bekibutton Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 OK, a bit of backstory on this.... We've never had a problem with foxes in our garden. Living as we do in front of a nature reserve, they've always been more interested in the ducks and geese than our chickens. However, when the snow was down last week, my dad was alerted by a commotion amongst the chickens to what he says was a fox-like creature in the garden, following which we lost Rosie and an ex-batt called Sophia. There were lots of Rosie feathers and red feathers across the garden. This evening I went to shut the chickens in for the night at about 8pm and there is no sign of any of our remaining eight chickens. Boris the hen laid her egg as usual this morning and there's enough of their food gone to indicate that they were there most of today. Now it could just be that they've all gone to roost somewhere other than their houses because of the bad weather, but I'm worried that they've all been 'got'. We were just thinking of getting a couple more chooks to boost our ageing flock but now there's the possibility of having to buy a whole new flock (after first securing the garden of course). I'm really quite upset All I can do is wait till the morning (the night and the rain are not helpful when searching for chickens) and hope that they reappear. But I will be very sad if they don't. Apologies for going off on one, I just had to share with people who will understand... Becki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 So sorry to hear it. Fingers crossed that they turn up safe and sound in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kez Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Oh no! I do hope they turn up. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hope they come home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I'm hoping they have hidden in the shrubs and bushes to get out of the grotty weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Beckie, am hoping for the best but fearing the wirst Good luck with your marathon training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Oh no . Fingers crossed they're all sheltering somewhere . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Oh dear. I do hope you find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raffik Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Becki Fingers crossed that your chooks will be back and waiting for you in the morning. You must be so worried Please let us know what happens xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bekibutton Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 No sign of any of them this morning You'd think if it was a fox, or even if someone had nicked them, that there'd be feathers all over the place but there's no sign at all...and I can't believe that all eight of them would have totally disappeared. Lucy managed to escape to the orchard next to next door the other day so I'm really hoping the bantams at least might have found their way there if there was a commotion... Not much I can do now anyway, I have to go to work, and keep hoping that they reappear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Oh dear , you must be so worried... keeping everything crossed for you & your girls.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 they turn up for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 oh no, you must be so worried. Hope there's some news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam1 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 What anightmare i hope that they turn up when you are back from work cam mya velma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 got my fingers crossed that they will turn up. Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 oh i do hope your girls come back... Please let us have some good news. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Oh no, what a worry, I do hope you find them asap. Thinking of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I really hope that they have simply taken themselves off to a spot they consider safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Beki, Is there any news this evening? Keeping fingers crossed for you. Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bekibutton Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. However there are sadly still no chooks in the garden this evening. It's a mystery. I'm almost tempted to say they were abducted by aliens! There's no sign of any commotion, no piles of feathers anywhere either inside or outside the fence (we back onto a small field). No pawprints or fox fur hanging off the barbed wire or holes under the fence. I'm starting to think it might have been people - the chooks would be quite easy to take once they were inside their house for the night. And they've *all* gone - I mean, would a fox/foxes take all eight chickens without trace? Or a dog, or anything similar? Thank you all for listening to my ramblings, you must think I'm mad just appearing on the board when none of you have seen me before (I'm a serial forum lurker). I'm very grateful to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I think it was probably a fox sorry We had one take 4 in the middle of the day, he came back for a 5th too. We did manage to get a couple back off him by chasing. But the mad thing was that he didn't leave a trace; he just grabbed chook and ran, came back 20 mins later for next, and so on. Once they discover chickens they are extremely persistent We cannot let ours out anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 oh dear, I am so sorry to hear they havent returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Do check the hedges etc though, you never know, we found one in a dense bush hours after the attack. Fingers crossed anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Bekibutton! Serial forum lurker?..........After nearly 3 years, isn't it time you joined in proper like So sorry there is no news. Will you get some more? Jackiex Edited for typo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I'm really sorry they haven't turned up, I hope this doesn't put you off chicken keeping forever x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
