Stevie Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 (edited) Few weeks ago,a fox managed to get into my garden and sadly killed all three hens.What annoyed me is that they've tried in the past,but my fences are 7ft all way round they've never managed to get it.However,i was under the illusion that 7ft was too high,but it appear not.I have now attached trellis to the top which im pretty sure now makes it fox proof! Anyway,i took a drive over to the poultry dealer at Bottisham and picked up; A Bluebelle,Speckledy,Black Sussex and a White Leghorn. From right to left;Sage,Onion,Korma and Nugget I'll leave them in the Eglu for a few days so they get used to their new surroundings then afterwards reattach the Eglu to the run i built down one side of garden.They should be happy with their new lifestyle! Edited February 28, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Sorry for your loss The new girls are all lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 They are lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Awww - lovely girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 Sorry for your loss The new girls are all lovely! Thanks. The White Leghorn is living upto its reputation for being skittish,but the Bluebelle is the most calm and wasnt scared of my (large) Bullmastiff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 my bluebelle is skittish I remember your Bullmastiff, you'll have to post pics!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 (edited) my bluebelle is skittish I remember your Bullmastiff, you'll have to post pics!!! This is him-Vegas. and with my previous hens. He's a real gentle giant and they never saw him as a threat. Edited February 28, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 he is gorgeous!!! I am totally dog potty How are the new girls settling around him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 he is gorgeous!!! I am totally dog potty How are the new girls settling around him? They dont appear to be frightened of him-except for Nugget the Leghorn who acts like i've just waived a roasting tin at her.I took a gamble here because Leghorns as a rule im led to believe can sometimes be noisy so im hoping she isnt too gobby! My last lot were absolutely fine around Vegas and would even push him away from his food bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 bless him, he is a real gentle giant. I think leghorns can be skittish but not sure about the noise I have never had one. My white girl I had, sadly no longer with us was a Coral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Oh dear - they have Bluebelle's in Bottisham. I have a hankering for Bluebelle's- such pretty hens....Bottisham is close as well!!! Lovely looking girlies Stevie, and where Barry and Primrose cam from originally - bluebelles.....bluebelles...bluebelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 Oh dear - they have Bluebelle's in Bottisham. I have a hankering for Bluebelle's- such pretty hens....Bottisham is close as well!!!Lovely looking girlies Stevie, and where Barry and Primrose cam from originally - bluebelles.....bluebelles...bluebelles I must admit that they are my favourite purely because they're so pretty and different. Go on-treat yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Super photos..love the one with Vegas and the chicks. Kit ps I bought a BlueBelle today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 Gorgeous girls and your dog looks so cute with your chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 Lovely chickens Mine all came from Bottisham (including the Bluebelle ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Hi Steve,Great picture of the chooks (and the lovely Vegas ) Sorry to hear about your other chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I do like your new chickens and great photos. Mine always walk away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipCaldwell Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 i got a bluebelle and black rock recently, and i must say the bluebelle is a lovely bird, the colour is brilliant gun metal grey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Love your photos...Just a word of warning from someone else who has lost chooks to the fox...once they have been successful they tend to put you on their "rounds". We didn't have a fox problem before the first attack but now although we are also surrounded by fences they find a way in and are regular visitors, and consequently I only allow my girls to free range now when I am actually in the garden with them, ( and I understand this isn't even always enough to deter a persistent or hungry fox) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Gorgeous girlies (and hound). Pretty much what we went for on Sunday other than a Skyline instead of the Sussex. Our White seems to think she is Bruce Lee, having been spotted karate kicking the top of the run! Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 This is him-Vegas. Gorgeous AND he's sitting on a WHITE sofa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Stunners Any chance of uplaoding a single photo of your Sussex? Shes caught my eye xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 However,i was under the illusion that 7ft was too high,but it appear not.I have now attached trellis to the top which im pretty sure now makes it fox proof! a bit worried about this. Once a fox has found a food source they come back always to check. What is the other side of this fence? Is there a no dig skirt? What about the gates into the garden? over or under? A fox will dig under anywhere it can, They can actually clamber up trees, Will use ANYTHING to launch from, AND are really agile. from very personal experience I can tell you that a fox can run around a room on the walls about 5 feet off the floor. The cubs will be born soon, so the Vixen is needeing more food now while "in cub" and will be hungry whilst suckling, And then the cubs will want food. Please be very very vigilant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Lovely chooks. Now that's a dog and a half, he looks like a real poppet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 2, 2010 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 Once a fox has found a food source they come back always to check. I know all about their feeding habits and without going into too much detail which could be upsetting to some-i regulary shoot problem foxes for various farmers.I will say however that because they return to a known food source,i use this to MY advantage and i am good at it. The hens are being locked away at night now inside the Eglu as preventative measure,but im confident that a fox would struggle to get into the garden with the additional trellis.The gate although wrought iron has always had weldmesh attached to it (i put it on originally to stop leaves blowing through!) so it couldnt get through that and its concrete underneath so no chance of digging.I've checked the perimeter of garden and there are no holes under the fences. Theres nothing on my neighbours sides of the fences to give Foxes a place to jump over cos i've had a look,but my garden backs onto fields which has always made it a magnet to foxes as they can smell the chooks inside.The fence though has always had chicken wire attached to the bottom and dug 18" underground to prevent digging. Now its like colditz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
