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margotthechicken

Fox got my girls.

By margotthechicken, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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Tiggy Chicken Addict

Tiggy

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so sorry to hear about your girls, I'm sure the fox watches us when we are out with our girls, I lost 3 of mine, i popped into my polytunnel right next to them and within seconds heard a horrible noise, 3 girls dead and 1 injured - 1pm bright sunny Sunday lunchime last year. i never let my girls out of my sight now, and they have a walk in run for when i'm not around

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rosalyndavies Chicken Eggspert

rosalyndavies

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I agree that the only way is to get more hens. They will never replace your Gladys & Ginger but they all have such quirky personalities that they help take your mind off losing your beloved hens. I am the friend of Sue (Blackgold) who lost 4 hens to the fox last year on 6/12/08. It was a bright day around 1.30pm on a sunday, it really has made us vigilent about protecting our hens from Mr Fox. My daughter had been having nightmares about the fox only a few days before, so we decided not to tell her as she was only 5 years old. Within a week we replaced all four, we now have 8 chickens, one more than before the massacre. It took us a couple of weeks before it stopped being so vivid in our minds and now we only have happy memories of our girls & some fabulous photos!!

We are sending you all our good wishes for some happy times ahead X

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Larkspurs Frequent Layer

Larkspurs

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I agree that the only way is to get more hens. They will never replace your Gladys & Ginger but they all have such quirky personalities that they help take your mind off losing your beloved hens. I am the friend of Sue (Blackgold) who lost 4 hens to the fox last year on 6/12/08. It was a bright day around 1.30pm on a sunday, it really has made us vigilent about protecting our hens from Mr Fox. My daughter had been having nightmares about the fox only a few days before, so we decided not to tell her as she was only 5 years old. Within a week we replaced all four, we now have 8 chickens, one more than before the massacre. It took us a couple of weeks before it stopped being so vivid in our minds and now we only have happy memories of our girls & some fabulous photos!!

We are sending you all our good wishes for some happy times ahead X

 

What an excellent post!

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margotthechicken Chicken Eggspert

margotthechicken

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Dear All,

 

What a week! Well I can report some good news. Hazel GNR and Miriam PP have joined our brood. Ellie chose them both, Hazel is very confident, Miriam less so. Miriam actually looks a bit sad, but with some TLC and some of OH's special Chook Stew (doesn't contain Chook, it's for the girls), I'm sure all will be well. Ellie has taken to the new girls well and is mothering them, it's lovely to see.

 

The anti fox measures are in place, and we've removed some screening, so we can see the woods at the back of the house more clearly, we also do 'patrols' daily in the woods, leaving lots of our scent on the undergrowth (OH does special late night patrols around the coop, but I don't think I want to talk about those, it's not polite!).

 

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. Ellie and I have read them all several times, and whilst we are still sad, life is moving on. Lessons learned and all that.

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Old Speckled Hen Feathery Fanatic

Old Speckled Hen

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Wonderful. It's the only way.

When I lost my first three, at night when my chicken sitter didn't secure the door, it was the most awful feeling of loss and guilt at not looking after animals that trusted you to keep them safe.

BUT the way forward IS to get more. I have photos to remind me and the one we found is buried in the garden. She was called Bluebelle and has bluebells swarming over her.

Enjoy your new chooks. Aren't they just such a joy?

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