you can, encourage your neighbours to ensure that they dont do anything to encourage foxes into the area (feeding them, leaving rubbish around, not securng bins etc). Check boundaries for tunneling, den making and block it all up, etc and if necessary assert your presence (never corner one though or it will have to counter attack just make as much noise as possible from the moment you open the door), I am often seen tearing down the garden, screaming like a banshee and shouting, with a 'weapon' of some description, broom, golf club, cricket ball, which I hurl in the direction of the evil creature. I dont even have chickens yet. When we first moved here about 6 years ago we had serious issue with them actually living at the bottom of our garden. It took a few breeding seasons, with me carrying out the above tactics in various guises, but they stopped coming, now we rarely get a casual vistor but if I see him It remains to be seen how effective it is when I finally get my chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I'm very sorry to here about your attack and loss . I'm a noobe chicken keeper but my neighbour has chickens,ducks,pigeons and pheasants that she has rescued or acquired over the years. We have lots of foxes around our area and our gardens back onto woodland so we see them looking in daily. The bad news is that this fox has now marked your run as a food source and will continue to look for ways in until it is killed or pushed out by other means. Urinating and defecating in your garden tells other foxes to keep away as this is now it's territory. The good news is you can change this but there are no set ways to dissuade them, if you have a dog or a cat and let them up by the chucks this can help. The getting a bloke to take a leak around the borders helps too (if you don't have any privacy then a fairy liquid bottle can be a more convenient way). Fox watch can help. Electric protection is good too especially if they get zapped a couple of times. There are lots more things you can try but foxes are as individual as you and me so some work and some don't. If you get your run totally fox proofed (if that exists ) then this will work too but will not stop the fox from checking your defences from time to time. I know people think foxes are vermin but they have as much right to be here as any indigenous animal (I'm not a tree hugger and have shot a few when they become a pest as a last resort) and I think they get a very bad press. I really hope your girls survive as you sound like a very caring chicken keeper and it be such a shame if this experience has more negatives than positives. I have every thing crossed for you jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I'm so sorry to hear about this, my first few girls were killed by a fox too, it is so upsetting but i have a walk in run now with a roof and I'm much happier, my eglu is inside so | can lock the girls up safely at night, I hope your surviving girls are OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 My god there so clever to look in your house.Hope you get your run sorted my other half said pick up some aris fencing the stuff you see laying next to the roads from the workman as they just leave it laying about.Thats what we have he brought it home from work but we need to do the chicken pen with it as the ducks are sorted now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 thank you so much for all your comments and advice. we took them to the vets. by another [christmas!] miracle saffron and aurora are both fine, barely a scratch, though they are both on antibiotics. poor florence though. we didnt have a good look at her at home, partly because we didnt want to stress her out, and partly because we didnt want to see how bad it was she has a great number of puncture wounds all over her body, though some are starting to scab and heal over. however, on her stomach and back there are 2 HUGE gaping wounds exposing a lot of muscle. we just kept finding more and more wounds and her chance of survival got less and less with each one we found she filled the wounds with a tissue gel and cleaned them and put cream on them. shes probably a lot more comfortable now. the vet was very kind about them and treated them like any other animal, rather than that other vet that snered at us when we brought them in now that we have 2 that are definatly on the road to recovery i now have worries about Mr Fox: the return. i am never, ever EVER letting them free range in an unclosed area again, so they will stay in the small indoor run until we have completely fox-proofed the outdoor one. the thought that it will always be there now, returning to frighten my chicks, makes me really stressed out . if i can ever catch it then i would ask the rspca to come and remove it, so that although there are other foxes around, they wouldnt bother my poor chicks all the time. not sure how i would catch it though will EXTREME willpower ive decided not to blame the fox. i imagine it was hungry, and if food is shoved in its face what else is it to do, but its not like it was emaciated and sad looking. im annoyed at the ineffectivity of its attack, its savaged poor florence, rather than going for the throat to kill her. why couldnt it have killed and eaten one and left the rest alone? so florence has about a 30% chance, bless her, and im not sure if she will make it through another night. saffron and aurora will make it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Hi Likestar I've been following your thread, and was dreading bad news when I saw your post this morning, so I'm extra glad to hear that they are still alive - and that your vet has treated them well. Fingers crossed for them, and good luck. