ohcarolina Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Awake as usual at 6 thanks to the alarm (just 5 more minutes) and by 6.10 I could hear Babs one of my new ex-ex-batts (family wanted to get rid of them so they could remodel the garden and then get some more ) sounding off in the garden. She's such a noisy girl! Within minutes I realised this was actually an alarm call so I'm out of bed, downstairs and out in the garden with torch having thrown on a fleece over my knickers slipped the red & black pawprint garden cloggies on, falling over the 3 cats who want to help and then out and face to face with Mr Fox. He runs to escape - right into the Omlet netting surrounding the ex-ex-batts eglu to keep them apart from the other 9 girls - and trapping his snout and paw. He's thrashing around getting more tangled and I'm panicing thinking I'll get bitten if I try and help but not wanting him to hurt himself (why? when he'd happily eat my girls and the rabbits ). Dilemma. Anyway, I dashed in to get a sheet to pin him down and some gardening gloves so I don't get bitten during the release but by the time I come back out (still in fleece and knickers ) he's gone. I did think I should've whacked him over the head with a shovel but I couldn't knowingly kill any animal - even having lost 2 girls to foxes in the last 6 months. I'm so glad I named them Ginger, Babs & Bunty! Thank goodness it was before 06.30 and still dark Oh and BTW, the 7 cube girls just stayed in bed through all the mayhem . Even Rocky the rabbit hid in his drainpipe hidey place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 i have noticed a bit more foxy activity this last week, funny how they get more daring as autumn and winter approach. I have a very noisey Sassy , my welsummer, when anything is around that souldn't be there shemakes sure i know about it day or night. I spotted blood on the outside of the WIR last week, i haven't seen the little black cat that has been getting closer over the last two weeks, i do hope it was only the nose that got pecked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 A narrow escape. You made it come to life with your amusing way of telling the tale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 What a superstar. Maybe the netting incident will put him off returning in a hurry, or at least a repeat vision of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammy72 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 definately more fox activity at the moment, heard one wailing in next doors garden the other evening, sent Harvey-the-labrador out to investigate (he doesn't know the word 'fox' so I just shouted "pussy cat" and he was out there in a flash barking "get 'orf my land!") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Brave woman in knicks and fleece well done you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I am not getting my girls up till nearly 7 now as it is so flippin dark in the mornings now.. Are you in Surrey by any chance? Did the girls come from Bisley? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Yes Sandy - it's me. I'm just in Sussex and they are indeed the Bisley Birds. They didn't have names so I went with the Chicken Run theme. They are doing fine and laying OK if you know their old family (as their old mum did call on their 2nd day). They seem more scared of the cats than the fox - brave girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 no I don't know their old Mum or anything about them except that their Neighbour is a friend of a friend of mine.. small world, but that she was asked if she would take them, but couldn't as she had just taken 3 new exbats. She didn't even ask me as I have just taken on 3 (now 2) unwanted exbats AND 2 posh girls, one with problems and owners wanted better life for them cos they were working too much (thought that before one got iffy) so am pretty full esp as I don't ever see the 2 posh girls mixing.. mean b######### they are I understand the Bisley bods intend getting more exbats when their garden is done , but that they are not pets, just wanted for the eggs expect they would change the dog when it didn't match the new carpets............ NO don't know if they have other pets , but I know this did happen to a retriever! Good on yer for taking them, I rather think there will be lots more similar tales..There were 4 in Camberley only a few weeks ago too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 Do you think that the abndonment of ex-batts will become (or is already) a problem? I feel so sorry for the poor things - I can see me becoming one of these middle aged animal hoarders with hunderes of ex-batts in my 120 foot garden and the cats leaving home in disgust (the girls always try and peck them when they FR ) Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Caroline , I fear it is, I have seen approx 6(not counting our 2) in the last 3 months. It happens with other animals/pets, I guess chooks are no different... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
