Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Cinnamon]

I have just scared off 'something' from attempting to get my hens, at 6am,in the pitch dark & pouring rain!

 

I heard them making the chicken in distress noise - the noise they make when being chased,so looked out the window.First of all I thought I saw a torch beam,as it was moving really smoothly & quickly. So I suspected people trying to steal the hens or Eglus.

I went downstairs in my dressing gown & got my massive torch,& opened the back door,which triggers an outside light.Upon shining the torch down there,I saw EYES!

 

So I called the dog & treked forth.

The dog was pants,she stuck her head out & went back in,as it was raining.

Whatever it was was on the far side on the pen until I got near. No damage that I can see,but a couple of the new hens are very frightened & a water Glug has been knocked off,which they must have done in panic.

All the older hens and the cockerel were still in the Cube,and all 4 of the new young hens were in the pen looking very rattled indeed. One was laying flat on the ground,which I guess must be a panic response?

 

Scary - first time this has ever happened in 5 years of chicken keeping!

[Plum]

Oh heck how awful. The humans with torch going past must have been a coincidence, they wouldn't have had that reaction would they? Perhaps it wasn't torch but a light coloured animal.

 

Hope the new ones are ok now.

[Cinnamon]

Yes, what I thought was a torch beam was in fact a light coloured animal running around the outside of the pen.

Goodness knows what though.....it was very fast,very smooth moving and slinky.

It moved smoothly over a couple of large Belfast sinks I have,without breaking stride.

I truly thought it was a torch beam.

 

Just wish it had been lighter so I could have seen........

[Plum]

Don't know. Ferret or albino anything Could be cat, dog?

[Alis girls]

You are one brave lady - but I would have done the same. Are you in rural parts - thinking big cat? Hope all ok

[scarlettohara]

Poor girls - so scary when they make the panic noise, you immediately think the worse

[tracyann]

Thats awful, is there no where that you can fit a security light? They do solar powered ones these days that may act as a deterent.

 

Glad all the chooks are ok, you were probably more frightened than they were.

[Cinnamon]

Yes,my husband is going to fit a light down there (its a fair way from the house),but not a motion sensitive one,one we can switch on from the bedroom.

If we had a motion sensor,it would be on and off all night,as there is a lot of wildlife here.

 

It wasn't a dog,and it didn't seem like a domestic cats behavior to me.

Something nocturnal for sure. There Have been big cat sitings,and they have been of a sandy coloured beast.........

It didn't seem very large,that said.

To get into my garden however it would have to scale 3 high fences,one topped with barbed wire,or cross a 6 foot wide,deep,fast flowing stream,unless it has another way in.......

 

Thank God for the builder hubby,who builds everything way better than he probably should,& has therefore given me a wonderful fox-proof hen pen

[WitchHazel]

Oh Sarah, that's horrible. Poor you, poor Girls!

[sari]

Oh good lord....I was thinking otter, or mink ..not big cat!! how frightening? We have lots of mink around here, because some were released from a fur farm in the late eighties, and have reputed to have bred....I hope you recover your spirits ok,

Sarah x

[Chucky Mama]

Scary stuff but at least you know that your hens are in secure predator proof digs - good old hubby Intriguing though

[The Dogmother]

Golly

 

I'm intrigued now... you need a night vision web cam!

 

Wouldn't surprise me if it was a big cat - there are plenty of sightings around here too.

 

Want to borrow a lurcher? She'd have it for you

[Cinnamon]

I would have thought a full grown Staffy would have too,but she refused to go out the back door,it was raining so hard.

 

Interestingly the cat came haring in about 5 minutes previously too.........

[The Dogmother]

You don't think it was a fox then?

[Cinnamon]

It was very pale in colouring - pale enough for me to see it from a fair distance,in the dark.

I do suspect a fox,but for the colouring.

I guess time will tell,as whatever it is will most likely be back

Hubby is putting another bolt on the door at the weekend,up at the top,just to be extra safe

 

Had I thought about anything other than a fox when I went to go out & see, I suspect I would have stayed in the house,like the dog did!

[chickanne]

What colour were the eyes?

Some of the foxes round here are quite a light colour and the movement you describe is rather like theirs.

 

Is you cat one of those that is scared of foxes or not? Some cats see off foxes or at least ignore them.

 

Must go and give my pair a cuddle to reassure myself.....

[The Dogmother]

Any paw prints?

[Cinnamon]

The eyes were a very bright green.

No discernible paw prints,but is been raining heavily all night & day here...........but a lovely terracotta planter I had up against the side of the run is all smashed.

It looks like 'it' stood on it & broke it.

[Sam]

Could it be a ferret? A friend of mine had his chickens invaded by a ferret which escaped from a neighbor! It didn't do any harm but just made the girls screech, and woke everyone up Will be interesting to find out what it is...

[Lavenders_Blue]

Gosh, what a fright. Thank goodness for your super-secure run, it must be a reassurance to know that nothing can actually get in amongst your chickens... but still scary though!

I had a chuckle about your dog though, Staffies might look tough but most wouldn't hurt a fly - as yours has just proved

[beach chick]

dont think my labrador would have been much help either! I'm intrigued to know what it could have been, did you get any idea of height or length?

glad the girls are ok.

[Roobaloo]

Yikes!! Glad everyone is safe...if a little shaken!!

 

Depending on the size, my guess would be a stoat/weasel or feral ferret....or a paler coloured fox.

Cats tend to be more stealthy and will abandon/retreat if the alarm goes up...and I'd be surprised if a cat would break a planter and then stay! Whereas foxes and stoats love the chaos as it often means they can snatch a panicked bird...and sometimes a panicked animal will reveal a way in during an attempt to flee...!

 

Definitely get a light installed...perhaps a camera? it'd be useful to know what you're up against!!

[The Dogmother]

I'm itching to know what it was.. you might have me sitting watch in yer garden tonight Sarah!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Ooh yes, I think you need to get some night vision goggles!

[The Dogmother]

I'd have a night vision webcam set up and some bait out for whatever it is.

 

I hope you manage to get photos Sarah.