redcharlie43 Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I have just come home to find one girl missing and another dead in the coop and its all my fault. I left the door to the run open last night after the girls were free ranging yesterday. I have become complacent and know that in reality there are foxes around but have not seen any and don't live in an area where we have urban foxes. I did think I thought I heard a noise in the night but listened again and then heard nothing so went back to sleep. I went to work early this morning and 2 of the girls were up already and FR as it was getting light. I was reassured that the noise in the night was not them. When I got home it was dark so I went to check on them and found one of the girls dead in the coop and another missing. The two that were FR this morning were back in the coop. I am at a loss to what caused this as there was a few feathers from from the dead girl but she was not injured, there was no blood or injuries and there is not a trace of my favourite girl, not even a feather. I would have thought that a fox would have left some more damage. I have shut the other in as I should have always done and now have to re think the whole FR thing and am looking at a WIR. But any thoughts on who the silent killer could be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Sounds like a fox to me. Would have carried the missing one away. The other one could have died of shock. Same thing happened to me, but it was just dusk and my children (young adults) were looking after them. One was taken, one was injured but survived after a visit to the vets. One died of shock the following day, and my beautiful silkie, who was still very young, managed to hide. She's still here now. I'm so sorry for your loss. I too got a WIR straight away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I am so sorry, you must feel awful but don't beat yourself up, I think we've have all been there at some point and by the grace of god got away with it. I hope the others are ok. Sending hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Here here chatty chicken. It can happen in broad daylight. Please don't feel bad redcharlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 Thank you so much. I will take some time to fortify and look after the remaining two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I am sorry you have lost a few of your girls, I have become almost obsessive compulsive having to recheck the cube door is shut! It does indeed sound like a fox and you are fairly lucky that you didn't lose all your girls although you won't feel very lucky:( I think we all know mr redcoat is out there waiting for that moment when our backs are turned. Again I am sorry for your loss but maybe it's a cautionary tale to all of us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Sounds like a fox to me too. These things happen. Don't blame yourself. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Sounds like a fox to me too. Sorry this happened to you I think we've all probably made mistakes. I remember going away for a couple of days and coming back to realise that I'd left the front off the arc and its front door also wide open. Happily the only detrimental outcome was that my Bluebell discovered she really preferred sleeping high up in trees and i spend weeks clambering up branches to persuade her otherwise! And we also all make judgements for what is safe for our hens. I do let my hens FR on their own. I know that that could be risky (i've never seen a fox here, but it's countryside so there must be) but for me the risks outweigh the benefits of letting them out. Of course if something horrible happened I may change my mind. All we can ever do is what seems like the best thing at the time - there isn't a 'right' answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
