essexhen Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Well after losing my little Heritage Skyline 'Nissan' last week to a fox, tonight my Silverlink didnt make it home, the White Leghorn arrived home alone about 1.5 hours before sunset, we went to look for the Silverlink and other half found the tell-tell feathers. So now what do we do, we have the problem of only having one hen, who is used to free-ranging over a very wide area all day every day, if we keep her confined to the Cube run - isnt that cruel after being used to constantly free-ranging? if we let her out then she's as good as gone if we get another couple of hens to keep her company then surely that's just making the foxes day and yet keeping one alone is no good. We're so vigilent about getting them in an hour before dark and keeping an eye on them for a good half hour before that but this was well before 7pm and sunset wasnt until 8.30ish, had no idea that this would happen in the daytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I'm sorry about your chickens I agree it is best not to keep one lone chicken. Clearly fr ing isn't really an option. As you know foxes will attack any time of day and now they know food is about ......... Maybe you could supervise a little fr time as a compromise. Or get some electric fencing? Having said that is isn't cruel keeping your chicken in a run. It will take a little time to adjust but I think I'd rather do that than risk loosing her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Sorry to hear about the fox. I think you've acknowledged in your post that free-ranging just isn't an option - it's sad, but it's the case for most of us. It will be hard for you to restrict her, after she's been used to having lots of space, but I don't think it's going to be too hard for her - she will get used to it. Better to be confined in the Cube, but safe, and to have some companions, than to be free-ranging and at risk. You obviously enjoy keeping hens, I'd get a couple more and maybe consider extending the Cube run or having a walk-in run? Three or four hens will be fine in a Cube run however, I had this set-up for over a year with limited free-range time, and it worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerlily Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I am so sorry Your remaining girl will need some friends as she will get lonely... I bought a foxwatch after a potential fox attack. They do have mixed reviews, but we have had no further visits since installing it, but we do live in an urban area and our garden isn't huge. Could you net a smaller area to free range the chooks? Electrified possibly? Also only have supervised free ranging? The other suggestions often given are males "sprinkling" around the garden and human hair being placed around the garden... the scent is supposed to put them off Unfortunately if a fox is determined it won't give up easily As much as I never would hurt an animal, it must be horrible to find a pile of feathers in your garden Take care and I hope you get a couple of friends for your remaining girl (who can all be safe) xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexhen Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Thanks for the sympathy and the advice, I'm still upset about losing the first one, dont think tonight's one has sunk in yet. Netting off a small area of grass in the garden is feasible, would that stop a fox though, wouldnt it just jump over? and wouldnt electric fencing harm the neighbours cats? Re the supervised free ranging, we've never had to put the hens back in the run during the day - they always come back in themselves, if I let them out to FR I'm not sure how I would get them back in, and spending all day following them around waiting for them to wander back isnt doable. We've bought some 'scoot' fox repellent to put down - the Foxwatch seems to have very mixed reviews on Amazon. Rather sadly Nissan's last egg was unusually large, when I opened it, it turned out to be our first double yolk since getting the hens last September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 That's quite sad about the egg! You've had a horrible experience, and it does take time to get over it. Electric fencing is the only safe way you can f/range them - I don't have it because I'd be worried about my own two cats, although I believe they will learn quite quickly to keep away - and it doesn't harm them, just gives a nasty shock. Foxwatch and other repellents are just a deterrent, you can't rely on them to keep foxes away although if it encourages the fox to choose other paths, that reduces the risk. Don't worry about getting them back in - you will need to train them to respond to treats, but they will learn quite quickly. I'd do it when you have your new hens, and when they are still in the run - use a particular call, or possibly have a 'treat' dish which they will recognise, and get them accustomed to having something tasty - a few mealworms or some sweetcorn. They will quickly learn to come running towards you at the signal (I shout 'chook, chook' ). Once they are free-ranging you do the same thing, and then chuck the treats in the run and they will all file in. You don't have to spend a fortune buying things, I save the vegetable peelings, insides of peppers etc as their bedtime treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I think your only realistic option is to get a walk in run. She will soon forget the free ranging if you get her a couple of new companions for her to boss about in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Sorry about your hens. I would suggest an electric fence - that way, the hens can do all the natural things but be reasonably safe. One of my hens was attacked by a fox last week and it is truly shocking. I have an electric fence and I assume that she had flown over the top. The other hens were completely unharmed. I have 2 cats and they have not come to any harm from the fence. I wouldn't worry about the cats at all - they will only get a shock once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 if you have a walk in run you can make it very interesting for them with raised platforms, different roosting areas, dust bath, hanging food/greens, logs to perch on etc. ours are in a walk in run with occasional garden free ranging time when it's dry and when we're able to supervise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billathome65 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I'm a newbie here so am a little hesitant to give advice but here goes. If the Chucks normally had a large area to free range could you not fence off an area large enough so they are still free range but fox proof too? maybe an electric fence? My two are kept in a run but can free range the garden when their is no veg to destroy but we also have 3 ferrets so know all to well the dangers of not having a secure area. