dixie chick Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 We have a lot of feathers scattered around the garden at the moment and yesterday I had a visit from an elderly neighbour who picked up a feather and said wisely 'I see you have a fox visiting.' The quill end of the feather was all split and ragged - and she assured me that this was a sure sign of a fox - chewing on the feathers. This has unnerved me because my ladies insist on free ranging in the garden during the day - and have done so for 18 months with no problems.... Has anyone else heard of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 I had a pile of feathers in the garden (pigeon) a few weeks ago, for which I was blaming the cat, until I realised that there were only feathers, nothing else; the cat would have left some debris. A friend identified it as a sparrowhawk strike, by exactly the same method - a bird of prey will pluck the victim, whereas a fox will chew them, so yes I think your friend is right. The fact that you haven't seen a fox unfortunately doesn't mean that there is not one around. I would be cautious, because there are very few places where there isn't a fox around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixie chick Posted September 14, 2011 Author Share Posted September 14, 2011 They were not feathers from a deceased bird - just feathers from a moult......are you saying that a fox might just have a quick chew on a feather as a pre-taste of what he is really after? The girls are all securely in their WIR by tea-time - so perhaps he visited at night..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Ah, I see - in that case I don't know, but it sounds entirely likely. I've not come across it myself though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 All my girls have tail feathers like that, even the top hen. I did wonder what it was, but I doubt it would be a fox! My hens free range all day as well and I think it would be unlikely for the fox to visit and just nibble a few feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Could one of your hens be pulling them out? I agree I'm pretty sure a fox would have eaten them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Old feathers when they are moulted out are often raggedy (that's kind of the point I suppose!) ... I'm pretty sure if a fox could get near enough to chew the feathers on your birds, he wouldn't stop chewing with just the feathers! IYKWIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixie chick Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 Thanks for you replies everyone! I must admit - the thought of a fox just chewing the ends of the feathers and not attempting a break-in does sound a bit ridiculous .... guess it was just an old wives tale from my neighbour.... but it never hurts to remind oneself that a fox is probably sizing up the joint from his hiding place somewhere..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 No not an old wives tale, but if something HAD eaten a girl you can tell if fox or bird of prey(as posyed earlier) just doesn't apply to molted feathers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
