Mrs

[sadietoo]

Returned yesterday evening about five o'clock to find that my run cover (shower curtain) had been shredded...really ripped up and spat out all around the eglu. also the fox had managed to get the skirting plastic off ( the wind barrier I put on to keep them dry and warm ) Because we are still at the "getting to know you" stage I had left the girls with bamboo canes dividing their respective ends of the eglu run..but obviously the attack was very scary so much so that they put aside their differences because Kipper had managed to squeeze through the tiniest gap to get down to the Eglu end of the run.... At first I couldn't see where she had gone to...the Eglu door was locked, and it was obvious that the (thankfully) excellent run had not been breached (no fox could get through that number of run clips and cable ties!!) so it seemed she had disappeared into thin air...checked the eglu..and there she was snuggled up safe and sound...what a relief...

 

Tonight I have got in to find there is a small hole in the run cover....but no other signs of damage...

 

Sorry I know I am get a bit boring banging on and on about this..but with this very cold weather, there is no food around above ground for Mr (or Mrs) Fox in the evening and night time, and so they are getting bolder and bolder during the daytime. If your girls free-range don't leave them unsupervised!

[emchook]

Since seeing all these posts I have stopped my girls FR unsupervised .

Unfortunately that means none at all for the moment !

 

I am feeling less guilty about it as the foxes are having 24 hour parties around here at the moment.

 

Roll on the better weather when I can send the kids out to play. Their noise will scare anything away

[Henhathnofury]

Have to agree. I feel sorry for the foxes but they are NOT having my girls. There was a heron on top of our roof today..the wildlife is really desperate. Yes, it is the time to be vigilant. Foxwatches, men weeing around the place...anything......

[iandjsmum]

Thanks for the warning. I still haven't spotted a fox yet in the garden and am aware it would be very easy to be complacent. I put mine back into their wooden coop (with run below) everytime I go out to get the kids from school. Although they're in a large run I still don't think that is safe when I'm not around. Am I over cautious? Do foxes come right up to the house?

[Patricia W]

Two neighbours within a mile of me were " foxed" yesterday. Two much loved flocks wiped out. I guess the fox population are desperate for food with the weather as it is.

 

Tricia

[joegg]

After Mr fox was chased from our garden he was spotted by a neighbour walking down the road bold as brass mid afternoon.

No free ranging until the weather is better.

[tara]

My friend had all three of her ducks killed christmas eve and the forth duck has never been found.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Phew what a relief......I'm glad the girls are OK, if a little unnerved by the Red Coated One

 

I went out this morning & checked around the runs for footprints & discovered prints across the roof of the , some I think were cats as they were very small and there were some bigger ones too .

 

None of my girls & Berry have ventured from their runs...not even into the snow covered bit near the door in the WIR , so I shut the doors again to keep them safe & threw a load of bedmax in to give them something to turn over & entertain themselves with

 

At least they've all come out of their houses, last year the Orpies refused to leave the until coaxed with copious quantities of corn at about 1.30 on the first day of the snow

 

Snuggles to Pansy & Kipper

 

Sha x