sadietoo Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I have lost my darling apricot chicken Knot today to a fox...the attack happened in broad daylight at 3.00 pm fortunately my son managed to chase the fox off before he got to Kipper, my other girl. I am heartbroken, and so irritated by my own carelessness with them...I should have realised that with all the cold weather an attack in the daytime was more likely, but I didn't step up my guard, and particularly left the 8 ft gate at the bottom of the garden open when I went down to the compost this morning....the bottom of the garden is fenced, but the fences are lower (4ft) and adjacent to neighbouring gardens and obviously that is where the fox has got in... So now I have one lonely girl in the eglu at the coldest time of the year...I am really quite worried about her and am going to take out a couple of hot water bottles later to keep the temperature up inside the eglu ( screw top wine bottles in an old cover which will hopefully be peck proof) I won't probably be able to get the opportunity to pick up another hen until after christmas now...do you think she will be ok on her own until then???? TBH I am feeling like giving her away to someone with hens and selling the eglu and calling it a day....I can't bear the thought of keeping them in all the time..we have now possibility for putting up and electric fence...and I really don't want to lose any more chickens to foxes..I don't care how hungry the foxes are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missus Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Oh dear, I'm very sad to hear about your girl. Mine got attacked earlier this year when I too was caught off guard I thought about giving them up as well, and I think that when I get down to my last one I will give her up and forget chicken keeping. I'm so worried about the fox that it spoils the fun of keeping them. They are now in Fort Knox but when free ranging I'm beside myself and can't relax I saw a sign today at a local farm re POL hens so you could get another one but trying to get them to be friends right off is unlikely. Perhaps someone will be along shortly with definitive advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear about your girl, it's devastating to lose hens to a fox. I lost two in the spring and because I couldn't bear seeing them cooped up in the run, I invested in electric fencing and haven't looked back since. It really does work as I've often seen foxes and hear them most nights (as do my dogs!!). Again sorry to hear about Knot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Sadietoo that is awful news and i feel for your poor gal. I know its easy to say but don't beat yourself up about the gate. We all make mistakes but ultimately we do the best we can for our girls. I'm probably in a quite small minority but I have no sympathy for foxes, mink or anything else that would attack the gals. Around here they pretty much get what is coming to them and sightings are always followed up by our neighbours. Its awful losing a chicken - which non-chicken keepers don't understand - but I hope that you don't give up on keeping chickens. I always look at it that every chicken I keep has to be one less battery hen somewhere. Everyone that has some of our eggs isn't buying battery hens eggs. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear your news, but try not to give up. It would probably be easier to integrate 2 new ones with your single girl. Others have done this so hopefully someone will be along with more help Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Really sorry to hear about this. I worry about our chooks when they are FR at this time of year, and I'd be devastated if I lost one. Please don't give up. I'm sure you can find a solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adt52 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I can sympathise with you. I've recently lost all of my 3 girls. Don't know what happened whether it was a fox or humans, but I am devastated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 so sorry to hear of your loss , if can bear it, try the electric fencing, its had a lot of success stories on here. Big hugs xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Oh I am so sorry for you, how utterly devastating. I understand at the moment you are feeling like calling it a day. But take a few days and have a rethink. Remember, no matter how long or short a time they have had with you, it still is a much happier time than they would of had elsewhere. You have given them freedom, happiness and love , dont forget this! If you can possibly bear it, try and find her a couple of friends, it could possibly cheer you up too. Chin up Hon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 I'm so sorry adt 52...I read your post....back in the summer I lost my two previous girls to a fox whilst we were away in France. It is heartbreaking and you have my heartfelt sympathy. Nothing is worse than an empty chicken coop. I have friends with chooks that back on to open farmland, and they don't seem to have half the trouble with foxes that I've had!!! I've just been out to check on Kipper, she is ok....making those little chook noises to herself that she always makes....I've taken her a couple of glass screw top bottles to act as a hottle bottle and I hope that will be enough to keep her warm....poor little s"Ooops, word censored!". I really don't want to give up keeping hens as they give me so much pleasure, they just are the sweetest thing but I only have the standard eglu run so I'm not sure about two more girls...perhaps I could squeeze in one and a half..will it work ok if they are from different flocks...I mean if I get one more Goldline ( I love their characters sooo friendly and inquisitive) and a bantam of some sort? I do have about ten days off over Christmas and New Year so I have a possibility to integrate. I will never let them free range again unless I am in the garden or glued to the kitchen window....or if I can persuade Mr Sadietoo to install some electric fencing. I really do feel it is the only way forward from here. Thank you for all your kind words and sympathy it means a lot because I know you all feel the same way about your girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlu Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 So sorry to hear your news, the foxes here have become so bold that I recently stopped my girls from freeranging and have them in a WIR which was formerly a cat run, I feel so much more relaxed about them now and they have not put up as much of a protest as I expected. I'm in Burgess Hill and if I can do anything to help please give me a shout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Sadie I am so sorry to hear this rotten news again If you need anything let me know......... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevP Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 So very sorry to hear of your loss, I am feeling jittery now as our girls are out from first light to dusk, but luckily they are on 1/2 acre of garden, I wonder if our two dogs keep the resident fox at bay (and we see him regularly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Sorry to hear your news I hate keeping mine in too (or should I say they make me guilty by pacing up and down and squaking very loudly as if to say you are the worse mum in the world). I do try and lett them free range for about 1/2 hour everyday....longer at the weekend. I've got 4 in an eglu run with an extension and they do seem to have enough space . I think you have to be very careful with mixing bantams and big girls.....intros have to be very slow. Mine have been for about 4 weeks now and although the ex-batts are ok with the bantams when free ranging......the original two just attack them all the time.....consequently I haven't tried altogether in the coope yet. I'm sure you'll be able to integrate with the time off...especially if you can do it whilst they are free ranging. Hope it all works out xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Really sorry to hear about poor Knot. My ex has two hens in a standard eglu and standard run and just keeps them in there - they never come out after he lost one to a fox and although they make EVERYONE who goes in the garden feel guilty actually they're quite happy in there and laying daily. So you could get her a friend or maybe two and just not let them out. Mine only come out high days and holidays - they have got a walk in run but they STILL shout to be let out. But I can't do it during the day and it's dark when I get home. So what I'm really saying is, they don't have to come out every day, and it doesnt' have to be all day. You could keep them quite happily in the set up you've got and let them out if you happen to be out there. Anyway, best wishes BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 So sorry to hear your sad news . I'm sure once you're over the initial shock, you can come up with a plan to keep chickens safely - be it a WIR or electric fencing. I hope you can sort something out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Sad news and horrible shock for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Sorry to read about it. A horrible shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear your sad news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Im so sorry, how awful for you. Dont feel bad, foxes are very crafty things. Try not to lose hope, im sure that chickens are available to buy from farms this time of year if this helps. Plus the extra girls will keep your girl nice and warm. All the best xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
