Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Alis girls]

having read the fox attacks and felt for the victims who lost chickens, ducks buns etc I am now felling very uneasy. I had read thread on leaving chucks free ranging whilst you work but wont be doing that after today. My girls Eglu back was open this lunchtime so they could FR in their little cordoned off area not fox proof and our elderly 3 legged rabbit was on the lawn in his run - YS said suddenly "fox" my immdiate reaction was its a wind up - lived here 5 yrs and never seen a fox but this brute was huge. He was the size of a terrier and had a huge tail. He eyeballd me as I opened door and then had nerve to pee on lawn and ran off. The hens were silent - I dont know if they thought it was a cat as several besides our 2 pass thro garden but the rabbit was pressed up against the wire. He was shaken and I put him back in his cage. Tonight he is old hutch in garage as I worry as friends rabbits and guinea pigs were dug out of hutch over night. I was told hens normally honk in terror my 3 just stared. I have left lemonade bottle (empty) for male urine - kids faces a picture when I told them I wanted their urine Our cat this afternoon went and peed on the same spot on lawn that fox had - battle of wees. I am so cross as my girls wont be getting so much freedom as I let them FR when I'm in kitchen but will be sitting out in garden watching over them. My OH said hes marking his territory - well hes not gonna win. Sorry re rant

[Janty]

Glad to hear the fox didn't attack. Well done to your son.

[cooker]

I rang our council fox line last weekend, they had a recorded message that said at this time of year fox cubs are leaving their mums and finding their own territory...so you may see more foxes around now...I had rung because we had a horrific experience last saturday...

...it was 9am sat am, I had just let the girls out to free range in the garden and gone in the house to make my cereal, planning to go out and sit outside to eat it (this was before the weather turned!)...Id been out of the garden what 3mins, when I heard the girls squaking...I know that sound...fox! panic panic with 6girls free ranging and fox on the chase...I ran out into the garage, 3 of the girls were in the garage, the fox came running into the garage to chase...it was epic! I managed to get the girls out of the garage AND bash the fox on the head with the broom, I ran the girls down the end of the garden to their run...did a head count....1...2....3...4...5.. "Ooops, word censored!", wheres audrey!!!??

 

I ran back towards the garage/house, I found audrey in the kitchen, she'd been chased by the fox out of the garage and into the ajoining kitchen the fox...was in the lounge!!! It was horrific! Porr audrey was terrified, she had done a massive poo in the kitchen bless her! I swept her up, she was completly unharmed, I shut the door to the lounge (didnt know what else to do!) and ran down the garden with audrey to lock her in with the others...by the time I got to the end of the garden I could hear crashing/bashing in the lounge, I was screaming 'theres a fox in the lounge!' to my poor boyfriend, still in bed! Luckily we have french doors in the lounge, so I opened them and he flew out, but destroyed the lounge! knocked over things, photo frames broken...he'd cut himself on the glass and there was fox blood up the walls! And the smell!>? it STANK of fox...gross and utterly terrifying. I had to tidy up, we had to leave at 3pm to go on holiday!

 

 

So, a warning/def a wake up call. I am now terrified to let me girls free range, even with me in the garden and have been too scared to leave the garage door open in case he comes in the house again!

 

Rachel

[sari]

yep...I agree with the term wake up call...after not seeing a fox for some years, we lost poor Selma...she'd run off and hidden, and Mr Fox got her.....so no unattended FRing, or leaving the Eglu open in the WIR unless I'm sure its utterly fox proof...it's just not worth it....

[migsy]

Awful! The chooks were lucky! Dreadful to have one in the house!

[Alis girls]

yes I know - I am so glad my son saw it as it would break my heart to lose any of the girls and our dear rabbit who has been with us years and we all love - he definately would have been taken first. So sorry about your ordeal Cooker and glad your ladies are ok if not in shock.