Chicken boarders

[Janepie33]

Sadly, after deciding to move my 2 broody girls to a different enclosure to try to cure them, a fox managed to break in in the night and attack them. They were too injured to save and DS kindly dispatched them for me.

There was such a noise, with the chickens screaming and one or 2 cats hissing and yowling at the fox.

 

Today I have the sad task of clearing up all the feathers.

Needless to say, the 4 remaining girls in the cube have not laid a thing this morning.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How awful, I'm so sorry .

[chickchock]

Oh no. I am sorry to hear that

[heth1986]

Oh no

i really liked foxes until i got chickens... cant stand them now

[Luvachicken]

I am so sorry about what happened to your girls xx

[Janepie33]

Thank you everyone for your comments. Have just been raking up sad little piles of feathers.

 

Just been chatting to my neighbour and she has seen the fox frequently this week. Very bold, out in the day and the night and just lounging around on walls and roofs and not at all bothered by human activity. We think it was made homeless when another neighbour chopped down a giant tree in their garden.

[gavclojak]

Oh I am so sorry, I am living in fear at the moment for my 5 ex batts I have had for thee weeks,(see my thread, fox in garden now scared to go out)

The fox stalking me at the moment does seem very scared of anyone, even next doors cats but was back again last night in my next doors garden,

I live in dread of going through what you are. Poor you:(((((

[Janepie33]

I live in dread of going through what you are

 

Do you have an Omlet run for your cube? If you do, I am sure they will be perfectly safe. We have a cube with an extended run and it was quite sufficient for the girls during the day, with a bit of free ranging in the day with somebody sitting in the garden with them.

 

We have had 4 fox attacks now and only lost chickens on this last occasion - the other times, I managed to scare the fox off before he did too much damage and have had 3 chickens sewn up at the vets.

 

The attacks happened when the chickens were free ranging (with me in the kitchen) and in a different enclosure. The cube is certainly secure.

 

Good luck with all your fox proofing this weekend.

[gavclojak]

Thanks so much for your kind comments x

[gavclojak]

I have a cube but they are in a secure enclosure during the day, I have tried counter measures and done everything to keep mr redcoats out, I think the only weak area for us is the roof as its made of industrial fruit netting but this weekend we are doubling it with galvanised wire mesh and also adding anti jump bars on the outside of the fence of me and my two neighbours so I hope that's enough, I really can't think of anything more i can do

[Sandychick]

So sorry to hear about your fox attack. I can sympathise with clearing up the feathers - it's a sad task I hope your other 4 girls get over the shock soon.

[Purplemaniacs]

How horrid for you. So sorry, I hope your other girls are ok.

 

Chrissie

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have a cube but they are in a secure enclosure during the day, I have tried counter measures and done everything to keep mr redcoats out, I think the only weak area for us is the roof as its made of industrial fruit netting but this weekend we are doubling it with galvanised wire mesh and also adding anti jump bars on the outside of the fence of me and my two neighbours so I hope that's enough, I really can't think of anything more i can do

Sorry but if they are getting in, it is not a secure area... you need to replicate the secure WIR such as the Omlet or the Avaries for you (as examples), using the correct gauge weld mesh.. making sure there are Zero gaps, (wildlife aid says all our native wildlife can get through 4 inch gaps??? (not sure how that works with bigger species.).

very sad it must be heartbreaking,......... metal crates aught to be secure for over night, especialy if they are within a secure enclosure. please be more than aware as he will be back and will be watching..

[gavclojak]

i think you may have misunderstood, he got into the garden but not into the enclosure...they are in the enclosure during the day and the cube is inside that. during the night...well literally the minute they go off to bed they are locked in the cube, the pop hole is locked behind the locked run and the cube is within the enclosure

[sandyhas3chucks]

sorry yes misunderstood

Foxes our worry !!!

well i do constantly...

[gavclojak]

i know what you mean, we get so protective of the girls, i feel mine deserve so much after having such a horrible start, i am getting obsessed though, waking up during the night a checking....texting my son while i am at work...constantly watching them when i am at home..... going crazy i think...

[majuka]

Very sorry for your losses