The A Team Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Can anyone help? I was woken this morning by my children shouting that "snowy" the chicken was dead. Well of course I rushed out to see what had happened. Snowy had been attacked inside the eglu run and really mauled horribly. Her body was at the door end of the eglu but not touching the wire by at least 6 inches. Feathers were spread outside the run, but I cant work out what has done this. The 2 other chickens are ok. We do have foxes in the area so was this a fox attack from the outside, or could a rat do this (never seen one in the garden before though). The only other evidence is that the run shade has been torn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marky mark Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I don't know what it could have been but didn't want to read and run! Sorry for your poor little hen nd I hope she rests in peace and that the other girls are not too traumatised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Oh dear, what a horrible way to start the day. I've no idea what could have killed Snowy. Is there any sign of tunneling around the Eglu or run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 So sorry to here your news I know that nothing is ever 100% foxproof, but I am amazed one could do this without breaking in as such. The gaps between the mesh just dont seem big enough to allow him to do that. Could it be something smaller perhaps a mink or weasel? I hope the others are OK. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Mink! Thankyou Couperman, I've been racking my brains for the last 10 minutes. When I picked up my first chickens, the breeder was was busy trying to trap a mink - she said that you had to watch for mink, as they could get into runs, and would kill a chicken with no problems at all. Perhaps that's a more likely suspect than a fox from outside the run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I am sorry to hear this: it is so awful losing a young, happy, and healthy hen like this. Can a mink get through the mesh? If not, and there is no tunnelling, I would suspect a fox attack. My hen was killed through the run mesh, so the body was on the inside and the fox only managed to pull feathers through to the outside. This proves how effective the skirt is, but I think the mesh is too wide. My neighbour (who was having an early-morning smoke in the garden) witnessed the attack, and although it was all so quick he couldn't do anything, I was very glad he saw it, as I needed to know what had happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The A Team Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 A mink sounds too exotic almost - I cant believe they live around here. We are in the middle of a town. I suspect a fox but cant believe there's so little evidence - the bars dont appear damaged or bent. Interesting you say this is how your chicken died Gallina - I did see a fox in the garden a few days ago but I never let them out except when we are out in the garden too because we lost another chicken about 6 weeks ago whom we had left unattended in the garden. If a fox can get them inside the run what on earth can I do to protect them when I'm at work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Sorry to hear the news. What a shock. What about weasles or stoats. We see stoats from time to time and they are quite small. I think they would get in the run fairly easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I think a double skinned run would do the trick. It would be a bit of a faff on but worth it for peace of mind. I would be inclined to build something that completely covers the run with a six inch or so gap between the two and a skirt similar to one on the eglu run. It wouldn't stop the fox traumatising the hens but it would stop him mauling them through the mesh. You could either fit a door on the end or just lift it off when you want to let them out. Maybe Omlet could look into this and build a stylish double skinned run. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Sorry to hear this - how awful! Could the chicken have partially stuck its head though the bars, been attacked by the fox, and then caniballised by the the other chickens once bleeding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The A Team Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 Oh My God - Cannabilism? I never thought of that. Would they do such a thing? I think a double skinned run sounds like the solution. I suppose it is naive to think something really would be foxproof.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 My bars weren't damaged at all in the attack either. I think the hens in their panic to get away stupidly tried to push their way out through the bars (the one who got caught was always particularly dim, I am afraid) and the fox was able to do the damage through the run. It is a very unusual thing to happen, but I can confirm that it is a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisHapp Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 could a rat have got into the run? I know rats can do a lot of damage to chickens. So sorry to hear your news. MH x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 so sorry to hear that. somethimes when foxes cant get through they get there cubbs to try and get them (i've seen it on nature programs) maybe the fox was training her cubbs how to hunt? or it could be the other chooks being very jealous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The A Team Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 I think the fox + cubs idea seems likely - a 2 pronged attack using the glug water feeder and shade as cover. Such a shame but a huge thank you to everyone who has posted a reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The A Team Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share Posted June 17, 2007 I think the fox + cubs idea seems likely - a 2 pronged attack using the glug water feeder and shade as cover. Such a shame but a huge thank you to everyone who has posted a reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I'm really very sorry to hear about your poor chicken. I wouldn't discount mink. There are actually quite a lot about, and one got a friend of mine's hens only a few months ago. Mink are really nasty and will maul badly. I'm pleased to hear the others survived the attack, but they will no doubt be pretty stressed - not good for chickens so they will need some TLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
