Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Currant]

I had just got my 3 new chickens to go in the walk in run with my 3 oldies last night. I shut the run between the omlet Wir and the cube run to keep them separate but neither group wanted to go into the eglu or cube so i left doors open, run shut which is what I always do. There was a massive scream from one of my oldies about midnight so we run out there to see she had been bitten through the bars while roosting on a chair near the bars! She seemed ok, nightmare to catch as usual but eventually did it and put her in the eglu and shut the door in case the others pecked any blood. Went to bed and didn't hear anything else but then woke to find all the other 5 gone...feathers everywhere but no sign of them. We are all distraught as 3 have only been here a few days and they are only babies...I can only think that I didn't shut the bottom run door properly as it always has slid across and you think it's shut but obviously wasn't, it was so dark. Absolutely gutted. Injured one seems fine except nasty cut in her side. Hubbie thinks we should get some more today as 1 on her own but not sure I can cope.. Kids really upset. What shall I do? Very sad...

[thequietman1977]

Absolutely gutted for you and the kids must be distraught. Such a shame.

 

You any idea what it was? Fox?

 

Getting some new ones wouldnt be a bad idea. Chickens arent solitary creatures, so they would benefit additions to the flock.

[merlina]

So sorry - that must be so horrible

 

I wouldn't do anything immediately - let yourselves get over the shock and your surviving chook recover. She'll be fine on her own for a little while

 

Then getting some new hens will be a lovely thing and not just a reaction to something horrid

[karencopas]

oh no how awful!!

i worry all the time about foxes and other predators and its really hard when the children are so involved. my daughter is loving having the chickens altho its only been a few weeks she'd be so upset if anything happened. i think children can move on very quickly and as its the very beginning of the summer hols it would be a shame not to have chickens to enjoy while off school, but i'd be the same as you and wouldn't know what to do probably if the kids and your husband want to get more thats the way it'll go. good luck with everything

[jackian]

That is so sad and something we all dread. I don't think you should worry about if you shut it properly or not ,it could have still got in .

Thank goodness you still have one that survived I would rename her lucky!

I would certainly get more but wait a few days as your girl that is left will be getting over the shock and will need TLC and perhaps intro ducing new ones today might be too much ..I am not sure .

[Mrs_B]

What an awful situation for you and your family I am so sorry to hear this!

 

Maybe don't do anything too hasty right now and see how you feel over the weekend when everything 'settles' down? Then you can focus on your injured girl.

 

Again, I am sorry to hear your news

 

x

[Currant]

Thanks for your thoughts. Charlotte has just laid an egg, bless her, and is making a massive crowing type noise non stop. She is eating and drinking ok. Should I try and catch her to put some purple spray on her wound or just leave her as she would get so stressed being caught? It's not bleeding just sore looking. Poor lonely thing...

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Sorry to hear.

 

I just wanted to echo that you should let both your hen and yourselves recover for a while before introducing any new hens.

 

Mr RIR

[ohcarolina]

So sorry - its so awful when it happens. Don't beat yourself up too much. There are a number of us have had similar things happen.

 

Keep an eye on her as she may need antibiotics. When Persy got bit by Mr Fox I did purple spray her but got antibiotics too because I decided that if she had the good fortune to survive a fox attack then she deserved the cost of the vets. Fox's mouths can be very dirty.

 

Caroline

[Lydia]

I would take her to the vet if she has any wounds just to be on the safe side. Foxes teeth contain a lot of nasty bacteria. I can recommend a couple of good, chicken friendly vets in the Reading area if you need them?

 

Sorry for your loss of the others. Take care.

[Olly]

So sorry to hear this.

 

I agree - keep a close eye because fox bites can become infected really easily. I would definitely get some more hens, but as suggested above perhaps leave it a couple of days until you're sure Charlotte is well enough to deal with new arrivals.

[sadietoo]

so sorry to hear this. I just wanted to add to what others have said. I think I'd be tempted to put her onto antibiotics as a precautionary measure...

[Cheeky Chooky]

So sorry to hear this...hope you're all ok *hug*

[Roselady]

Very sorry to read this, how distressing for you all

[Currant]

Thank you all so much for your kind wishes. I feel so guilty and stupid. I have a clearer idea of what happened now - as I came out of the run I started locking the top gate, then my husband took over who thought I'd done the bottom and I thought he was finishing off the locking up. I was quite traumatised by trying to catch Charlotte in the dark (and us both being half asleep) so just didn't double check, an awful lesson to learn.

It reminds me of when we got burgled as they got in with a coat hanger through the letter box, a very common burglary so we found out. We told everyone we knew but still someone we knew were burgled the same way. Since then we always double lock the door, hide car keys and take bags & wallets upstairs.in the same way I hope this helps make someone else more careful as I will be from now on. Charlotte is locked in the cube, run locked. She has been surprisingly perky today so hopefully will be ok. I collected a bucket full of feathers from in and around the run but thankfully here were no bodies as my 8 year old went to let the new ones out today. Strangely it feels unreal because there is no evidence. We will get some more chickens in a few days as the garden is very empty without them (but poo free!). Thanks for listening to my rambling!