Chicken bald back

[Louise]

Crikey for a few stiches and presumably some ivermectin

[Egluntyne]

Crikey for a few stiches and presumably some ivermectin

He was kept in for a couple of days as there were concerns about the viability of the eye.

[Louise]

Its still mighty steep

 

Mind you I am lucky as I know a couple of vets and can usually get small things done for nowt

 

Know nothing about chickens though

 

When I had the ferret I used to take him to the university animal hospital and they knew how to charge Good vets if you didn't mind the students having a go first

[buffie]

The fact that they were shot doesn't bother me, I totally agree with it . It's just the graphic nature in which C4 showed it. It really upsets me to see any animal, be it a fox or a chicken draw it's last breath in front of me on the tv

 

I understand and I can see that it can be upsetting, I can also see that seeing the deed can be reassuring to us that it is humane. They often offer a warning so I do hope they did.

 

BBx

[red]

I think it was right to show them being shot because it shows you how quick it all was and I don't think most people would appreciate that without seeing it for themselves. The sceptic in me would have also been wondering what happened between seeing them alive - hearing the sound of a gun shot - then seeing their bodies . This way we could be sure how swift and precise the kill was. Upsetting but reailty.

 

Personally, I think more animal deaths should be shown. I have been privvy to very many animal welfare campaigner covert videos and am sure that many people would either stop eating meat or make more ethical choices if they had greater awareness of what bad practice actually goes on. The reality is that people learn from what they see for themselves rather than what they are told.

[chelsea]

The fact that they were shot doesn't bother me, I totally agree with it . It's just the graphic nature in which C4 showed it. It really upsets me to see any animal, be it a fox or a chicken draw it's last breath in front of me on the tv

 

im with you on this, im a huge animal lover and vegetarian. I sky plussed this program, but I think I will delete it now, I dont want to watch it !

[Jools]

It was very well done - well that bit anyway. I was really sad to watch it though - a vixen in cub going to where she knew she would have a good meal and then her mate discovering her body . However, they did show the shots and it was a very quick and clean death for both - unlike many I suspect where the "marksmen" are not so skilled and compassionate. I still found it sad though , but that's because I am an animal lover, which includes foxes, even though as a child we lost nearly all our bantams and ducks in a fox attack (our fault totally as we didn't shut them up that night).

[Basset]

The bit that I found most upsetting was when the fox was trapped in the cage. The quick shooting was much preferable.

 

Although from my own experience of town foxes, getting rid of one or two is pointless as there will always be another one to take its place.

[Olly]

only just got round to watching this, recorded it last night ... it was a bit sad, but the point was made at the end - a few months later, and another fox had come to fill the place of the ones that were shot. They are here, they are more bold and accustomed to people than country foxes, and we have to deal with that problem. Nothing is going to eradicate them altogether.

I am seething with rage at the guy whose chickens were killed - a horrible sight, but he seemed to be blaming the fox for 'bursting through' chicken wire, and not considering whether he could have done a bit more to make the house secure (it looked very ramshackle). Knowing there was a fox around, and having already lost some chickens, it was downright irresponsible to get more without fixing the problem first. Poor chickens.

[Gallina]

If you read about the making of the film, it was entirely staged. Pieces of film of different foxes were used to create the story, which was entirely fictitious.

 

I am sure the chicken massacre was deliberately set up, and that was nasty. Seeing their bodies upset me, but the dead foxes didn't worry me in the slightest.

 

Urban foxes could be eradicated if stupid people stop feeding them and leaving out food in flimsy rubbish bags.

[Egluntyne]

Two things have occurred to me since my last post....one pointed out by a colleague.

1. Instead of filming the chicken being caught, night sights and all, why didn't someone rush out and rescue it? We didn't actually see the death, we were just given the impression that it had perished, so maybe it was pretence, but even so, the poor hen would have been horribly stressed and that is inexcusable.

 

2. The herbert who kept allowing his hens to be slaughtered through his carelessness and refusal to learn from previous mistakes actually says at the very end of the programme that he was annoyed that the foxes had come back, after the shootings and after previous poisonings!!! Whilst I am not a lover of the Urban Fox.........

IT IS ILLEGAL TO POISON FOXES

It is a crime against the Wildlife Act and can result in a heavy fine or a jail sentence.

Have dashed off a complaint about these two points.

[Jools]

AND securing their chickens, rabbits, etc etc properly

[buffie]

Anyone want to contact defta, the person I spoke to did watch the prog so maybe they could do something about it, also irresponsible television progs...wonder if this has anything to do with endemol. They approached me with a hideous idea for a prog, i said I didn't think it was appropriate.

 

BBx

[Louise]

I think it was right to show them being shot because it shows you how quick it all was and I don't think most people would appreciate that without seeing it for themselves. The sceptic in me would have also been wondering what happened between seeing them alive - hearing the sound of a gun shot - then seeing their bodies . This way we could be sure how swift and precise the kill was. Upsetting but reailty.

 

Personally, I think more animal deaths should be shown. I have been privvy to very many animal welfare campaigner covert videos and am sure that many people would either stop eating meat or make more ethical choices if they had greater awareness of what bad practice actually goes on. The reality is that people learn from what they see for themselves rather than what they are told.

 

I think you are right red but it is possible to be an animal lover tollerate seeing them die and also be comfortable with eating them we are designed to be omnivores and I personally have seen animals being killed in abatoirs and have dealt with it Maybe I have a stronger constitution than most

[The Dogmother]

Just like me then Louise. It's part of life's cycle after all.

[red]

Sorry I prob didn't make myself clear - I meant it would stop people eating any old meat if they saw what goes on.

 

I was vegetarian for about 14 years because I didn't agree with many farming practices and was too poor to acquire meat that I was confident had been reared and killed in an appropriate way. Also it was few and far between and I didn't know the local farms when I was away from Devon.

 

Funnily enough it's only since I got the chickens, and with a better income! that I started to eat meat again just over a year ago (there is an earlier posting on my decision somewhere) Now that I'm back in Devon I have plenty of options for well reared meat.. I don't eat much - and I have only limited it to pig and chicken/turkey so far, but I would like to try some lamb again.

 

At the end of the day (sorry did I just say that? I HATE that expression ) I can see everyone's point of view on this one.

[Louise]

No offence taken red I just get frustrated by society feeling that things are 'icky' and not wishing to accept what happens

 

I think people should associate the shrink wrapped lump of flesh in the supermarket with the actual animal and the whole process

 

Which is not a problem here

[bronze]

I didn't watch it. I was away.

Do I take it two foxes were shot because some idiot didn't care for his chickens properly. If you leave a £20 note in the street someone will pick it up. What do they expect?

Urban foxes are a problem but the real problems are people. Maybe they should leave all the foxes for a bit til the stupid idiots realise the problem they are creating and do something about it. Then they could do their mass cull and if people have changed their ways then it should have a dramtic mark on the amount.

I don't have a problem with rural foxes. Ok I live in the country and if my chickens get got I'll be upset and probably swear at the fox but in reality I'll know it was my fault. Foxes are beautiful creatures and have their place in nature, if only we would leave then there.

[Louise]

Well said Bron

[Jools]

Ditto - my thoughts precisely - and much better put!

[Puglet]

Same here.

[The Dogmother]

Me too - eloquency itself!