Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[kids-cats-chicks]

hi, i just thought i'd see if anyone can help. i let my 3 girls out yesterday(gingernuts-had them from omlet 11 june 2008 -summer ,rosie and daisy) at around 12 o'clock, always keep an eye on them but around 1.10pm i noticed some feathers at bottom of garden, then noticed a fox with one of my girls in his mouth,i ran out screaming like a mad woman,he dropped her and went out next doors fence with me throwing slate at him.picked up my rosie, other two had vanished(could only remember running past summer), placed rosie in washing basket with towel as she was bleeding abit, went to search for other 2, found summer hiding under patio table ,put her in pen for safety, then couldn't find daisy , i was crying/screaming for 15minutes looking under every bush, rattling her mealworm tub(they always come running for that), still not sign , then looked in conservatory, there she was hiding behind one of my vases on floor (untouched but shaken), put her in pen with summer gave them some treats.husband came home by then (as rang him hysterical), he looked under rosies wing torn all her skin and no feather at all, also couldn't put any weight on her leg,also where crop is there was a bit hanging out so rang a different vet(ours doesn'tknow about chickens).she said can put her under anasetic(wrong selling i know) then they can see whats wrong,we picked her up last night at 7pm, vet said next 12 hours are critical , if she makes it thru night them a really good chance of being ok. MADE IT thru night,she slept in a very large cardbrd box with lots of bedding in warm front room, took here to vets today for her injections (another 5 days left), but what i am asking help for is that i have to keep rosie on her own till she is better/stronger as vet says other girls might be nasty to her(which i thought about anyway), but do you think i will beable to put rosie back in with them say after a week and they won't peak her (she is not top chook, she is 2nd in command).will rosie be ok by herself till she is better as it is strange for her ,hoping for suggestions.also what other food can i tempt her with she has, chook pellets, corn,mealworms,spagetti,rice, salad,brocolli,sweetcorn,sorry it so long, but wanted to explain what happened, P.S girls not allowed out UNSUPERVSIED NOW

[Macfoy]

Rosie will be fine going back with the others, they will remember her, especially as you only have 3 birds.

 

Sorry to hear of your experience. You are really very lucky to still have all of them as foxes often bite the heads off first.

 

Shock is the killer (unless the head has gone) which is why Rosie needed to make it through the first 12 hours, she may be on antibiotic for any potential infection in the wounds. The others would be suffering from shock to, but have probably got over it now.

If something like that happens again, and this is important for everyone. No matter how worried you are - don't go shouting. The chooks are already stressed enough, without an unusual noise to contend with. Just search quietly for any survivors. If you can't find them then sit quietly and wait, if they are around they will eventually come out of their hiding places.

 

You need to make sure your hen hut is secure, foxes can dig and bite their way into what you think is a secure house and run, they have strong front legs and will scratch relentlessly until they have pulled off wire, or broken through the wood.

 

Do I speak as if I have seen what they can do?

 

Macfoy

 

Sorry forgot your last question. Rosie will start to eat when she is feeling better. Tempt her with treats if you want (it will probably make you feel better) but remember they are just treats, she's all shook up and stressed, calm and quiet is one of the best cures.

[Plum]

So sorry to hear what has happened must have been so distressing and guess Macfoy is talking good sense but can understand why you felt so anxious. Hope it never happens to me.

 

Good to hear she is still with you. I would put back in the run but divide it so they can't peck her wounds. There are some threads showing how you can do it with canes. You can use purple spray to disguise the red of the wounds to make them less tempting.

 

Good luck with it

[sandyhas3chucks]

how horrid.

Just to say that shouting to STOP the fox is fine. It does seem to have worked for a few.Agree then to try and be calm to reasuure the poor girls.

So glad they survived though...

so many fox postings of late

[skye]

Really sorry to hear about your awful experience. I don't really have any knowledge of what to do in these situations, but just wanted to say I hope you and your girls get over it all quickly and that Rosie makes a full recovery.

 

skye x

[Chicken Shirl]

So sorry about the fox attack. Awful for you to see that. Hope Rosey is better soon. {Hugs}

[kids-cats-chicks]

thanks all for your replies,rosie is doing ok visting the vets for antibiotic injections everyday (till this wed), still not putting much weight in her left leg (thats where she has had all her stitches(under her wing) ,hopefully it justs thats its painful at moment and nothing more serious - aren't they a worry

 

summer and daisy seem fine, they have laid eggs no problem, having some extra treats. rosie laid a soft shell egg the day after it happened,but no egg yesterday, but i know she has been thru alot.

 

she has a make shift run in our front room,but we are going to take her out in the garden to see her friends this afternoon (watching them all the time). i am very wary of every noise now and its a shame my girls won't have the freedom they are used to.but better safe than sorry,i want my girls around a long time and i know i have been extremely lucky this time.(mr nasty horrible fox won't get another chance)

 

will try and put some pics on of my girls if i can work out how to do it.