Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[Mrs Dabooka]

Hello all,

 

I'm new to the site and new to Chickens. Got my first 3 ex batts about 4 weeks ago and all was going great until today. Popped outside today to check on the girls, no girls and a pile of feathers. I was in the house when this happened and didn't hear a peep.

 

After a hunt around for the girls I found one hidding. Checked her out and she was shacken but OK. Found another one laying around on the old railway track. Again clearly frightened, but OK (not somewhere she would normally go). I found another lot of feathers and not another hen. Finally the last Hen (Brenda) returned home.

 

The lack of noise supprised me, there weren't a tone of feathers only a few, but in clumps so it looked like something had attacked them. All were clearly spooked and hid in the coop for a little while.

 

I heard a russelling in the bushes afterwards too. Does this sound like an attempted weasel attack? Reason I think it could be is I have seen a couple in the garden last year and a few hidding along the hedges. If this is the case any advice on what I can do to protect my girls.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Claire

[Egluntyne]

It is entirely possible. What a shame. I'd block the gap at the back of the Eglu, above the poo tray, to ensure that they can't get in at night.

[chicken bark]

The other day I had a Stoat on my windowsill. I am hoping that the electric fencing I have round my girls will be enough to protect them. Stoats can apparently cause a lot of damage so I suppose Weasels are the same?

 

I hope your girls settle and relax again.

[Mrs Dabooka]

Thank you. I hope your girls are OK too.

 

They are a little spooked. But physically appear OK. They just cuddled up in the hen house tonight, when normally they just go to their own little spots.

 

I'm thinking of only letting them out for a good roam when the dog is about he's hen friendly and a good barker. He wasn't out at the time.

[ClaudetteDay]

sorry to hear about the incident.

definitely not a fox?

but it wouldn't surprise me if it was a weasel. they're extremely clever and guile.

 

i remember within a week of having our ex batts, a cat was sitting outside of the chooks run just staring at them...they were completely freaked out.

so we sent out out german shepherd who detests cats and we haven't seen it since

dogs make excellent guards

 

hope you get the problem sorted out.

make sure to keep us posted!

[Mrs Dabooka]

Definately not a fox.

 

I actually have two cats Minnie and Dennis. So I'm hoping they will sort out the little rascal. Minnie is a pretty good mouser and ratter and Dennis is a determine little hunter. He once sat outside a mole hole for 6 hours until he caught it So I'm hoping his determination my prove to be the same with this little terror.

 

Girls are OK, but I had an egg without a shell today, something they haven't done before. They are still spooked. So gave them a few treats this morning. As in warm mash. So hopefully they will settle a little bit. Getting some poultry spice to boost them a bit too after their little trauma.

 

Thanks for the support.