craftyhunnypie Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 My sister was at baby massage yesterday & didn't get back until about 3pm. Her OH had let them out in the morning. She has various sheds & coops in a large wire fenced area - but the other side of the conifers the fence is quite low. Anyway, when she went out to feed them etc she found 8 were missing. On further inspection she saw blood on one of her Aylesbury ducks neck. Also found 2 gingers dead, a wing from one of her pekin bantams, feathers, heads & her silkie cockerel nearly dead. No sign at all of her frizzle mum & her two young 16 week old chicks. She had been well & truly foxed. I was crying my eyes out when she told me & so was she. Her OH had to put the silkie cockerel out of its misery. & was hoping to shoot the fox last night. I know it is nature & she lives in the middle of nowhere - but it's still very sad. If I lived somewhere like her, I'd have a large walk in run with an apex roof & foxproof skirt. I haven't spoken to her today - so don't know which gingers were killed or whether the frizzles turned up this morning. (I doubt it). It makes you thankful for having eglus with fabulous runs! I don't know what to suggest to her as regards getting any more chickens? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 How devastating for her, but like you say it's nature and it's what happens if they free range unattended (I do it, mine are out today and I'm DEFINITELY not out there with them) But I have got a walk in run so mine are only out on occasions when we're in. So sorry for her and her poor chooks BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Very sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Mine free range unattended too Beckyboo. You want them to have the best possible life don't you? We are nearly always around to shut them in at dusk & if not we arrange with our chicken sitter to pop round & shut them in. Although some foxes strike in the day. The fox will always be a threat no matter what we do or where we live - but we can do our best for our chooks by being cautious. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 How awful, I'm sorry to hear that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Terrible for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Devastating, Im so sorry Only thing is to remember they had it so good while they were here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 What a dreadful shame Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 How terrible for her, she must be so devestated Im sure that everyone on the forum who reads this will back me up in saying that we are all thinking of her. xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Oh how horrible, I'm so shocked and sorry for both you and your sister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I should never read these posts,they always make me cry , I am so sorry, your sister must feel dreadful. {{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Thank you everyone! Her OH waited up for the fox last night, but it must have come early hours this morning - as it had dragged off the carcus he had put out. He is going to hopefully get it tonight. The fox has obviously had a meal from the frizzle mum & her 2 youngsters, as no sign of them today either. The gingers it had taken were her favourite 2 - fluffybum & Polly. They used to follow my sister everywhere. They were old girls, but what a horrid way for them to go. The fox had been actually inside her bantam coop. There is a Buff Orpington sat tight on eggs in there & he just left her alone. Probably thought she was already dead, being flat as a pancake. My sister has managed to salvage the bantam eggs from yesterday & will incubate them & hopefully they will be fertile. I really feel for her! I think she is wanting me to incubate some for her - she is so very sad today. Her mother in law is a cold hearted lady (not a nice person). She has just said "that's farm life". She knows that, but they were still pets! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Any normal person will cry - I sobbed last night. I sob at anything to do with cute animals. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Emma, what a horrid horrid tale Huge {{{{hugs}}}} to you and Sis..........and best of luck to BiL tonight Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 So very sorry. Saronne xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 So sorry to hear this news. Your poor sister. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I hope some of the eggs hatch alright, that would be something at least. And whilst I can see why her OH wants to dispatch the fox another one will probably replace him and he's only doing what nature intended - feeding himself. Better to try and improve security for the remaining birds. But like you say it's a juggle, you want them secure but then you want them to have a natural life as far as possible. Anyway, still thinking of you all, BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 If i lived in a more rurel area I would still want my chooks to free range I think it is a risk you have to take for the girls to have a good life. How ever i would have a electric fence that i feel is the only sure way! I am very lucky Mr Fox would have to Jump a house to get access to my girls as i am fully surrounded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 That's terribly sad, your poor sister. Afraid I agree with Becky though, the best thing is to focus on improving security. If they shoot this fox, another one will almost certainly take over the territory within six weeks or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 It went to one of the farm cottages last night sniffing round their chooks - but just killed a partridge & left it for the neighbours to find. I have just been my sister's & she has given me some eggs from her lost chickens - to try & incubate for her. I am also going to incubate some of my frizzle eggs for her too. She has put what she can fit into her incubator. Her hubby is upping security. He is also very good with his gun & foxes. He lost a lot of turkeys one year to a fox. His turkeys were all free range too. Here's hoping I can hatch some eggs for my sister & that they are fertile Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Well done, hope they incubate for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 If i lived in a more rurel area I would still want my chooks to free range I think it is a risk you have to take for the girls to have a good life. How ever i would have a electric fence that i feel is the only sure way! I am very lucky Mr Fox would have to Jump a house to get access to my girls as i am fully surrounded! electric fence only way to go if you're not out with em, Mr fox always about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
