Chicken bald back

[Emily and Nick]

A young fox came into the garden this afternoon in broad daylight, and helped itself to Hazel our Black Rock. I let my chooks free-range at the weekends when we're at home and my mum had been gardening until about five minutes before all this happened. It was right up by the back door as well, the absolute nerve!

 

Luckily my parents saw all the action unfold from the house and were able to run out and scare off the fox before he got a good grip of her and he let go and ran off. She was ok, just very scared and shaken. My other girls scarpered and I rounded them all up and got them safely back into the eglu run.

 

And then the bloomin' fox came back to see if he could have a second go. But they were safe by that point.

 

Phewee. I'm so glad they're alright but now I just think I absolutely cannot let them free-range unless I'm right there with them in the garden. I had two chickens taken by the fox in August and I thought I was being much more careful now, but quite clearly you can't be too careful, can you? I feel sad that they have to stay in the eglu run all the time.

 

Is this time of year when foxes are particularly on the prowl? Hungry for food in the winter months? It is also an urban fox as we live in Manchester, does this make a difference?

[Chicken Shirl]

So glad you were around to save your girl. Don't know a thing about urban foxes, but they look to be great opportunist's. Best to only let them FR when you are in the garden, now that he knows they are there he will be back I'm sure.

[whoopsie]

I'm terrified to let mine FR unless i'm out with them. In fact i'm going to get a run extension so they have a little bit more space to run up and down.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Gosh, that was lucky . I'm glad your girl is unscathed .

[sjp]

urban foxes aren't scared of humans as much as rural ones so you see them out more in the day also this years young have been chased of by the mother by know so are looking for an easy meal

[chelsea]

Sorry to hear of your fright and thank goodness your girlies are ok.

 

The urban fox is very bold so you will need to be extra vigilant now, even when you are in your garden as I remember one Omleteer had a hen taken right from under her nose whilst she was in her greenhouse.

[Egluntyne]

Am glad your hen is OK.

 

Do, please, be careful now, because he will be back now that he knows where he can get a free meal.