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) [Florence still alive this morning!] Edited December 23, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Hope she continues to make a good recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I am so pleased to read that Florence is still with us. I hope she continues to make a good recovery. You *sound* much stonger emotionally yourself, I hope that continues too. Re the inefficiency of the fox, it probably hasn't had a lot of experience with actually hunting/killing, it will be more used to scavenging. Having more than one bird to chase would have excited it. My gran had chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys when she was younger (fitter and healthier) and I have seen the devestation that a fox attack can produce. You and your girls were lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 So glad to hear that your poor girls are recovering, and I agree wholeheartedly with your attitude to the fox. I lost 2 bantams to a bird of prey and was very upset about it,and I would be equally upset if I lost any of my girls to a fox, but I couldn't blame the predator - it's just nature. I believe that all we can do is try to keep our precious hens as safe as possible whilst giving them as much freedom as we can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 So pleased to hear that Florence is recovering . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Good news glad poor florence is fighting. Chin up girl you are doing really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Gosh, I'm so sorry that you have had to go through this. What an awful experience, but I'm so glad that your girls seem to be on the mend and I'm keeping everything crossed for Florence for you. Sending you hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 So sorry to read about what happened, what an awful trauma for you all. I wondered if Rescue Remedy in water might help, or a drop or two of aconite in the water, if you believe in homoeopathy. I have these things and always forget to try them myself, but some people swear by them. Take care and good luck with your decision making later on. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeastar--x Posted December 24, 2008 Author Share Posted December 24, 2008 thank you for yet more lovely comments we took florence to the vet again. shes definatly perkier but now we need to think about fighting the infections off. it is sadly true that the vet doesnt think she has much of a chance, but he said that it wasnt fair to put her down without giving her a go, when she had lived so long when no-one thought she would, shes clearly a fighter. however, some of her skin has turned green with bruising and infection, and she absolutely stinks of rotting flesh (sorry to be so graphic!!) its really weird but if she had been put down i would be really upset, whereas if we had got up this morning and found her dead i would have been much less so... basically all the nerotic skin is now a bit of an issue. the cleaning and healing process is very long winded. first we have to clean and compress with hot salt water, then clean again with hibby scrub from the vets. then we fill the holes with a tissue joiner, and THEN dab dry and put on a cream which aids the removal of neurotic tissue. shes starting to feel pain again now, and tried to bite me when i did so! fingers crossed for a nice christmas, and even if she does die in the next two days, i like to think shes comfortable and peaceful. have a good christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 Poor little thing . Sounds like you're administering wonderful tlc, so fingers crossed it works and she recovers. If not, you've done as much as humanly possible. I hope she makes it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Poor girl. She sounds as if she has got fighting spirit though. Fingers crossed that your care and attention will help her recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 i have everything crossed for florence. Great news about the other two. have a great christmas jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayo Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Not just like-a-star, you Are a star . . . AWESOME devotion. I bet those who know you well and love you are REALLY proud of you : and rightly so. Have a good Christmas, and a happy and healthy year. Mayo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 well done you for all your tlc. good she fighting though. I rescued a girl that had 3 bites and a hole right through her neck where food & water leaked out, well it did once I cleaned all the green to black stinking gooey absess material from it. but with washing daily with hibiscrub she DID recover well. she looked pretty near to death & boy the smell, so know just what you mean. Good luck! keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Glad she is holding on, fighting Has your vet ever used blowfly Lavae to clean up infected wounds? Its a method that is being used for human conditions and shows great results. Would do no harm to ask. Keeping all things crossed that she continues to makesuch good progress . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Just a Christmas Day message of hope and goodwill to Florence, keeping her in mind, and what a great job you're doing by the sounds of it, hang in there and hopefully she's a tough little bird who will pull through with your help. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 so very sorry to hear your news..... I can imagine what you are going through, It happened to a friend of mine who left hers loose for just 10 minutes and a fox jumped the fence and killed 4 chickens...... Why do they kill them but not take them? Why kill 4 when it could kill just one and then take it to eat, that wouldnt seem so bad. She never ever will leave her hens out now unless they are actually able to watch them......2 were dead with no a mark on them... so very very sad. i hope i am not deluding myself in thinking my girls will be safe with a couple of my dogs to keep an eye on them cos you cant see all my garden from the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
