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braden01

RIP Clucker & Ginger - curse the hungry fox...

By braden01, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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braden01 Chicken Eggspert

braden01

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Having barely ventured outside their run for the last 2 days due to the snow, I went to let them out this morning to find 0 chickens in the Eglu and then saw feathers and blood all over the snow. Poor chucks! We'd decided a while ago to just let them free-range unless we were away because the local fox had never shown the slightest interest in them and we wanted them to have the best quality of life. After 2 years, no doubt the snow meant that the fox got hungry and decided to take them.

 

Can't work out when as they were fine about 4.30-5pm tiptoeing round the snow. Went out about 9pm to shut them in due to cold (we don't bother in warmer weather) but clearly they had already been taken at this point. Found feathers just outside Eglu so it obviously went and routed them out. So annoyed with myself as I've been shutting them in by 6pm the last few nights to help them keep warm. RIP girls... :cry:

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braden01 Chicken Eggspert

braden01

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It is horrid and my 7 yr old daughter is really upset. My 5 yr old couldn't really care less and was more interested in having a hot cross bun. Thanks for your thoughts - I feel very guilty for not shutting them in sooner but keep reminding myself that they had a fab life and the end would have been swift. Still sad though...looking forward to getting some ex-bats to fill the garden with clucking again.

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mccroft Chicken Eggspert

mccroft

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really sorry, I lost all mine in one attack so I understand how you fel.

 

My 5 year old was the same but the older ones and my two year old were sad.

 

When I went out to open the cube today I saw fox prints all over the top of the run, top of the cube around the cube several sets, from the top of the garden to the back door and around the back of the run and could see they came ovr my neighbours 7 ft fence.

 

I guess they had a good try at getting in the run but since the last attack we have really protected the run against the nasty fox.

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MedusA Chicken Addict

MedusA

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So sorry to hear about your hens. Unfortunately we all find out the hard way that foxes will find our girls eventually. I lost a hen some time ago too. It's heartbreaking and I empathise totally. :(

 

Please don't let it put you off having more chickens, you'll just need to be extra-vigilant now the fox knows where you are. Since my first attack, they visit daily. I just had one in the garden in the last half hour in broad daylight. :shock:

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Cyber Chook Frequent Layer

Cyber Chook

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I'm so sorry, what a shame. I used to be quite laid back about the issue of foxes, even despite reading horror stories here, but since I saw THREE foxes trot into my garden together at 10am recently, i've only let the girls free-range when I'm out there with them. Somehow it seems that it isn't until you see it with your own eyes that you take precautions, and I think I was just lucky really that I actually saw the foxes myself.

 

Your girls had a lovely old time by the sounds of it, enjoying their freedom, which must be a bit of a comfort.

 

Caroline

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Abbey Road Girl All Knowing Superchicken

Abbey Road Girl

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Everyone who has chickens has to decide what to do in a world where there are foxes. There is no perfect answer, is there?

 

In many people's minds, it's better to let chickens be relatively free even when there's a risk of being taken by a fox.

 

At least it would have been fast.

 

But we can always work to improve the chances that our hens will be safe.

 

Best wishes for a safer future!

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braden01 Chicken Eggspert

braden01

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Good news! We are getting 3 new ex-bats a week on Sunday so at least some good has come out of the horrible events of last week. We will be extra-careful about not letting them free-range if we're not outdoors. Oddly enough there have been no more foxprints since he/she took our chucks last week - maybe he / she knows the larder is bare. We might buy a run extension to give them a bit more space but as they have been used to battery conditions, the freedom of the run will be exciting enough for the time-being. Thanks for all your thoughts: I've been really touched. :)

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