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

[FiggyPudding]

On Saturday evening at 7:30pm, my hubby went to lock up our 4 girls. He realised one was missing & found her still warm body at the end of our garden

 

We have 2 foxwatches, which the fox appeared to ignore as there was a trail on feathers to her body. The other 3 girls are ok.

 

I let them free-range, because I would rather have then happy & out foraging, which they love. They put themselves to bed & I lock them up asap. I was away this weekend & hubby is gutted.

 

Noddy was a beautiful maran who had a great life with us & she was my favorite.

[Janty]

So sorry to hear about Noddy.

 

[Patricia W]

I'm so, so sorry.

 

Is it worth giving some feedback to Foxwatch? It's not the first time I've heard of foxes ignoring them so it might help Foxwatch make them more effective if they get to hear of times when they seem to have failed.

 

I let mine free range just as you do, and they put themselves to bed - so it could easily have happened to me.

 

Tricia

[Space Chick]

Sad news RIP Noddy

[cluckingmad]

So sorry to hear that - your poor hubby must feel terrible Small comfort I know, but she obviously had a good life with you both, much better ot allpow them to be hens and have a good life, as opposed to them being shut in a cage all their days *hugs to you both*

[greenfreek]

Aww thats terrible.

**Hugs**

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a shame, I'm so sorry . That's exactly what we do, allow them to freerange and put themselves to bed - it could have happened to any one of us .

[chick wiggle]

Ditto ANH, mine are outside right now having their last half hour outside before i shut them in the run for their bedtime corn.

Im so sorry about Noddy RIP, but try not to feel to bad, again, it could happen to any one of us. *hugs*

[Egluntyne]

That is a shame.

 

I let mine freerange,but I make sure they are locked in their run before nightfall, because once the light drops below a certain level, they can't see well and might not find their way home. Perhaps this is what happened to your girl.

[Karen & co.]

So sorry to hear about Noddy

 

Karen x

[cathybc]

Sorry to hear about Noddy x

[whoopsie]

So sorry to hear about Noddy. I lost my two exbats this morning when a fox managed to get them from inside their cage (they were in a puppy pen for the intro period). It's so scary how fast and devious a fox can be, though i'm consoled they can't get in the eglu or run (I can see where they tried).

[cluckingmad]

Oh Whoopsie, thats awful, you must be gutted Urban/sub-urban foxes are even more cunning than rural ones in my experience, and a lot less afraid of humans.

 

At least the eglu is safe.. you're all in my thoughts tonight.

[chick wiggle]

Oh how awful Whoopsie, so sorry.

[whoopsie]

Thanks guys, it's devastating, I was so excited to get them yesterday. I've just locked the other two up in their eglu for the night. They won't like it but tough!

Edited October 11, 2009 by Guest

[JanTheDiver]

I am sorry to hear about Noddy, I feel for you both.

[sparkysmum]

So sorry to hear about your loss. So sad. Thinking of you all. Ax

[FiggyPudding]

thanks all for your kind comments.

 

The remaining 3 where ushered into their wir just after 6:30pm & then I closed them up as soon as they went to bed. Night seems to be falling very swiftly here.

 

They always went to bed without any trouble & I believe Noddy was taken because she always settled in the front by the opening, she was also quite big, so am wondering if the fox heard my hubby & dropped her as there was no easy way over the fence with her

 

She is buried now.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Figgy Pudding & Whoopsie, very sad news and a timely reminder given the nights are drawing in so quickly and temperatures dropping, so making the fox a more deadly adversary

 

RIP Noddy Glenda & Rose

 

Sha x

[Groovychook]

So sorry to hear about Noddy xx

[purplefowler]

Really sorry to hear that, horrible thing to happen, but thank you for sharing it. It is wake up call to all of us who let them got off to bed and then shut up everything abit later.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Sorry, horrid thing to hapen

I've got into the habit of shutting my lot up an hour before dusk in the hope I might make them eat more of the "proper chicken food" that they hate.

I have on occasion let them put themselves to bed only to jump up after it's gone dark, having forgotten to shut them up. They've been safe but there for the grace of God go any of us.

[Barkisland]

So sorry for your losses ladies.

A timely reminder, for which I thank you. I have become a bit complacent since I got the electric fence, but now the nights are drawing in I feel I need to be more vigilant.

[eggregiousness]

I am so sorry Figgypudding I had no idea Mr Fox came out quite so early. I am currently fitting an automatic pop-hole door to my Chicube as I don't use the run at all. I will have to be certain to get the timing right. Apparently you can set the light sensitivity. I hope Mr Fox has the same light sensitivity settings

[CluckyBucks]

Im so sorry to hear that what a shame it ignored the fox watch

 

xx xx