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margotthechicken

Fox got my girls.

By margotthechicken, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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margotthechicken Chicken Eggspert

margotthechicken

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I have just had a horrible experience. I spent three quarters of an hour talking to my girls, cleaning them out thoroughly, and they were walking round my legs, chattering as they do. I put them into their big run, and went inside. I got to the kettle, put it on and looked out of the window, only to see Mr Fox, greedily grasping Gladys. I ran out, shouting and waving my arms, the fox scrambled over the 5 foot fence and disappeared. I went to the coop end of the run and the (expletive|) fox has taken Kylie. I feel so guilty, stupid, naive and very upset, like I let my girls, and my daughter who adores her Chooks, down. All this happened at 12.30pm, which goes to prove these things are not just night time hunters.

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gir1z Freshly Laid Egg

gir1z

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So sorry for you all.. :cry: .It happened to me too when I was watching from the window..( I posted the experience under fox wars)...Do have a good look everywhere for your missing chook as mine turned up at 9am the next morning with a bloodied back, missing loads of feathers, having survived a night alone in temps of -9. She was missing from 2pm til 9am the next morn. We searched everywhere..but obviously missed her hiding place. she has recovered well luckily. There are other stories here of chooks getting away and hiding so you never know....

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margotthechicken Chicken Eggspert

margotthechicken

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I actually saw Gladys in the fox's mouth, the fox ran off and stopped, dropped Gladys then looked at me, turned and picked Gladys up and ran away. What really gets me is that I had been out with the ladies for three quarters of an hour, and literally walked up the garden, into the kitchen and switched the kettle on, and then looked out of the window, and was greeted by a really shocking scene. Had the fox been watching me? That really is a horrible thought, do they do that?. It must have been very quick getting the first one (which I now know to be Ginger, the baby, and my daughters pride and joy), as I only saw it with Gladys. Eleanor came back from school and tearfully informed me that it wasn't Kylie, it was her Ginger and her Gladys. I'm really shocked and very upset. I know we have only had them for six weeks, but as you know, they really get to you. Thank you all for being so kind. I know you know how we feel. It helps.

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braden01 Chicken Eggspert

braden01

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So sorry to hear the circumstances of this - it must have been awful to see. Blasted cunning foxes. I have a theory that the cold weather, snow and frozen ground has made food very hard to come by so perhaps they are getting more determined at this time of year. Doesn't make it any easier when it happens to you though. :cry:

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margotthechicken Chicken Eggspert

margotthechicken

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Ah, thank you all so much. We all had a restless night, imagining all kinds of beasties in the woods!! Eleanor was off school again today, due to the weather, so she went 'fox print hunting' this morning. The (expletive) fox has been in the garden, but no where near the run or coop, probably to the OH spending the evening strolling round the area, and er... weeing!! This morning we awoke and with renewed vigour, moved the run/coop set up, and dug in a wire skirt and topped it off with paving slabs. I know the fox got into the larger open run, but we have figured that you can't be too secure, and I certainly do not want a repeat of the violent shocking scene I was witness to yesterday. The open run is gone and the girls will now be free range when we are out with them, as I now know that high fences are not enough of a defence against these creatures.

 

On a more cheery note, the remaining girls appear calm and are eating well. Ellie was holding Shirley earlier and she fell asleep in her arms. Ellie isn't sure about replacing Ginger and Gladys, but she felt like that when our old cat Elvis died. But, life goes on I suppose. One thing is certain though, these quirky little ladies get to you very quickly, and they make me feel content just watching them. :?

 

Thankyou all for your kind thoughts, it does help, really. Ellie has been reading your posts too, and the tears have (nearly) stopped.

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