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 A wir is a good idea, and very safe. However electric fencing would allow you to give a bigger area (unless you build a HUGE wir ) I have a dog and cat but don't worry about them and the fence. They will only touch it once and it won't harm them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexhen Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Thanks again for the replies, decided yesterday that the leghorn had been alone for long enough so last night went and fetched a lovely speckled hen, the leghorn pecked her a couple of times but otherwise they seem to be getting on. Also reserved another heritage skyline for when they next have them in which will be a week or two, and as everyone knows it's easier to introduce two, so we might well get a fourth when we go back So we will end up with white, blue, brown and speckled eggs which will be nice. I think we are going to need electric fencing though, if we're going to let them out for a decent length of time, unfortunately we can't put a fence round a very big area compared to letting them roam around our place and our neighbours but it's better than nothing. Off to see if speckles has laid for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 If I had a bigger car I'd have gone for this ! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Chicken-Aviary-Cat-dog-run-/250815806726?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item3a65c97d06 on ebay Glad you have some more, you will be able to see things differently when you are over the shock of losing your girls. Did you get your new hens from Hens for Homes - just wondered as you are in Essex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexhen Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 That walkin run on ebay does look a bargain but I'm very happy with the cube. No egg from speckles this morning - still thinking of a name but I took a quick photo. The hens came from hensforthegarden otherwise known as Upsons Farm in Hatfield Peverell, I haven't come across Hens for Homes, but they're very nice at Upsons Farm and usually have quite a few hybrids in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Lovely Glad you decide to get more hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 I know EXACTLY how you are feeling. Lost my Amber girly Bank holiday monday at 5pm - in bright sunshine! My remaining 5 have since been confined to their enclosed run which is about 12 ft long. It's not horrendous as i have perches and other bits to give them some enhancement, but I feel desperately sorry for them as they were used to having my whole garden and beyond. I have flexed the plastic ( which I could ill afford really) and bought 25metres of 6ft high chain link fencing and 8ft posts. Just waiting for my brothers friend to put it all together for me - and in the mean time letting them have the odd half hour out accompanied by me at ALL times. Especially as my OH has seen the evil fox at the end of the garden twice since again in daylight hours. What with having 10 little chicks in a box (4days old - and all 10 eggs hatched!!!) I cannot afford to have anything but security for my babies. Keep us posted on what you do xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 I know EXACTLY how you are feeling. Lost my Amber girly Bank holiday monday at 5pm - in bright sunshine! We had similar with our recently - the only good thing was that she got to see some nice weather on her last day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 So sorry to hear about the fox, but pleased you have some new hens. My girls were attacked by a fox last summer, and they were used to free ranging all day. At the time, I remember thinking it would be awful for them being in the run most of the day........they dont mind at all I got this walk in run on e-bay WIR I am very pleased with it, and more importantly so are the girls.They have an entrance from this into their old eglu run attached to the side. Loads of space, and they even have their own garden bench in there! It is so good to know that they are safe & happy.They still have a good run about when I'm out in the garden. Don't worry about them being unhappy not free ranging - a safe area (electric fence or extended run) with plenty to do will result in some very happy chickens.........good luck, and don't let the fox win!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 "The hens came from hensforthegarden otherwise known as Upsons Farm in Hatfield Peverell, I haven't come across Hens for Homes, but they're very nice at Upsons Farm and usually have quite a few hybrids in stock." You can't live very far from me then! (Goldhanger). I haven't tried Upsons - But I have literally just hatched out 10 chicks from 10 eggs (Yes a FULL HOUSE!) from Gardners farm on the B1026 near Goldhanger. The lady there Sue is really helpful and I walked round with her and collected that days eggs from the hens I liked. (4 Barnvelder, 3 Speckled Sussex, 2 Lavender Araucana's & 1 Lemon Pyle Brahma Bantam). She has quite a few breeds there including Cream Legbars etc and only charged me £1 per egg!! My new enclosure will encorporate my Cube & run along with my Wooden house & run (for the chicks when feathered), so they are doubly safe at night and can let themselves out into the inner runs on those warm summer days earlier than I get out there. Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexhen Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Hi Vicki, I'm in the Ingatestone area, I haven't heard of Gardners farm before, but £1 an egg seems amazingly good. Would love to see a photo of your new setup, We are still thinking of the best place for electric fencing, ideally it would go around the cube and enclose most of the back garden but because of hedges and flower beds I don't think it's going to be that straightforward. Thanks for all the replies, day 1 of introducing the speckled to our white leghorn hasn't gone brilliantly, the leghorn was always the dominant hen and she has been bullying poor speckles, Ive been keeping a close eye and haven't seen any injuries or attacks but my other half has just said that the leghorn jumped on the new girls back and pecked her and that she was holding her foot out like it was injured I know it's early days but I feel quite bad about the new speckled hen, taken out of her home and comfort zone to come and be bullied, she's being very submissive but the leghorn is still feeling the need to stamp her authority We've been offered a cock, I wonder if that's the way to sort out all of this pecking order bullying ? Although I know they're aggro and wake you up early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I thought £1 was good too! I will take some photo's when it's up - was hoping for this weekend but it looks like it might be next weekend now I am going to have it round my 2 runs and it will encorporate a dustbathing area (where the bonfire currently is which they love). It also has shady areas under trees which is essential. I'm going to be giving up my raised bed to the girls and sprinkling grass seed in it once I've transplanted my herbs & Blackcurrent bushes It's a scuffyish part of the garden with a concrete shed base standing area too so they'll have some dry standing in the winter. The OH doesn't mind the fencing going up because he wont have to keep sweeping up after they've been out scratching everywhere...... If you are heading out this way at all you are more than welcome to come and see my girls, chicks & planned enclosure area. Gardners farm is just around the corner selling pol hybrids, Pure breeds and of course the eggs. Just pm me and I'll send you my address. I've got a chicken mad neighbour up the road luckily - but more chicken friends are always welcome Vicki x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
