hilda-and-evadne Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Might sound daft but my chickens were my little bit of "normal" every day in a busy and stressy time - I don't know what to do. Was planning my walk in run, but too late for these two - my first chickens, really lovely and much loved. When I lost my first two - to a fox that got into the run, and I was only just too late to save them - my overwhelming feeling was remorse at having failed to protect them. Please don't beat yourself up. I really believe now that losing hens to a fox is an almost unavoidable part of the "learning curve" when you first start keeping poultry. One never knows how fox-proof a run is until you put hens in it. I started to feel better only when my new hens arrived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 All these accounts of fox attacks are really upsetting, I really feel for all of you. So far no sightings of Mr F here but I'm sure he's around. These accounts are a good warning for us all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepops148 Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 I am overwhelmed by all your positive messages of support, thank you. I am still incredibly sad and weepy, but know it will pass, and I will feel better when I get some new girls. To Aunty E, I'm so sorry for you too - it's just the grimmest of things for an animal lover. keep chatting - I am finding the forum very helpful at this time J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepops148 Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 So sorry to read about your fox attack and the loss of your girls. My seven week old chick died last night in her sleep. I have cried all night. But reading this, I cried even more for you. Bless you. Thank you Maureen, that's really sad news. The seven weeks will have been happy ones though if you are so caring. I am consoling myself with those thoughts at the moment - mine had a huge run with big conifers and log piles to scratch about it, and a little treat like rice or oats or peas everyday. Like the others say, we do our best for them. Jx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Well we're getting a walk-in run. I'll be sad that they don't get to come out in the garden so much, but it's the only way I think and we'll make it lots of fun for them. On a brighter note, baby hen reappeared the morning after, when we were feeding the girls. She's only tiny, so maybe she flew into a tree Might rename her Lazarus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Oh, that's good news, Aunty E. I have never, ever looked back since getting my WIR - it makes looking after the hens much easier, quite important for you in your present condition I'd have thought, and I think they are much happier in there; they free-range whenever I can let them, and when they are in there they have different levels, branches to perch on, things hung up to peck at and so on. I'm sorry you've had to buy one because of these sad losses, but I guarantee you won't regret getting one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Sorry to hear of your tragic loss. Chin up xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I have lost 2 flocks to the fox- both my fault- not locking away in time. The fox is a highly evolved predator/scavenger. They are very territorialand opportunist - but only doing what Mama Nature intended. They patrol and WILL know where every hen owner lives in their territory, so one lapse by us and the inevitable occurs. Having said all that, mine FR from dawn 'til dusk all year, its a chance I take 'cos I think they are better for it. Only one one occasion have I seen a fox in daylight. Well just about 5.45am over a year ago. It was obvious he was a male and prolly the alpha male in the locale. I chased him down my garden, in my slippers and dressing gown, screaming like a girl. He cleared a 6ft fence like it wasn't there, not seen him since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Oh Julie, I've only just seen this thread and I'm so sorry to hear about your very sad loss My heart goes out to you and also Maureen and Aunty E as well It's so blooming sad when we loose one of our girls isn't it. We've also lost two in a very short space of time. Lottie had a nasty bacterial infection and then Cottie last weekend died very suddenly it would seem in her sleep We just felt so very shocked and numb when we found her and like you Julie, I found it really hard to get the image of her out of my mind We've now got two new girls to keep our remaining Omlet girl Dottie company and so far, so good We're new to chicken ownership and it doesn't half seem like a rollercoaster ride at times doesn't it. Sending you all lots of love and hugs xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I have lost 2 flocks to the fox- both my fault- not locking away in time.The fox is a highly evolved predator/scavenger. They are very territorialand opportunist - but only doing what Mama Nature intended. They patrol and WILL know where every hen owner lives in their territory, so one lapse by us and the inevitable occurs. Having said all that, mine FR from dawn 'til dusk all year, its a chance I take 'cos I think they are better for it. Only one one occasion have I seen a fox in daylight. Well just about 5.45am over a year ago. It was obvious he was a male and prolly the alpha male in the locale. I chased him down my garden, in my slippers and dressing gown, screaming like a girl. He cleared a 6ft fence like it wasn't there, not seen him since. Oh Steve that's so sad to loose two whole flocks Hopefully when you chased Mr F that did the trick though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I chased him down my garden, in my slippers and dressing gown, screaming like a girl. It did the trick though - well done!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Jane Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Sorry to hear about your fox attack. I think a WIR is the way to go - I am saving every penny at the mo for mine. I keep 3 L Sussex in an eglu classic with extended run. Sometimes I feel guilty if I have been unable to let them free range for a day, but I always make sure I am in the garden when they do. Having read this post I shall continue to only let them out when I can be around. Better safe. It just goes to show you can never let your guard down where Mr F in concerned. Sending hugs..xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepops148 Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Hello all, Thanks for your support. Been absent for a while, but now have three new girls - collected last saturday, and a walk in, electrified run! Posting more shortly for help with sniffles and settling new hens in. Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Congratulations, wonderful news . Can't wait to see your new girls and their WIR . What have you called them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Very sorry to hear about everyones recent losses very sad no matter how you lose them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Hello all,Thanks for your support. Been absent for a while, but now have three new girls - collected last saturday, and a walk in, electrified run! Posting more shortly for help with sniffles and settling new hens in. Jules I am so pleased that you have gone on to get new girls after all the heartache that you have had. All the best with them in your new WIR and, as ANH has said - we are waiting for the piccies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Great news so pleased to hear it, Alli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 So sorry to hear that as you can see, all the omleteers on here are thinking about you. xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Jane Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Lovely to hear about your new girls, please can we have pics of the WIR and ladies ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Hello all,Thanks for your support. Been absent for a while, but now have three new girls - collected last saturday, and a walk in, electrified run! Posting more shortly for help with sniffles and settling new hens in. Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 so sorry for your loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepops148 Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Hi everyone, I love it on this forum - such support and excitement! So, for all those interested, the new girls are called Alice, Livvy and Emma - after my best friends. Settling in well, though LIvvy has popped back to the farm for some antibiotics after having developed some kind of cold - hope to get her back this weekend. The farmer was great actually - he was going to just swap her, but I said I wanted her back when she was better!I am hoping he will drop her off this weekend. He did laugh though when I said how it seemed like fate that she had been picked out to come to us and then to end up back there and possibly as a meat bird - he was just like" we don't eat these ones, they are all boney!" I will take some pics when it gets light and post asap. The run doesn't have a roof, but it's electrified to about 4 foot, so hope that will do the job! Julies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Oh Aunty E, how awful - and I'm so sorry for your loss, Julie and Maureen. This is the downside of keeping hens, but please don't be put off. It's why mine stay in their run all the time unless I can be in the garden with them, they do now have a WIR but before that they were in the Cube/Eglu run. I'd rather they were in there all day and safe, than take risks with free-ranging. It may mean less freedom for your hens, but they will still be fine and have a happy and fulfilled life. The last thing you want to do after this is go out and get more hens, but give it time and you will feel ready to get some more. That's exactly what we have to do as we have a local fox, it would just worry me all the time if they were fr'ing on their own, they are fine though they love it in their run and also love coming out to fr when we are with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
