4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[hilda-and-evadne]

Next door have had their hens for four weeks and have been letting their hens roam round the garden unsupervised, and no fox had been seen - until about 20 minutes ago ... It had made even me relax my vigilance and go indoors sometimes while my hens were free-ranging. Today, though, luckily, I was supervising my hens when suddenly there was uproar - two hens ran towards me, one ran back into the run, and the fourth up onto a shrub, all of them squarking - I jumped up and saw that the fox had come in the way I thought it would one day, springing down fron the roof of a shed in the garden of the non-hen-owning neighbours on the other side, and was crouched ready to leap upon the hen in the shrub. I ran down the garden shrieking, and it disappeared.

 

I went next door to warn them - where the reaction seemed to be: as they could not see the fox there was no fox. They have not put their hens away.

 

There was an incident about an hour ago, when their bluebelle appeared to have flown over a six-foot fence onto waste ground. We rescued her. But I thought then (because of the noise all the hens made, mine included), and am certain of it now, that what actually happened was that a fox grabbed her and dropped her when it scaled the wall.

 

***

 

I stopped writing this because my hens, though safe in their run, started up a racket again. I ran out and there was the fox - despite my dog being in the garden - and there are next door's hens still wndering about, perhaps 10 feet from the fox but on the other side of an insubstantial fence. This time, my non-hen-owning neighbour saw the fox too.

 

I can't bear it, the prospect of an imminent carnage next door.

Edited July 26, 2009 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

How worrying for you, I can understand why you are upset.

 

I suppose your girls will be safe if next door insist on putting theirs on a plate. Small comfort though.

[Olly]

oh gosh - I remember you posting about your neighbours before, and your worry about their hens. I guess it was (is) only a matter of time. The fox will keep trying.

[legend21]

I am sick with worry about the chickens next door, why do people bother getting them it really angers me that these little bit of joy are being given to the fox on a plate. I would be really off with my neighbours if they were so inconsiderate or perhaps I am just too touchy.

 

Really hope it goes well for you all

 

Jackie

[hilda-and-evadne]

I am sick with worry about the chickens next door, why do people bother getting them it really angers me that these little bit of joy are being given to the fox on a plate. I would be really off with my neighbours if they were so inconsiderate or perhaps I am just too touchy.

 

Thank you - I could have written those words ... I am trying to keep the lines of communication open with the neighbours but think that I am being perceived as interfering and over-reacting. It will be hard, though, if the worst happens.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Thank you - I could have written those words ... I am trying to keep the lines of communication open with the neighbours but think that I am being perceived as interfering and over-reacting. It will be hard, though, if the worst happens.

 

We're sure your neighbours will NOT see you as interfering and over-reacting when they lose a chicken (or all of them!). It must be very distressing for you.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have a friend does the same, had her girls just over a year. Is convinced that because trees were chopped down & big workshop built, the fox won't come....

I keep telling her to read the stories on here and at least buy a fox watch to help a bit!

but..............

how scarey for you esp with the dog in the garden too...

[teri]

some poeple just don't take the care of animals seriously enough you have done what you can by warning your neighbour and short of pinching her hens and keeping them safe with yours it doesn't seam like there's any more you can do hopefully some miricale will prevent the fox from striking but it does sound like it's only a matter of time.