FiggyPudding Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 So sorry to hear about Noddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Sad news RIP Noddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenfreek Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Aww thats terrible. **Hugs** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 So sorry to hear about Noddy Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Sorry to hear about Noddy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Oh how awful Whoopsie, so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I am sorry to hear about Noddy, I feel for you both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 So sorry to hear about your loss. So sad. Thinking of you all. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiggyPudding Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 So sorry to hear about Noddy xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplefowler Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Im so sorry to hear that what a shame it ignored the fox watch xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
