Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[Omletina Kyckling]

I lost my favourite hen last week. Åsa was my gorgeous girl and I heard a huge amount of screaming one day....ran downstairs and outside and found her up against the Omlet fencing, flailing around...won't go in to detail, but her passing wasn't pleasant or peaceful. There were a lot of feathers around and also lots of Pia's feathers, and Åsa had blood under her wing. I wasn't sure what had happened and even wondered if she'd been caught in the Omlet netting, so felt awful, blaming myself. I didn't let them out of the run the next day as my remaining 4 seemed quite shocked.

Then my neighbour with the field behind called the next day and asked if I'd lost a hen. She had 14 hens and a cockerel (my Gustav who I rehomed with her) a month ago, then lost 9 hens and Gustav last month, some were marked but many unmarked, probably having died of shock. The day she called, she'd lost 4 hens, leaving one behind. I'm just so grateful I left my girls in!

We are fairly certain we have a rogue fox. She was very upset, having kept hens for decades with very few losses and I was interested with her description "this fox isn't playing by the rules, if you don't shut your girls in at night then you're asking for it, but having them taken in the middle of the day just isn't fair"

I feel heartbroken that my girls will now have to live in their walk in run unless I'm actually in the garden, but I can't risk losing any more.

There's another field of hens across the way from us and we've warned the owner, but she's left them out. It's only a matter of time before the fox realises there's nothing left here and heads that way.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How awful, I'm so sorry .

[Egluntyne]

What a shame. I hope you can sort it. Are your remaining hens OK?

[Omletina Kyckling]

Yes, remaining girls are fine, but fed up of being shut in their run.....they don't seem to understand "it's for your own good"!!

[Chucky Mama]

What a shame Stories of people catching and releasing urban foxes in the country is worrying me

[KimmyCustard]

Om,

 

Its such a shame, but its for this very reason that I dont let my girls out if I'm not in the garden. They have a lovely WIR with electric fencing and I let them out as and when we are home and its not chucking it down. They will have to get used to it! Hope your girls are OK and feeling better.......x

[Plum]

I was thinking same as Chucky Mama They'll get used to it in a bit Omletina and stop making you feel bad leaving them in.